I don’t know if I can hurt her. I might be a killer, but could I really hit an elderly woman?

The splashing has stopped. The doctor will be in here in seconds, so I rush towards Thea and drag her to the bed, pushing her back onto the mattress. It won’t give me much time, but it might be enough. I’m sure I can run faster than either of them.

Thea cries out with shock, but not – I don’t think – pain. I glance back towards the bathroom door to see the doctor, water dripping from his naked body.

‘Judith, come back! Not again, Judith. Don’t leave us again.’

I have no idea what he means, but I reach the door to the corridor and to my surprise and relief I see a key in the lock. I yank it out, open the door and run through, closing and locking it behind me.

I race down the stairs. I can’t open the door to the basement to set the other girls free, but maybe I can raise the alarm once I’m out and get help for them. Right now all I want to do is put as much distance between me and the doctor as possible.

I hurry to the back porch in search of shoes, but there are none there.

‘Shit!’ I can’t run round the streets with no shoes on.

I tear back down the corridor, thinking, trying to keep my head clear, although I can feel the grey dullness creeping in, like a sea fret sweeping inland, blanketing all in its path.

Suddenly I find myself standing by the board with the keys on, and I know what I have to do. I’m going to take Thea’s car. I’ve no idea where I’ll go, but I have to get away from here.

CHAPTER 47

47

I don’t know if Thea and Garrick will come after me. But why would they? They are not physically strong enough to force me to return with them, but they may try to persuade me. Will they call the police – say I’ve stolen their car? I don’t know. All I can think about is making my escape. I wrench open the side door and run towards the garage, almost stumbling as I check repeatedly over my shoulder, expecting to see Thea appear behind me at any moment.

Her car is full of petrol, thank goodness, and I slam it into reverse, tyres spinning on the gravel drive as I change to first gear and put my foot down, anxious to get as far away from the house as I can. I have no money, no proper clothes and no shoes, but at least for now I have transport. What I don’t have is a plan.