Page 37 of When You're Lost

Finn’s head still swam, but he forced a steady tone.“Finn Wright, Police— sort of.”

The man stepped closer, snorting.“Sort of?”He snatched the ID badge from Finn’s jacket pocket, scanning it.“Consultant detective with the Home Office, I see.Not a real cop, then.”He tossed the badge aside.“I know when someone’s lying.Did you come alone?Did you alert your buddies?”

Eleanor opened her mouth to speak, but Finn cut in.“Plenty of people know we’re here.”

The man’s lip curled.“I doubt that.I can tell when someone's lying to me.And if they don’t know, it makes my job easier.”He turned to his henchmen.“Lock them up, then take them for a long walk off a short pier or something.I don’t want to see these two again.”

Finn’s stomach clenched.“Wait—”

The man ignored him, glancing at Eleanor.“Your friend here stuck his nose where it doesn’t belong.That’s going to cost him.And you.”

One henchman smirked, cracking knuckles.“Yes, boss.”

“Actually, call Frankie Govan, he'll take care of this so nothing can be traced,” the stocky man said.

He then glared at Finn.“Enjoy your last moments, detective.”With that, he spun on his heel and marched out, the henchmen following.The door slammed shut, leaving Finn and Eleanor in the oppressive silence.

Eleanor stared at Finn, her eyes wide.“He said… we’re not going to be seen again.That means—”

“That we might end up sleeping with the fishes,” Finn finished grimly.“I’d guess they plan to do it quietly.Maybe load us in a crate and dump us, or—”

Eleanor closed her eyes, fighting panic.“What do we do?”

He tested the ropes binding his wrists.They were thick, but maybe not unbreakable.“We improvise,” he murmured, adopting a determined glint in his eyes.“We’re not done yet.I might be able to get my hand out.”

Outside, footsteps echoed.They had precious little time.Finn wriggled against the ropes, heart hammering.If they couldn’t escape soon, they would never see daylight again, never solve the forging ring, never stop the killer.He clenched his jaw, willing to do whatever it took to get free.

With a strained grin to Eleanor, he muttered, “Don’t worry.We’ll find a way.Bad ideas lead to good ideas, remember?”

She gave a shaky laugh.“You’re insane, Finn.”

He nodded.“Absolutely.Let’s hope that works in our favor.”

And as the dim overhead light flickered, Finn knew that whoever Frankie was, when he arrived, it would mean the end for Eleanor and him.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Amelia stared at her computer screen, scanning yet another set of names—former prison guards, retired solicitors, ex-police officers, and anyone else who'd once interacted with Wendell Reed during his incarceration.She'd been at it for hours, her eyes dry and neck stiff.The Hertfordshire Constabulary office felt too warm, the early spring sun heating the windows and turning the place into a stuffy cave.

It was mid-afternoon, and she was running on caffeine and nerves.She’d been digging into a theory: Wendell had escaped prison not just for his own freedom but with a methodical plan to punish anyone who’d played a part in his capture or detention.He’d murdered Robert Shankland’s sister already—a savage, personal strike.She feared he might do worse if he had a whole list of names.And while the logical part of her mind said she was top of that list, she refused to let her fear dictate her every move.

A knock on her office door broke her concentration.She looked up to see Rob enter, a weary look on his face.He settled into the chair opposite her desk with a sigh, his uniform jacket rumpled as though he’d been at the station since dawn.

“You all right, Amelia?”Rob asked, resting his hands on his knees.“Heard about the train station discovery.Must have been rough.”

Amelia leaned back in her chair, pressing a hand to her temple.“Yeah, it was upsetting.Doesn’t matter how many times you see something like that, it never gets easier.And Wendell’s clearly targeting Shankland now, or at least that’s how it looks.”She gestured at the endless files on her screen.“But I’m working on figuring out who else he might hold a grudge against.There’s a long list of possibilities.”

Rob nodded.“I imagine.He’s made it personal with you, too.”

Her stomach tightened.“Yeah.The personal detail you assigned me is outside as we speak.”She sighed.“They keep their distance, just watchful—like you instructed.It’s… all I can really ask them to do.”

“Good,” Rob said.“I don’t want you alone if Wendell’s escalated to killing relatives of prison guards, especially after that body under the train.It’s horrifying.We've managed to keep it out of the press for now, but that won't last for long.”

Amelia shoved her hair behind her ear.“I spoke to Shankland.He’s devastated.He was the guard who oversaw Wendell’s transfer the night he escaped, and now his family’s paying the price.”

Rob nodded gravely.“Yeah, it’s monstrous.But listen, Amelia—there’s something unofficial I need to tell you.Inspector McNeil—the one heading the Wendell Reed task force—has been asking why you’re still on that team.He’s raising concerns about personal involvement, conflict of interest, all that.”

She pressed her lips together, not surprised in the slightest.“Figures he’d want me off.I knew I wasn’t exactly his favorite.Think he wants me out for good?”

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