‘Aidan, please. We can talk about this.’

He pulls the door to the second room. The last room.

It’s locked.

‘Open it,’ he demands.

‘I… Connor isn’t here. I don’t—’

‘Open. It.’ He slams his palm against the wood. Glares at her. He’s never come close to hitting a woman before but… ‘Now.’

Her hand shakes as she pulls a key out of her jeans pocket.

His hand is trembling too as he silently takes it.

Chapter Fifty-One

Connor

Connor is inside the house. He turns and meets the ice-cold eyes of his captor; it all seems so obvious now who has taken Ryan and Tyler. Who has taken him.

‘Please…’ Connor isn’t sure what to call him now. Sir? Stephen? Mr Marshall?

His headmaster.

His kidnapper.

His girlfriend’s dad.

Except Hailey isn’t his girlfriend anymore, is she? Because of what he did, what he, Tyler and Ryan did – she will never be anyone’s girlfriend again.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Lucy

It hurts to breathe.

My chest burns as I gasp for air in short, sharp bursts.

We’re okay.

I’ve never had a blown tyre before and the experience was terrifying.

Slowly, I draw my arm back from Kieron’s chest.

He’s okay. Briefly, he wakes.

‘Are we nearly home?’

‘Nearly,’ I whisper. ‘Go back to sleep.’

Lulled by the rain pattering on the roof, his eyelids flutter and then close.

We narrowly missed an oncoming truck when we spun onto the verge but not one single car has stopped to see if we are okay, if we need help.

Traffic streams past, tyres swooshing over the wet tarmac.

Frustrated tears rise and I swallow hard. There is no time to cry.

My head is woozy, I can’t think clearly, stress and fear have rendered me useless.

I could call my breakdown service but how long might they take to arrive? I can’t afford to wait. It’s all on me.

Connor.

Kieron.

Aidan.

I’m the one who can bring our family back together.

I click open the door, rain gusts into my face as I head to the boot, pull out the jack. My hands curve around the spare tyre. It’s heavier than I thought. My arms ache as I drag the tyre out of the boot. I begin to roll it towards the front of the car, my heart is racing, my chest heaving by the time I drop it onto the grass. On my knees, my jeans soaked, I loosen the wheel nuts.

Quick. Quick. Quick.

This delay could be crucial.

Vital.

Life and death.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Connor

Mr Marshall – for Connor still can’t address him as Stephen – turns and locks the front door before pocketing the key.