Sinners & Scarecrows Read online

  He calmly held his hands up in front of him as he replied, “Look, I meant no disrespect, but I’m sure you can appreciate that a man in my position would be uncomfortable in a situation like this.”

  “And like I said; I don’t give a shit.” Spider stared coldly into his eyes.

  “Look, I don’t want any trouble. And I think I’ve more than proved I can look the other way and keep my mouth shut.”

  “What’s your fucking point? In fact, what are you doing here? And where’s Blaze? Old fuck nuts over there said he was with you.” He motioned towards Archer.

  “You mean you haven’t heard?” said Ryan.

  “Heard what?”

  Jesus Christ, they don’t know.

  Everyone stared at Ryan.

  He explained how the commissioner had double-crossed Blaze, and how he’d crashed into the Sterling River. Then to crush their hearts even further he explained how Zoe had been murdered. The room was electric with emotion.

  No one spoke a word. Spider started shaking. To release his tension, he marched up to Archer and slugged him across his face.

  The tape across Archer’s mouth concealed his groans.

  Ryan cautiously broke the silence. “You know, there’s a chance our boy is still out there. I’ll admit the chances are remote, but I have a theory on where he might be if we just go and look —”

  “Are you fucking serious?” Spider cut him off. “Surviving a crash off Cooper’s Bluffs? There’s no fucking way!” Spider looked ready to kill someone. He was struggling to control his emotions. “How do I know you aren’t behind all of this! I never trusted you from the moment you first rolled up to the clubhouse! I should have shot you when I had the chance! It’s all your fucking fault our brother is gone!” Spider exploded, and reached for his rifle.

  “Drop it, brother,” said Trigger. “The detective’s trying to help us.”

  “How do you know?” Spider raised the rifle. “We’ve never had so many problems until this asshole showed up. How do we know he wasn’t the one ratting us out to the cops?”

  “Because Blaze trusted him. And you’d be dishonouring his memory if you go against his word. Do you really want that on your conscience?”

  Spider looked away as his eyes filled with tears. He eventually lowered the rifle. He gazed at Ryan. “I’m sorry, man.”

  Trigger put his arms around Spider, and pulled him in close. “It’s okay, man; we’re all hurting, but we need to listen to the detective if there’s even the slightest chance Blaze could still be out there.”

  Spider nodded.

  “What do we do with him?” Papa Bear pointed to Archer.

  “We could just shoot him now,” said Ciggy as he lit up a smoke.

  “I have a better idea,” said Ryan. “Let’s take him with us.”

  “What? He’ll just slow us down,” said Papa Bear.

  “Perhaps, but if Blaze is where I think he is, it’ll be worth the effort.”

  “Why, where are we going?” Ciggy asked.

  “Grab some warm clothes, some blankets, and a first aid kit. We're going bush,” he replied.

  Chapter 82

  Spider ditched the armoured van containing Sanchez and Francois’ remains down a quiet country lane just off the highway. He removed the fuel cap and stuffed a rag in its place, before setting it alight.

  “Let’s get outta here!” he yelled to the rest of the SAS moments before the fuel tank ignited.

  Ryan hit the gas the moment Spider jumped in the passenger seat next to him. “Why do you guys have to constantly destroy everything you touch?” he said. “I swear you and Blaze have a disease.”

  Spider just shrugged. “What can I say? We like blowing shit up.”

  Ryan shook his head. “I swear I’m going to jail one day,” he muttered as the van erupted in his rear view mirror.

  It wasn’t long before they were back on the open highway, approaching Cooper’s Bluffs. Ryan slowed as he saw a series of skid marks on the tarmac about one kilometre out from the crash site. Ryan and the SAS slowly came to a stop next to the destroyed barrier; there was crime scene tape cordoning off the gaping hole.

  “You really think Blaze could’ve survived that fall?” Lemon asked as he looked over the edge to the river below.

