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Mike Dole was an abused child who joined the army to escape. He is a
veteran of many campaigns, and the events of his troubled past have left
him plagued by nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks. He adores
Tess, but to her, he is just one more thing in life to be afraid of.
When she finally plucks up the courage to dump him, her choice of
words transport him straight back to his terrible past. He kidnaps Tess
and leaves her on the remote island, telling himself she will look after
herself, but deep down knowing that she has no chance. Having abandoned
Tess, Mike’s demons are silenced, at least for a while.
Detective Sergeant Cal Fisher is given
the job of investigating Tess’s
disappearance. Cal is struggling with a problem partner, a mother with
dementia, and the painful reappearance of his ex-wife, not to mention
his battle to quit smoking, and Tess’s aggressive mother. At first he
believes that Tess has simply run away, until he meets Mike and begins
to delve into his past.
Tess struggles to survive.
Frightened and desperate, her attempts at scavenging and fishing are
pathetic. Finally, frozen and starving, she reaches deep inside herself
and finds an inner strength she never knew she had.
Mike’s
nightmares are not banished for long, and he decides the only thing for
it is to leave the city. But his latest girlfriend finds out details of
his past, details he cannot bear to even think about, and confronts him
with them. Mike has no choice but to repeat the only thing that gives
him any peace. He kidnaps her, intending to dump her on the island where
he believes by now Tess will be no more than bare bones.
But Tess is far from dead... | 
Abandoned
