‘With Dan dead and you neutralized and neutered, I can run things my way without interference. Simple logic,’ said Eva.

‘Did you kill Dan?’ asked Tobey.

‘No, of course not, but I’ve always been a woman who could recognize an opportunity when it slaps me in the face.’

‘Dan told me that about you,’ Tobey agreed. ‘So you heard about Libby and Troy’s abduction and decided to take over. Do you know where my daughter is now?’

‘No idea. That’s the truth,’ said Eva. ‘The people I had guarding them were killed and Libby and Troy were taken. I did wonder if maybe you’d found them and that’s why you’re here? Revenge?’

Pause. Tobey watched Eva without blinking once. The tension in the room ratcheted up several notches, like heat being turned up beneath a pan of already simmering water.

‘No, I didn’t find them,’ said Tobey. ‘Who d’you think would have the nerve to take Libby and Troy away from you?’

‘I’d like to know that too,’ Eva said, shrugging. ‘I’ve been assured it wasn’t any of Dowd’s people.’

‘You genuinely don’t know where my daughter is?’

‘I give you my word – for what it’s worth.’ Eva seemed very keen for Tobey to believe her.

She and Tobey had forgotten about the rest of us. In that moment, we were all irrelevant.

Eva shook her head. ‘Look, Tobey, at this point, if I knew, I’d tell you. Then I’d have something to barter with. You’re looking at me like I’m not your favourite person and it hurts.’ She ended with a mocking smile, but I wasn’t fooled. This woman was bricking it, in spite of the bodyguards behind her.

‘Dan always said you were good at reading people,’ Tobey said coolly. ‘But don’t worry, I know who took Libby and Troy – and where our kids are at this precise moment.’

‘You do?’ Callie asked sharply, getting in before I could. ‘Where are they?

‘The police have them safe,’ said Tobey, his tone softening as he turned to look directly at my daughter. I watched as he took her hand in his and caressed it. ‘They were locked in a car in a garage that was rigged to blow up the moment the external garage door was opened. Luckily, the inner door leading into the house wasn’t rigged, so the police were able to rescue them and defuse the bomb before any damage was done. But the person who made the IED tried to make damned sure that Libby and Troy wouldn’t be around to identify him.’

‘Troy’s safe? He’s really all right? Oh please, where is he?’ Relief flowed through me, headier than cheap champagne. ‘Where was this garage? Whose is it? Do they know?’

Tobey looked round. ‘Why don’t you tell everyone?’

Who was he speaking to?

‘Well, Jon? We’re all waiting.’