Page 74 of 36 Hours

They’ll know by now who he is. I gave them enough clues. They’ll know he’s expendable. They’ll know he won’t be missed by anyone, and the gifts they’ve been receiving in the boxes should demonstrate how far I’m willing to go. That I’m serious. That I’m in charge of this whole game and they have no choice but to do as I say. Right now, I am on everyone’s mind. They’re all thinking about me. I am one person taking everyone’s attention, and I’m winning.

I think she knows that. My research has confirmed that she is a formidable opponent, and when I win against her, it will be worth it.

As much as I’d have loved to continue to watch her chasing me, I have much left to prepare.

It’s such a shame they don’t realise that if they’re late for the next one, their lives will never be the same again.

FIFTY-EIGHT

4A.M.

Penn listened patiently as Stacey read the next clue, which had been called in by the boss.

‘“The rails around the aged mound turn crimson one hour before sunrise. Find my next by 6a.m. or…”’

‘Jeez, they’re getting harder,’ Penn observed. ‘And we’re off schedule. We haven’t got long to find the next…but I really think I’m onto something with this recording.’

Stacey came around the desk. ‘Let me listen.’

He passed her the headphones and played the clip.

‘I can hear it, but I don’t know what it is,’ she said. ‘It’s like two boom-boom noises in quick succession.’

Exactly what he’d thought.

‘Boom-boom?’ Frost asked, raising an eyebrow. ‘Is that a technical term?’

It was the first time she’d spoken in hours, and he’d almost forgot she was there.

‘I have no other way to describe it,’ Stacey said.

‘You could always let me have a listen,’ Frost said, shrugging.

Penn wasn’t sure what a defence lawyer would make of that, but he really had no choice. Neither he nor Stacey had a clue what the sound was.

He indicated for her to wheel across and then passed her the headphones.

She closed her eyes as she listened to the short clip.

‘Again,’ she said without opening them.

He did so.

He pressedPlaya further four times on her instruction.

He was about to tell her to move when she took the headphones off.

‘I know what it is,’ she said with the smug expression they’d only ever heard about.

They waited.

‘Clay pigeon shooting.’

The second she said it, Penn knew she was right. Even Stacey was face-palming a shaking head.

‘Stuff’s always easy if you know the answer,’ Frost said, wheeling back to the spare desk.

Penn looked to Stacey. This recording was from the third box, which had been found at Clent around nine o’clock. ‘Our guy had to get the box there in plenty of time not to get caught. I’m thinking he must have chopped the thumb off sometime in the afternoon.’