  “It’s a possibility. I’ve heard of cases where people have survived falls of up to fifty metres. Hell; people have lived after falling off the Golden Gate Bridge.”

  “But surely the current would have swept him away, especially if he was injured?”

  “You’re forgetting that the water level is way down on previous years because of the drought. I’d say a strong swimmer would make it out okay. It might take them a kilometre or two while drifting downstream to make it to the river bank, though, which is why I feel Blaze chose to drive off the road right here.”

  “You mean he didn’t lose control and crash? You can’t be sure of that.”

  “Actually, the more I think about it, the more convinced I am.”

  “Why?” Spider asked.

  “Did you see the skid marks on the road back there?” Ryan pointed in the direction they had just come from.

  “Yeah, what about them?”

  “Well, if they were from Blaze’s Mustang, it shows he fishtailed for a few seconds before regaining control. And I don’t know about you, but from my experience after a near miss, I tend to pay close attention to what I’m doing while my heart rate calms down. Which begs the million dollar question; why are there no skid marks on the road opposite this barrier?”

  Ryan’s observation sparked Spider’s curiosity. He dashed out onto the highway, and after scouring the road for burnt rubber, he came to the same conclusion as Ryan. He’s right; there’s nothing to suggest he lost control. Maybe he planned this all along.

  “I’m sorry I doubted you,” Spider said to Ryan when he returned to the group. “We better get moving.”

  “Shouldn’t one of us check the river bank in case he didn’t make it?” said Ciggy.

  “There’s no need. If my theory is correct, he’s long gone. I’m sure the chopper and dive team would have extensively searched the banks, and there was no sign of him.”

  “Good enough for me,” said Spider. “Let’s roll.”

  Ryan turned off the highway some two kilometres down the road from Cooper’s Bluffs and negotiated the gravel road that wound its way up into the mountains. When he parked the car, Spider hauled Archer out of the back seat while Ryan and Papa Bear retrieved the first aid kit, blankets, and Blaze’s dry clothes.

  Lemon dismounted his bike and leaned against the trunk of a tall rimu tree next to the track entrance while he waited for the others. He felt something sticky on his fingers. What the fuck is that? he thought.

  He jumped as he brought his hand up to his face and saw what was on his fingertips.

  Fresh blood.

  Chapter 83

  “Come on! He can’t be far ahead!” Lemon called out. He charged into the bush with no regard for himself as he navigated the undulating forest floor with limited vision. He cursed as he ran into a concealed tree branch, scratching his face and jarring his jaw. But it didn’t stop him; he just kept running. The SAS and Ryan tore off after him. Trigger took great delight in marching Archer through the darkness with an AK 47 shoved into the small of his back. “Keep up, asshole,” he sniggered as Archer did his best to keep pace with his covered mouth and bound hands.

  Ten minutes later Lemon saw him lying face down on the ground. “Blaze!” he cried out.

  He was unresponsive. His face was blue. His shirt was drenched with blood.

  “Is he dead?” Lemon asked as the others circled his body.

  Archer started grunting anxiously. Lemon harshly ripped the tape from his mouth. “What!” he shouted at him.

  “I can help him. Untie my hands, quickly!”

  “If you run, I’ll shoot,” said Trigger.

  Archer nodded.

  Spider cut his hands free. Arch
er felt Blaze’s neck for a pulse. After a moment’s examination, he said, “His heart beat’s irregular and he’s suffering from paralysis—meaning severe hypothermia. Strip his clothes off and wrap him in those blankets!” he ordered.

  Lemon and Papa Bear stripped him bare in seconds.

  Then Archer said to Spider, “Where was he going?”

  “We have a log cabin about an hour’s walk from here if we hurry.”

  “Do you have a range stove or anything like that inside?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. It’ll be faster if we head there rather than taking him to a hospital. Go on ahead and warm it up. We have to get him out of the cold zone before his body completely shuts down.”

  Spider looked at Lemon. “You’re with me.” he said.

  They dashed off into the scrub together.

