Free The Hunting by Sam Hawksmoor Page A

flood.’
    ‘Well, goodness gracious. You’re Genie Magee. I’ll be damned. Grandma Munby’s little grandchild. I’m blessed. Ain’t it just a goddamn small wonderful world.’ She checked the mirror, looking at Rian. ‘You hit something hard on the rapids back there, huh. I got myself a lump like that when I was a kid. Thought I’d be tough and went upriver to Hell’s Gate, serious white-water rafting. Rite of passage.’ She laughed. ‘Looked pretty much like you do now, got tossed right out and nearly drowned. I’ll never do that again, that’s for sure. Genie, open the glovebox, take out some pills and pass them to him. There’s a bottle of water down about your feet somewhere.’
    ‘Thank you, ma’am,’ Rian said. ‘I’m sorry about your place too.’
    ‘It’s more than a tragedy. Insurance won’t pay out. Act of God and all that. I was in tears for a while, but I had good years there. Might get it fixed, might not.’
    ‘You’d need a new bridge too,’ Renée chipped in. ‘Weren’t you lonely there?’
    ‘Lonely? I was booked solid. Had two big gay weddings booked for fall and the birders come all the time. Some days I had to install a turnstile on the bridge.’
    Genie laughed. It was an exaggeration, but she could see why people would go there. Some part of it was probably this loud, friendly woman with an infectious smile.
    ‘Well, I’m in no rush and there’s a cute little teahouse about ten clicks down the road. We should get you guys cleaned up. I want to know all about Ferry and you. And how’s my house look? Bad?’
    ‘Needs fixing up for sure,’ Renée informed her. ‘Pears are sweet though and we ate some of your salad stuff.’
    She laughed. ‘Thank God someone did. You guys must have a guardian angel looking after you. You know how many people are looking for you?’
    ‘Yes, ma’am,’ Rian said. ‘If you’re going to stop someplace, we’d appreciate it if it isn’t anywhere near the river. We’re a little too popular right now.’
    Betty nodded, driving faster now, hardly even slowing for bends. ‘Don’t you worry. Ferry spoke to me only yesterday. He’s fretting himself silly back in Spurlake about you. He’ll be so happy to hear you’re safe.’
    Genie looked at her and heard Grandma Munby’s voice again. Go east on the Cariboo road. She’ll be waiting for you . So weird, so completely weird. Yet true.
    ‘And don’t fret about getting to Vancouver. I’ll make sure someone gets you there. That Fortress has made our lives a misery ever since they built it. This part of B.C. used to be corner of heaven, now it’s becoming like hell.’
    Rian fell asleep against Renée’s shoulders. Genie thought again of her grandma and remembered to say thanks. They were rescued – for now.

11
A Little Light Surgery
    G enie thought the Victorian teahouse was like something out of Mary Poppins . An old-fashioned clapboard house with two pointy towers at either end and two guys dressed in tweeds serving scones, apple pie and Lady Grey tea in their back garden under a glass roof. There wasn’t even a sign outside, yet there were at least four couples sitting at other tables and someone inside buying homemade jam and cakes. There was nothing like this in Spurlake. She loved the old fireplace with marble surround and a hissing log slow-burning in the grate. A fat ginger cat slept in front of it and barely acknowledged visitors.
    ‘It’s like Miss Marple,’ Renée hissed as she went to find the bathroom. ‘I saw it on TV and it’s just like this.’
    Genie grinned. She had no idea who Miss Marple was but she was glad Renée liked it.
    Rian was eating hot scones, trying not to let the butter drip on to his jeans. Betty talked to the owners and swapped guest horror stories. It was a good respite from their ordeals so far.
    Genie saw Renée silently signalling her over to join her in the bathroom. Rian saw it too. ‘Impossible for a girl to go to the bathroom alone,