Page 183 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

The air was getting thinner. Somehow she could feel it, taste it almost. She ran her hands along the sides, feeling wooden frame for any sign of weakness but it felt solid.

They’d trained them in how to get out of such a situation in BlackOps but she’d hesitated, knowing Jamie had some sort of electrical set up, camera’s too by the sounds of it. She hadn’t wanted to play this card until she was certain he was gone and that it might work.

But he hadn’t spoken to her in ages. Hadn’t taunted her, done anything and she suspected he was either gone or otherwise preoccupied. Now was her chance, she knew that much. She had to try, she had to do something.

She pulled her top up, fumbling as she did with her bound hands. She needed it to cover her face, to protect it from the soil, and the dirt, and anything that might fall down as she tried to dig her way out.

The cotton stuck to her skin but she ignored it. She needed to focus.

Steeling herself she moved her arm as far back as the limited space would allow and keeping her left arm limp, she punched as hard as she could with her right fist. Her hand instantly throbbed and she bit her lip trying not to whimper. If she hadn’t have attacked that man, if she hadn’t have busted her hands she’d be in a far better condition to get out but she didn’t regret it. Even now, when she had momentary flashbacks of smashing his face, it wasn’t regret, it wasn’t horror, it was vindication, triumph she felt, because at least she’d made that fucker pay for what he’d done to her.

She punched again, harder.

Still nothing happened. She snarled, and then kept punching over and over, feeling her hand going from agonising pain to numbness. And then she heard the crack, the sound that told her that the wooden frame had finally given out.

She breathed a sigh of momentary relief because now the hard work was about to start. She yanked the wood down and soil instantly fell filling the void. Snapping the wood of she started using it like a shovel, scooping the soil out and moving it down to fill the space at her feet. But the more she moved the more kept coming and her arms grew weaker and weaker even as she forced herself on.

She knew she was struggling, she knew she wouldn’t make it to the surface but she kept going as her eyes glazed over and she passed out, surrounded by the dirt, surrounded by the mud, barely able to breathe.

They staredat the screen as Becky detailed the specific points. The samples were back. They matched the peat found in the van’s tyres and with the body being found in Worcestershire too it felt like everything indicated that’s where she was.

“The soil samples lead to three unique sites. Two look to be mainly woodland and one looks like a farm.

“We’ll send teams to all three. I want helicopters up scanning the area for any heat source.” Cole said.

“That might be a dead end depending on how far she’s buried.” Doug said.

“Do it anyway. I’m not taking any chances.” Cole said as his phone rang.

“Did you forget something?” Alfred said irritated as soon as he picked up. Cole narrowed his eyes getting up from the table. He had forgot. He and Maddie had agreed to another bullshit lunch only a few days before she was taken and right now they were meant to be sat, in the Shard, enjoying the view and making polite small talk.

“Alfred.” Cole said quietly and felt Brandon watching him.

“If you think you can play games Cole…”

“We’ve been a little preoccupied.” Cole stated letting the irritation show in his voice.

“Sure you have. But I’m not a patient man. Maddie agreed to my terms, she was being more than compliant before you got involved. If you don’t want to be a part of this arrangement then that’s fine but I expect my daughter to acquiesce to my demands.”

“You can expect all you want I don’t give a fuck.” Cole snapped.

“Are you deliberately goading me?” Alfred replied. “Put my daughter on the phone, I want to speak to her.”

“Maddie is gone.” Cole said.

“Gone where?” Alfred asked.

“That’s the point. We don’t fucking know.” Cole snarled.

“Where the fuck is my daughter Cole?”

“Like you give a fuck?” Cole growled. “You haven’t cared about her for the last thirty odd years, why pretend now?”

Alfred snarled. “Where the fuck is she?”

“I don’t know.” Cole said through gritted teeth. “We’re doing everything we can to find her.”

“Oh you better be because if you don’t…”

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