I am not sure I’m supposed to say this out loud. I’m fairly certain that I’m not supposed to admit to anything, but as I’ve no intention of denying it, it doesn’t really matter.

‘I’m here to hand myself in. I killed Ian. I don’t remember doing it, but I’ve seen the crime-scene tape, and I’ve seen the posters with my face on. That’s why I’m here. I can’t hide any longer.’

She’s staring at me now as if I have completely lost it.

‘Callie, Ian isn’t dead. We thought you were dead.’

I don’t know what to say.

‘Ian is being held on remand. He’s been charged with your murder.’

Hannah was feeling worse. She and Rosa had run out of words, and the misery had intensified. The pains in her stomach had increased and her muscles kept cramping. With no energy, she lay there alternately shivering and sweating, feeling as if someone was driving a screwdriver into her skull.

Rosa had gone downhill too. She had thought she would be the less affected of the two because the doctor had changed her medication, but half an hour ago she had keeled over and was now lying at the foot of Hannah’s bed.

‘Rosa,’ Hannah mumbled. ‘You said we might have seizures. If one happens to you, what can I do?’

‘Nothing,’ she whispered. ‘Don’t hold me down. Don’t put your fingers in my mouth. Try to get me on my side, if you can. But you can’t really do anything.’

We’re going to die here, Hannah thought. If Thea didn’t come, they would starve.

Slowly, carefully, she twisted her body until she was sitting up on the bed. Rosa opened her eyes and looked at her, but said nothing. It was probably too much effort.

Hannah used the bedside table as support and eased herself to her feet. They needed water. They had to keep drinking, if nothing else. She lurched across the room, grabbing the door frame as she stumbled out into the corridor.

CHAPTER 63

63

Tom’s first responsibility was to the women inside this huge house, not to Jack. But there was nothing he could do to help them until the team arrived, and in the meantime he needed to track his brother down before the place was swarming with police. Jack’s presence would be impossible to explain. However, Tom knew it would take a while for a team to be assembled – some planning would take place first, and that gave him a bit of time.

He had no idea how far into the grounds he could go before triggering the inevitable security lights, and it would be unprofessional of him to do anything that might compromise the actions of the support team when it finally arrived. He could walk around the perimeter, sticking to the bushes, but that would take too long.