Hide and Seek Read Online Free Page B

led to him being dubbed ‘The Sheriff’ - he seemed like a throwback from an old western. As children they joked that he would probably have put spurs on his boots and wore a holster if he had been allowed to.
    ‘Hello Mr Heron,’ Peter said timidly.
    He felt himself returning to childhood and being shyly polite around his friends’ parents. The Sheriff’s face softened as he inspected him and a flash of recognition passed over his face.
    ‘Peter Stevenson? Well well, how are you?’
    Peter smiled and without checking himself replied, ‘I’m okay Sheriff.’
    Peter stopped himself, realising what he ’d said. The Sheriff simply smiled. He was obviously aware of the nickname and Peter could tell that he wasn’t displeased with the moniker.
    Peter moved to one side and The Sheriff walked into the house and through to the living room as Peter followed. He surveyed the carnage of the party and turned back to Peter.
    ‘Where is everyone?’
    Peter responded, ‘I’m not sure.’
    The Sheriff looked at him quizzically, clearly not impressed with his a nswer.
    The Sheriff probed furthe r, ‘Are you the only one here?’
    It was clear that he was aware that Colin and Michelle were putting the three outsiders up and was confused as to why he was the only one in the house. Peter felt uncomfortable and a sense of guilt came over him ; it always seemed to happen when he talked to police officers even though he’d done nothing wrong. Although a thought flashed through his mind - because he had no idea what he got up to last night - that might not necessarily be true on this occasion. Peter really felt like he didn’t want to talk about waking up in a cabin in the middle of Durden Woods because even in his own head it sounded strange and was bound to lead The Sheriff to probe for more information. Information he didn’t have.
    ‘Yes. I didn’t end up sleeping here last night and I just go t back about half an hour ago.’
    The Sheriff raised his eyebrows and Peter realised that his lack of description sounded even more suspicious, and perhaps suggested that he had slept at a woman’s house. Peter ignored the obvious look from The Sheriff for more details.
    ‘I lost my phone last night so I haven’t been able to ring anyone. I think they all went for lunch or something. Colin left a note.’
    He retrieved the note from the mantelpiece and handed it to The Sheriff . A perplexed look came over his face. The Sheriff took his mobile phone out of his pocket and his finger scrolled over the Smartphone, his eyes moved back and forth from the note to his phone.
    ‘This isn’t Colin’s mobile number.’

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 7
     
    13:44pm
     
     
     
    ‘What?’ Peter replied as The Sheriff started to dial the number on the note.
    The Sheriff continued, ‘It doesn’t even look like his handwriting,’ he added.
    Peter knew that the mobile phone on the mantelpiece would start ringing and he retrieved it and handed it to The Sheriff.
    ‘No need to ring it, the phone is right here, I found it in the kitchen.’
    ‘Is this your phone?’
    Peter looked at The Sheriff as if he had just asked the stupidest question in the world.
    ‘No, it’s not mine. Maybe it belongs to one of the others. Maybe Colin lost his phone and borrowed one of the others.’
    ‘There seems to be a lot of phones that got lost last night,’ The Sheriff said in a matter-of-fact manner.
    Peter could only nod and agree, offering up a vague, ‘we all got pretty drunk last night.’
    ‘And you don’t know who could have written this?’
    ‘No, I don’t know what Colin’s writing is like. Are you sure it isn’t his?’
    ‘I’ve signed off enough of his reports to recognise his writing.’
    They both stood silent for a few moments each pondering on their own thoughts. Peter, now more than ever, was feverishly trying to recap last night’s events. The Sheriff broke the silence with an obvious statement.
    ‘This seems a little