  Archer peeled the blanket off Blaze’s shoulder to inspect his wound. “He’s lucky; the bullet went right through,” he said to Ryan, who quickly produced his first aid kit.

  They did their best to clean the wound and apply dressings. “I’ll stitch it up later,” said Archer. “We need to move him, now.”

  Ryan was glad to have Papa Bear with them. He was freakishly strong. He did the lion’s share as they manoeuvred Blaze through the dense bush all the way to the cabin.

  Spider had the range roaring when they collapsed through the door. He had dragged one of the mattresses from the bunks onto the floor in front of the fire. “Easy does it,” he said as Papa Bear gently laid Blaze down.

  Archer entered the cabin. He removed his glasses and wiped them clean with his handkerchief. “Smother him with anything warm you have. You need to bring his core temperature up,” he said.

  Spider rummaged around the bedrooms and returned with two musty, old blankets. “That’s about good as it’s gonna get,” he said. “Now what?”

  Archer saw the early signs of dawn through the window as the sun began to rise. “Now we pray for a miracle,” he said.

  Chapter 84

  Sandra inhaled deeply; her heart thumped as if it would beat her to death from the inside out. This is it. My big moment. I’m going to nail this sucker. She reached out and rang the doorbell.

  There was a long pause until she heard someone approaching the door from the inside.

  “Detective Gibson?” the commissioner said as he opened up. “What are you doing here so early?”

  She held up the search warrant.

  “What is the meaning of this!” he spluttered.

  The officers with Sandra marched inside. On Sandra’s advice they headed straight for the stairs to the ground floor. Sandra spotted the commissioner’s cat sleeping on the lounge suite. She grinned. Thanks for your assistance, kitty.

  The commissioner followed them, in constant protest at their intrusion. “And just what do you think you’re hoping to find?” he asked as they headed towards the room at the end of the hallway at the bottom of the stairs.

  The officers burst through the doorway. Then almost as fast as they went it, they filed out one by one, with puzzled looks on their faces.

  One of them said to Sandra, “I’m sorry, detective, I don’t know where you got your intel, but there’s nothing in that room.”

  “What!” She bustled through the men and saw for herself. What on earth? The walls are bare!

  She stormed up to the commissioner, her face red with fury. “Where did you hide them!” she demanded.

  “Hide what?” the commissioner replied innocently, then his lips tilted into an arrogant smirk.

  She leaned into his ear. “I know what you did to the Bowmans. And I’m taking you down,” she whispered.

  He hid the bolt of panic that suddenly jolted his mind. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said calmly.

  Sandra asked the officers for a moment of privacy. They trooped up the stairs, leaving them alone.

  “How did you know?” she asked as soon as the officers were out of earshot.

  He grinned as he replied, “You stupidly left the door unlocked after you’d discovered my treasure trove. And the spare key was slightly off-centre under my doormat. I couldn’t take any chances after I noticed the intrusion. Also, the timing of your courageous effort to save Blaze at The Underground triggered my suspicions. But rest assured, you’ll never find the physical evidence you need to make this stick; it’s gone.”

  “I still have enough to put the spotlight on you in ways that will ruin your career.” She produced her cell phone with the snapshots she’d taken when she’d broken into his house. She flicked through all the photos as she said, “I know you were in Worthington on the day of the murders, and I know you tore your pants in the Bowman’s garden. I even have a perfectly preserved size-thirteen boot print you foolishly left behind while peeping into the Bowmans’ kitchen. I know your whole witness protection story was all smoke and mirrors to throw me and Ryan off the scent, which led us to wonder why you would go to so much effort and risk to frame Blaze? Which is when I discovered your secret room. And before you say anything, yes, I broke into your house, and when I saw the photographs and news clippings, I had no choice but to save Blaze from the trap you had set for him. You’re a real piece of work, Commissioner.”

