CHILDHUNT: A Mystery & Suspense Thriller in the Bestselling Diana Rivers Series (The Diana Rivers Mysteries Book 5) by Faith Mortimer

and puzzlement…but it was a fleeting sense…all too soon it left her. She found she was slumped forward, leaning over the windowsill, her forehead pressed against the cold glass.
    “Clare?” Adam asked. “Are you all right?” Within seconds, she felt arms around her, gently pushing her towards the bed. She looked up, and his silhouette seemed to thicken and pulsate.
    “Are you all right?” he repeated.
    Clare hesitated before slowly nodding her head.
    “You gave me a fright. I heard you moan and wondered what was happening when you toppled forward. Here, lie down, and put your feet up. I’ll get you some water.” He swung her legs up onto the bed and pulled the top cover over her.
    “No. It’s okay. I’m fine really. Don’t go.”
    Adam peered at her curiously. “You don’t look it…you’re shivering. But I won’t leave you.” He lay down beside her and tucked one arm beneath her head. “What happened?”
    Clare wondered how much to tell him. She knew what he thought about ‘crackpots and quacks’. What would he say if she mentioned her feeling? It was called all sorts of names ranging from clairvoyance to deep meditation to extrasensory perception. It was something that happened to her from time to time. Occasionally, it came at her with a gigantic ‘wham’, which left her reeling; at other times, it was a soft light recognition telling her that something wasn’t quite right. Clare thought she just possessed an advanced level of intuition, and if she told Adam he would have bellowed with laughter and called it ‘Messages from the other bloody side. Come off it!’ No, it was better she kept quiet.
    “I was watching the snow come down and suddenly felt a bit dizzy, that’s all.”
    “Hmm. You’re probably still tired after our early start. Also, don’t forget you’ve been partying away like mad up in London between filming. It’s a good thing we’re here. You need a break.”
    “I’m sure you’re right,” she agreed, snuggling down into his shoulder and closing her eyes. She snapped them open as a thought came to her. “There was one thing I noticed out of the window. There’s a lot of activity round one of the houses in the valley. I saw at least one police car with its lights flashing and wondered what was going on.”
    “Not my problem this time. Now do you think it’s about time we got dressed? We did promise we’d see Diana and Steve sometime today. Take it easy, though, in case you feel odd again.”
    Adam kissed Clare on the lips and gave her a reassuring hug before rising from the bed. On his way to the bathroom he stopped and looked out of the window. “You’re right. I can see two police cars down there now. I wonder what the flap is.”
     
     
    Chapter 12
    Debbie felt cold and wet. Why was she lying on the ground? She tried to lift her head, but it felt so heavy. She heard footsteps coming towards her, the sound muffled in the snow, and suddenly William was there. He knelt down and pulled her to her.
    “Debbie, what happened? Why are you out here with no coat on? Darling, you’re freezing. Here, let me help you. Put this on.”
    She was dimly aware of something warm being placed around her shoulders and a strong arm lifting her from the ground.
    “Debbie, why’s the house in darkness? Where are the kids? Are they inside?”
    She lifted her hand to her lips and found them trembling as she tried to answer him. “Debbie?” She heard the anxiety in his voice and caught the look of panic in his eyes.
    Again, she tried to speak but couldn’t find the words. William swung her up into his arms and staggered towards the house.
    Debbie closed her eyes as she struggled to speak. The children…they had to find them. She heard William mutter something between his gasps of breath. “Debbie, what’s happened…oh my God!”
    After reaching the dark house, William stumbled through the open doorway and switched a light on. He lowered Debbie into a kitchen chair just as his