Free Wasted Lives, a Detective Mike Bridger novel by Mark Bredenbeck

know anyway?
    For a second
no one spoke, the shouts outside continued, the police had not
found anyone next door. He was right; the police would be here
next. They had to move.
    The
balance of power had shifted ever so slightly now, Martin could see
it in his stepfather's eyes, they had a slight uncertain look about
them, but underneath he could still see the sickness of his
character.
    His stepfather
relented and turned sideways letting them continue, they
practically ran down the hallway towards the back door, not seeing
the eyes of the predator following them.
    He turned and
looked at his friend before he opened the door. Tama was freaking
out; Martin could see the fuse was getting shorter. "If we get
separated we will meet at the castle, you got that T?” He looked at
Tama who was just staring back at him not speaking. "T have you got
that? Meet me at the castle", he said more forcefully.
    "Yeah..., yeah
I've got it Star, no worries, let’s get out of here", Tama finally
replied, his eyes unsteady and uncertain.
    Martin let out
the breath he had been holding, he knew his friend was adept at
running from the Police; he had a lot of practice in all states of
sobriety. Wasted or not he could run with the best of them.
    Opening the
door, he stepped out into the sunshine followed by Tama. The day
looked so calm and forgiving; there was not a breath of wind. The
smell of freshly cut grass invaded his nostrils, the sound of a
lawnmower somewhere in the distance. It was a beautiful spring
day.
    He looked left
towards the large hedge that separated Tama's back yard from his;
they would be invisible until they climbed the back fence into the
gully that ran along the back of their properties. Once in the
gully they would have to drop quickly into the lower part to remain
out of sight. When they got into the gully, they could follow it
uphill and come out near another road and from there they would
make their way to the castle.
    He indicated
to Tama where he intended to go and then moved quickly over the
rear lawn crouching as he moved. Clambering over the fence he
ducked down behind a bush, he could see a couple of police officers
in Tama's back yard; they were watching the rear windows in case
somebody tried to climb out. With their eyes focused on and
scanning the windows, they would not be expecting anyone behind
them. They had about three metres to cross in open ground before
they could drop out of sight. Tama had made it over the fence and
was crouching behind him.
    "Come on Star
let’s get the fuck out of here", he whispered urgently.
    They
stood up simultaneously and made a dash for the safety of the
gully.
     
    Bridger had
hoped they would find Tama at home sleeping it off, high on the
excess and excitement of the previous night. He wanted things to
progress quickly; moving quicker meant that you caught people off
guard, less time for them to get their story straight;
unfortunately, this morning luck was not on their side. The house
clearing team had reported that the house was empty. The fact that
he was not in the house might mean that he was hiding out somewhere
though, scared of getting caught, and that might mean that his
hunch was right and he was involved in the robbery and murder of
the shop keeper.
    "He's over the
back fence, heading into the gully". The urgent shout came from the
rear of the house.
    Bridger
made to run down the side of the house but thought better of it as
a big burly police officer holding on to an equally big dog
launched himself into action. The dog, sensing some excitement and
the possibility of biting someone, was in front and pulling the
handler by the lead around his neck.
    Bridger
followed in their wake, he reached the rear yard in time to see the
hairy beast leap over the back fence with the agility of a cat and
tear off into the undergrowth.
    Before the
handler had time to clear the fence a scream erupted from somewhere
in the gully below them. A male voice yelling 'Get the fuck