  “And I will have you charged with unlawful entry if any of those photos ever reach daylight, not to mention I will bring Detective Ryan’s glittering career to an end. I warned you not to cross me. You job was to put Bobby Blaise behind bars! He got away with murdering my wife!”

  “And he’s likely dead now, thanks to you. You have your revenge. But I can’t let you walk for what you’ve done.”

  “I hope you both enjoy prison,” he snarled. “You broke into my house and helped a wanted criminal escape from a perfectly executed ambush. And I’m sure you’re aware that the vehicle transporting Seth Archer was hijacked, I assume by the SAS, and his current whereabouts is unknown. And all I have seen so far from both yourself and Detective Ryan is your loyalty to the MC over the state. You’re both finished!”

  “We did what we felt was necessary to bring the right people to justice. And you, Commissioner, are at the top of the list.”

  He sighed. “So the question is, detective, how do we solve this little dilemma so that we all win?”

  She answered, “You’ll have to send me to prison. I’m not letting you get away with murder.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “You can bet on it.”

  He stared long and hard into her eyes, then said, “I think you’re bluffing. Do you really want to miss your precious daughters growing up? It doesn’t have to be that way.”

  “Try me!” she said unconvincingly.

  “All right, I’ll go inform the officers upstairs that you lied about how you gained the intel about Blaze and my wife. I’m sure their reactions won’t be so pleasant when they realise you’re a lying crook.” He turned around to march up the stairs.

  “Wait.” She stopped him. I can’t lose my children; they are everything to me.

  He looked back over his shoulder. “Having second thoughts?” he asked smugly.

  “I think it’s time we made a deal,” she replied.

  His confidence returned. “I thought you might change your mind,” he said. “Here’s what I propose...”

  Chapter 85

  “Let me stitch him up while he’s still out,” Archer said to Spider. He was sitting on the floor against the wall with his hands on his head. Trigger had orders to shoot him if he moved an inch.

  “What do you think?” Spider asked Ryan.

  “I don’t like the guy, but he’s right.”

  “Good enough for me,” Spider agreed.

  Archer gingerly rose from the floor and knelt beside Blaze’s mattress. Ryan handed him some fishing line and a hook that Spider produced from the supplies cupboard. “There’s a stream with a fishing hole not far from here,” Spider said to him. “When Daddy’s done patching him up, I’ll go see if I can nab us some trout.”r />
  Archer sterilised the hook in some freshly boiled water from the stove top. He removed the blanket from Blaze’s shoulder and carefully stitched his wounds. When he pulled the last stitch tight, he said, “It’s not pretty, but it’ll do for now. Just make sure to keep it clean to avoid infection.”

  Spider nodded. “Why are you helping him?” he asked Archer.

  “He’s my son. I’ve been searching for him ever since I discovered his existence. But that’s quite difficult when you have no idea what he is called or what he looks like.”

  “What about his mum?”

  “I never knew her name or where she came from. She wasn’t a Worthington local. I only knew of her as ‘Liz’.”

  “From the day you drugged and raped her, right?” Ryan interjected.

  Archer didn’t answer.

  “I think it’s best you go back to your corner,” Spider said.

  Archer slowly moved back to his spot.

  Spider put Trigger in charge as he left for the fishing hole. He pointed at Archer, and said, “If he moves, shoot him in the leg. We don’t want him running off, now, do we?”

  Trigger grinned, and cocked his rifle. “Please move,” he taunted Archer.

  Spider returned a couple hours’ later with five fish draped over his shoulders. Everyone except Ryan and Archer took a knife and prepared the succulent fillets. Just as Spider was about to start cooking them on the fire outside, Blaze stirred. His eyes flickered open. He seemed confused. “He’s awake!” said Ryan.

  Everyone crowded around his mattress. “It’s good to see you again, brother,” said Spider. “We thought we’d lost you.”

  Blaze craned his neck to take in his surroundings. “How the fuck did you find me?” His voice crackled.

  “Give him some water,” Archer said from the far side of the room.