Looking After Mates

Havermouth, Five Years Before

Taylors road was blocked off, and Rhett was forced to park some way down from the police barricade. Heath’s heart was racing in his chest and his palms sweating. He had never heard that tone in Cameron’s voice before, and it tugged at him viciously, creating a need to hold his mate that was almost overpowering his rationality.

He was out of the car before Rhett had completely stopped and hurried to the barricade where a police officer held out his hands to indicate to Heath to stop. Beyond the police officer’s barricade, past two police cars and an ambulance, he could see Cameron’s Ute, facing toward the lookout. Cameron’s bright hair was easily spotted, shining in the sunlight, and Heath felt some of the tension release from his chest.

Cameron was pale faced and, as he saw Heath, fought back tears, grimacing under the strain before controlling himself.

“Ah, shit,” Heath whispered under his breath.

“You need to stay there,” the policeman told him. “Th