‘AAAAAAAAAAARGGH!’
It rocked back on its base.
Not far, maybe only an inch, before slamming down again with a heavy whump and a puff of dust. But itmoved.
That was something, right?
Oh, that was more than something.
Right now, that waseverything.
She peered through the window hole again.
The digger arm swung and gouged. Which meant Davis was probably going to be busy for a while.
Natasha dropped down on her bum, scooting forward till she could place one foot onto the bucket’s rim, then tipping over onto her back to get the other foot in place. Like she was lying on a doctor’s table, waiting for a smear test.
Another deep breath.
Then sheshoved. Andstrained. Andswore...
And the bucket bloodymoved– slowly tipping backwards as her legs trembled with the effort. Then it was past its tipping point and the thingthumped over onto its side.
Yes!
She rolled over and clambered upright again. Breathing hard as she stood over the felled bucket. Then put her heel against the warm metal and pushed.
It was still bloody heavy, but it rolled.
A couple more and she’d even managed to get it over the buried rock.
By shoving at different points along her anchor, it was easy enough to make the bucket go left or right.
And yeah, it’d bewayeasier if she could push the thing about with her hands, but there was no chance of that while her wrists were attached to this bloody collar round her neck.
It was still a gigantic step forward, compared to ten minutes ago.
Now all she needed was for DS Davis to go walkabout for a few hours, so she could make use of her newfound freedom. Bastard had to go to work sometime, right?
Maybe she’d find a hacksaw, or a file, or a pair of bolt-cutters lying about the place?Anythingthat would break this bloody chain and set her free.
Assuming he wasn’t planning to finish digging that grave, then drag her straight out there and bury her alive. Screaming and scratching away inside her coffin. Hidden – deep in the cold dark ground – where no one wouldeverfind her...
48
The conference room waspacked. They’d even had to draft in extra chairs from the council offices. And now the noise was borderline deafening, as the assembled press fidgeted in their seats, shouting to each other, checking their equipment, yelling down the phone because it was so sodding loud.
Oh yes: a fatal arson attack on a migrant hotel, and a murdered body in the river, were sort of newsworthy enough,in their way, but a missing Media Tycoon was a STORY!
Logan scanned the room again.
No sign of the Chief Super, but PC Sweeny had taken shelter behind the cluster of flipcharts in the corner, crunching Rennies like they were on special offer, a stack of paper clutched to his chest, and a worried look on his face.
Logan slipped around the edge of the seating area and joined him. ‘Where’s the Boss?’
‘She’ll be here.’ A look of horror slithered across his face. ‘Why? Did someone say shewouldn’tbe? Has something happened?’ Juggling his paperwork and dragging out his phone. ‘God’s sake, no one ever tells me anything...’
‘Far as I know, the briefing’s still on. I’m just looking for her.’
