It’s crazy that he was locked in a car boot and driven amongst the other traffic undetected. Connor knows that after this – for he has to believe there is an after – he will be more vigilant, more inquisitive. The car waiting at the lights, the one speeding in a residential area – who is driving them and what hidden cargo are they carrying? Connor will always wonder.

The pavement feels fluid under his feet. His brain not quite adjusting to being back on solid ground, sensing movement although he’s standing still.

‘This isn’t fair on Kieron, or Mum—’

A short sharp push to his shoulders causes him to swallow the rest of his words. Momentarily, he considers running, but where will he go? Where can he go that he doesn’t have to face this horrible, terrible thing he did. Unless he never returns home again there is no way he can be free and, honestly, Connor knows he is far from free now, his mind a mass of thoughts and regrets that he does not want. That he should not have at his age.

Home.

Connor’s throat swells at the thought of his mum.

‘How would you feel if I’d gone missing?’ he’d screamed, but he knows how she’d feel. Terrified. There’s a pang as he envisions her arriving back to an empty house – an unexplained absence – he can’t imagine how frantic she’ll be when she realizes where he is, what is happening…

Perhaps she will be proud of him for facing up to his past. She thinks it’s her fault. He shouldn’t have let her believe that because it isn’t. It never was.

Slowly, he walks towards the door, knowing who will be waiting inside, part of him eager to see them but mostly all he feels is dread.

It is time for retribution.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Lucy

The windscreen wipers swish. Scenery whirls by the car window, a blur through the streaking rain, speeding green gardens and shopfronts that merge together into one solid mass. Every now and then I glance at Kieron, his pale skin, his troubled sleep. I slow down – the last thing I want to do is crash and hurt him – but then I remember that time is running out and my foot squeezes the accelerator.

If I’m right about my theory then I know that Connor will be in turmoil, confused and scared, and I’m certain I am right.

Hurry.

The needle gauge on the petrol tank has slipped into the red and is hovering dangerously close to empty. I can’t afford the time to fill up.

My eyes flicker between the gauge and the road. I recall Aidan telling me once that cars use less fuel at a lesser speed and I don’t know if that’s true but still I slow down by 5 mph.