The Key by Sarah May Palmer Read Free Book Online Page A

destination, when he crossed the street and entered a rather grubby-looking motel. Spotting the sign , she didn’t miss the irony of the motel’s name ; ‘ Pleasant View ’ . The Pleasant View Motel, Sunholme , overlooked a piece of derelict land which housed a burnt out car, a selection of house bricks, and a battered supermarket shopping cart. Oh, very pleasant indeed , she tittered to herself.
    Carly watched as Scott walked into the motel , and continued to observe when a few minutes later he le t himself into door number 1 1.
    It was now 10.4 2 a.m. so that meant she had to act fast. The news bulletin about Scott would air at 10.51 a.m., and if the Scott saw the broadcast he’d panic. If the motel staff saw the broadcast they might call the police, but they might also inadvertently or deliberately tip him off. After all, this wasn’t exactly the home of model citizens!
    Carly pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, but immediately realized that the police would be able to trace her after the call. Looking around, she spotted a nearby payphone , which she quickly made her way over to. She rang the Harvest Spring Junction police station anonymous ly and gave the location of Scott Halliday . Then she hung up abruptly before the inevitable questions of who she was could be asked.
    Carly felt the urge to convince herself that she had done the right thing. I know I’ve made the right decision to help Scott. Yes, I have. Definitely. It was the best thing to do for sure. And I’m going to stay here and watch until I see him climbing into the patrol car .
    Carly watched each minute slowly tick by on her watch. It’s true what they say about a watched pot never boiling , she reflected. At 10.50 a.m . she saw a patrol c ar silently approach . N o sirens . And no flashing lights. It felt strange to her how people in the vicinity suddenly started to walk more quickly the moment a police car came into view. And b y the time the patrol car came to a stop outside room number 11, the street was devoid of people .
    The next minute or two were just a haze, but Carly snapped out of it when she saw the two officers leading Scott to their car. He looked bemused. He looked like a lost little boy. But she knew it was for the best. As the police pulled away, the street started to fill with all sorts of characters once again. Carly became aware that a group of dubious-looking youths were coming in her direction, and she didn’t think it wise to stick around to find out what their intentions might be .
    Carly turned on her heels and started to quickly head back towards the train station. The faster she walked, the louder the footsteps behind her became. Carly’s heart was beating like a big bass drum. Perspiration was streaming down her face. Her legs felt like mush. Then a tap on her shoulder made Carly let out an almighty scream. “ Arghhhhhh .”
    Carly opened her eyes and realized she was now back in her apartment.

NINETEEN
     
    Carly turned on the TV to catch the latest update. She knew it would take a while before the officers got back to Harvest Spring Junction, and even longer before the news was relayed to the news channels.
    There were several big news stories on TV that day , and although she personally knew all about Vincent Halliday, his attaché case and Tracey Dawn Jackson’s locket, the media were still blissfully unaware of those things . All they knew was that the police were looking for Scott to help with enquiries.
    Of course by now there would be reporter’s sniffing around like bloodhounds, but Carly knew that when it was murder , everyone in law enforcement stayed tight lipped. Too many previous cases had been thrown out of court over a technicality, and no one wanted a murderer to walk free.
    Considering her options, Carly pondered on what to do next.
    Maybe I should call in at the radio station . J ust say I was passing. I could do some fishing about to find out exactly what the media does know. On second