Page 7 of Gone in the Night
‘Don’t even ask.’
Ben glanced at the blown-out tyre. ‘I wouldn’t even.’
‘Can you not get me a body somewhere decent for once? You know, if there is a remote location that even Bear Grylls would struggle to find, I can guarantee you or Morgan will come up trumps.’
Ben glanced at Morgan in the rear-view mirror. She was grinning, and she looked as if she knew he was struggling not to laugh.
‘I hate to break this to you, mate, but it literally has nothing to do with either of us where we find the bodies.’
Declan let out a sigh. ‘I suppose not. What’s happened then, who took first look at it?’
‘Me, but I’m not saying anything because I don’t want you to shout at me.’
He whisked his head around to face her. ‘Would I shout at you? Never would I do such a thing, Morgan. Why are you saying that?’
‘You’re in a bad mood.’
‘I’m annoyed about my tyre, but I’m annoyed with myself not you or Ben.’
‘Good. You need to see for yourself anyway because I don’t know what’s going on. There’s a lot. I can tell you one thing though, it’s enough to put you off camping in one of those tent things for all the money in the world.’
‘I wouldn’t camp for love or money. The last time we had to deal with bodies missing from tents was enough to put me off for life.’
As Ben reached the scene, Declan leaned forward. ‘This is beautiful, look at the mountains, it’s framed like a picture postcard. No wonder she picked this spot to camp; but why wasshe up here alone and how did she find this spot because it’s completely off the beaten track?’
Morgan nodded. ‘I’m going to try and find out through her Instagram or her friends once we identify her. Maybe she posted on the internet where she was camping and someone who knew this area decided to come pay her a visit.’
Ben smiled. ‘That’s an excellent idea. Hopefully, we’ll find identification with a name inside the tent. Could you do that as soon as you can, and maybe we will see who commented or liked the posts, if there are any.’
‘Unless some random walker saw her and took the opportunity to kill her.’
Declan shrugged. ‘Nothing surprises me anymore; it would not even make me question that, Morgan. You know what this whole area is like, I’m convinced there is something in the air around these hills and mountains that takes a relatively sane person and turns them into monsters.’
‘Me too, I think the land was cursed centuries ago.’
Ben rolled his eyes. ‘Well, when the pair of you have finished scaring the crap out of each other can we focus on the here and now?’
Declan waved a hand in Ben’s direction. ‘I’m on it. Is permission granted to take a look? I can’t see Wendy anywhere.’
‘Wendy has been and recorded it; she went back to the station to get some gear whilst we were waiting for you to arrive. You’re good.’
Declan arched an eyebrow at Morgan. ‘Ah, that’s a shame, I’m sad I missed her. I kind of like being told off by Wendy. She’s like the mother I never had.’
Morgan had to stifle the laughter; he was such a bad influence on her. Whenever she was with Declan, she reverted back to her fifteen-year-old self who on the rare occasion in school used to get the most inappropriate giggles and wouldalways do what Brad, her best friend back then, would tell her to do, even though more often than not it got them both into trouble. She closed her eyes momentarily, picturing Brad, missing him more than ever.
Ben walked away to go and speak with Marc, and Declan whispered, ‘Who is that?’ His gaze was in Stan’s direction.
‘Amy’s replacement. Stan.’
‘He’s hot, but don’t tell Theo I said that.’
‘I know, don’t tell Ben I agreed with you.’ She winked at him. ‘He hasn’t got much of a stomach for this kind of thing though; he puked when I described the state the body is in.’
‘Did he now, that’s a shame. It takes away from that manly ruggedness.’
‘Do you plan on looking at the body or are you two just here for the gossip?’
Ben had walked back towards them whilst they were whispering to each other, and Morgan felt her cheeks burn, hoping he hadn’t heard them.
