‘That’s not as bad as it looks. It’s only a small amount, but it is obviously a cause for concern. There’s no sign of your family, but one of the neighbours has reported seeing Lucy come home and leave again several minutes later. She telephoned us in the time that she was here. As far as we know she’s okay, but we think she’s gone to look for Connor, which may hinder our investigation. She’d be more use to us here, answering questions. We’ve tried to reach her of course but she isn’t answering her phone. Can you try?’

Aidan pulls out his handset, but his hands are shaking too much to hold it. He places it on the workbench and jabs at buttons until it’s on speakerphone, calling Lucy.

Again, she doesn’t answer. When her answerphone kicks in, he cuts the call and chooses Connor’s name from his list of contacts instead.

A hand gently stops him. ‘We have Connor’s phone here.’

If Aidan was scared before, now he is terrified. Connor’s mobile is permanently in his possession. What happened here?

The Taken.

‘Where have you been today, Mr Walsh?’

‘At the North Star Hotel in Highbrook. I had a conference.’

‘When did you last see your wife?’

‘This morning.’

‘And your children?’

‘Last night. I cooked carbonara for everyone,’ he says as though this is important.

‘And what were their movements today?’

‘Kieron had a hospital appointment after lunch. He’s seriously ill. He shouldn’t be out there.’

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Aidan explains about PSC.

‘And which hospital is Kieron under?’

‘Wheatfield General.’

‘I’m just going to let the team know this and be prepared that Kieron may need medical attention. I’ll be back in a few moments.’

Aidan is left alone. His body taut with nerves, sitting here, doing nothing seems so… helpless.

He drums his fingers on the top of a parcel that has been delivered.

Has she taken Connor? He has to find out.

Aidan hears the murmurs of the officers coming from the lounge as he creeps towards the back door. Gently turns the key and eases down the handle. With one last, guilty look over his shoulder he pads outside, crouching as he runs under the lounge window. He wrenches open his car door and before he can be stopped he drives away from the house – from the crime scene – as fast as he can.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Lucy

Hurry.

I’m driving too fast for this road.

Forty.

Fifty.

My heart thuds painfully in my chest, my throat, my ears. My whole body pulsating with each and every noisy beat. I am incredulous that it hasn’t woken Kieron up yet.

Hurry.

My foot squeezes down on the accelerator as I watch the needle on the speedometer creep higher and higher.

Sixty.

Seventy.

I’m in a frenzy.