‘I won’t hang around. I’ve got something for you that I didn’t want to give to you at the station.’ He reached into his pocket and handed her the spare key to her front door. ‘I had someone go to your house while you were both out. He took a look at the equipment you found. Whoever put the cameras and microphones in there, they’re professionals. Especially given the limited timeframe they had to do it in.’
‘More than one of them, then?’
He nodded. ‘Probably. Two to trash your house, and maybe two or three to fit all the equipment. My contact removed all the cameras and microphones so you won’t have anything to worry about in that respect now. They won’t be able to see or hear anything.’
‘Won’t they suspect something?’
‘My contact ran white noise for a bit and then increased the frequency – that killed the equipment. They’ll probably assume that mice, rodents, equipment giving out or a power surge wrecked the microphones. Happens all the time.’
‘Okay.’
He passed her a set of four miniature cameras and microphones that had been sealed within a plastic evidence bag. ‘There were no fingerprints – we checked.’
Kay let out a shaking breath and turned the bag between her fingers. ‘Thanks, guv.’ Kay’s hand trembled as she held up the bag to the light and inspected its contents. As she remembered what the equipment had been used for, it seemed to exude a malevolent quality and it was all she could do not to throw it to the floor and grind it under her heel. Instead she raised her eyes at Sharp’s voice.
‘Are you going to tell me who you suspect is behind all this?’
She blinked, and rubbed at her right eye. ‘It wouldn’t be very professional of me, would it? Spreading rumours?’ She dropped her hand. ‘No – I need more evidence, or a breakthrough or something.’
‘You’ll hang on to the cameras and microphones for evidence though?’
‘Yeah. I went back to the Whittakers’ bank and opened a safe deposit box of my own.’ She clutched the evidence bag in one hand and pulled out a small key from her trouser pocket. ‘I want you to have the spare. In case anything happens to me.’
His eyes met hers as he plucked the key from her fingers. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I don’t know who else to trust, guv. And I’m trying not to get Adam involved. Can I trust you?’
He tested the weight of the key in his hand. ‘Yes. And I’m not going to open that box, all right?’
‘You might have to. If anything happens to me.’
He sighed. ‘Adam doesn’t know you’re still hunting for whoever did this to you, does he?’
She bit her lip. ‘He knows.’
‘Be careful, Kay. I’d hate for anything to happen to you two. He’s a nice bloke.’ Sharp checked his watch. ‘I would imagine he’ll be here any minute. I’d best be going.’
He patted her arm as he passed, and she watched as he stalked back to his car, his head bowed.
As he climbed in and powered the vehicle away, she turned her attention back to her daughter’s headstone.
A groan escaped her lips.
Eighteen months ago, her life had been normal.
She’d had a job she loved, colleagues she could trust and have a laugh with, and a safe home life.
Now, she could feel it all slipping away from her. She couldn’t let them do that to her.
Wouldn’t.
She turned her attention back to the car park at the sound of another vehicle approaching, and then relaxed as she recognised Adam’s four-wheel drive.
He braked to a halt and climbed from the driver’s seat, and she held her breath.
He caught her eye and raised his hand before reaching into the passenger side of the car and extracting a bunch of fresh flowers. He ran a hand through his hair, then aimed his key fob at the car and began to walk up the slight rise towards where she stood.
As he drew nearer, Kay shoved the collection of cameras and microphones into her handbag before swearing an oath she had every intention of keeping.
She’d do anything to protect Adam from those that were trying to harm her.
Anything.
* * *
<< THE END >>
A note from the author
* * *
Dear Reader,
* * *
First of all, I wanted to say a huge thank you for choosing to read One to Watch. I hope you enjoyed the third book in the Kay Hunter series. If you did enjoy it, I'd be grateful if you could write a review. It doesn't have to be long, just a few words, but it is the best way for me to help new readers discover one of my books for the first time.
* * *
If you'd like to stay up to date with my new releases, as well as exclusive competitions and giveaways, you’re welcome to join my Reader Group at my website, www.rachelamphlett.com. I will never share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time. You can also contact me via Facebook, Twitter, or by email. I love hearing from readers – I read every message and will always reply.
* * *
Thanks again for your support.
* * *
Best wishes,
Rachel Amphlett
Scared to Death
(Detective Kay Hunter series, book 1)
* * *
A serial killer murdering for kicks.
A detective seeking revenge.
* * *
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.
* * *
But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.
* * *
When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.
* * *
With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the killer becomes a race against time before he claims another life.
* * *
For the killer, the game has only just begun…
* * *
Scared to Death is a gripping fast paced crime thriller from author Rachel Amphlett, and the first novel in a new series introducing Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future…
Will to Live (Detective Kay Hunter, book 2)
Reputation is everything.
* * *
When a packed commuter train runs over a body on a stretch of track known to locals as ‘Suicide Mile’, it soon transpires that the man was a victim of a calculated murder.
* * *
As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer.
* * *
With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.
* * *
When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…
Will to Live is the second book in a new crime thriller series featuring Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future…
Copyright © 2017 by Rachel Amphlett
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
ISBN eBook:978-0-9944337-9-4
ISBN paperback:978-0-9945479-0-3
ISBN audiobook:978-0-9945479-3-4
Contents
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
&nb
sp; Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
A note from the author
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