Never Run (May Moore Suspense Thriller 1)

She put her foot down as hard as she dared, as she sped through the hills and curves, keeping her eyes peeled as she strained to see any sign of a Mercedes.

Most probably, he was already at the lake. She hoped she was not going to be too late.

And where in the darkness would he be? The lake shore was a big place and she guessed it was too much to hope that he'd be parked in the main car lot.

It was far more likely he would have parked elsewhere, on one of the tracks leading to the lake.

He would not want to leave a trail, May thought. They'd found no trail, no evidence, no blood spatters.

That meant that he was going to carry his victim all the way to the lakeside before killing her. That must be where he'd strip off her clothing, taking it with him when he left, after the terrible deed was done.

Now that she was catching up with his logic, May guessed she herself could park in the main parking lot, and then run along the edge of the lake, looking for any evidence of the killer at work.

She screeched to a stop in the main lot, which was empty.

“Remember. Stay inside, keep quiet, and you will be safe,” she warned Mary-Ann, before climbing out and locking the car.

The lake was framed by trees and was so quiet and still, as if it were a painted backdrop.

There was not a soul in sight. May's gaze swept the lake and its surrounding hills. Where was he? Where was Josh?

She forced herself to calm down and think logically.

Where would he go?

There was a sign for a picnic site to the left. That might be a place he would use. Out of the way, with close by parking, and easy access to the lake itself.

May took a deep breath and ran. She sprinted as fast as she could, pounding across the soft ground.

"Please," she whispered, "please let me get there in time."

With her lungs burning, she began to doubt herself in this frantic, terrible moment. What if she'd gone the wrong way, made the wrong choice?

Maybe she was too late.

And then, ahead, in the darkness, she saw the black, bulky shape of a car, parked by the side of the track, near the water's edge.

"That must be his car," she whispered to herself.

Slowing down, and approaching quietly, she saw it was a Mercedes, just as Mary-Ann had said.

May's heart was hammering in her chest as she ran closer and closer to the water's edge.

She could see a figure. A man, bent over something, a dark shape against the glimmering water.

She didn't want to believe what she thought she was seeing, but the sight was too terrible to be denied.

"No, no, no," she breathed.

And then, May gasped in horror as the man raised his right hand and she saw the glint of moonlight on sharpened steel.