“No!” I said. The road, the sliding planes of trees and light were bad enough. Endless echoes of what had been at the edge of my sight for so long. But at least this road, these fences anchored us to Runagate. To go further would be running away. This had been a mistake. Everything I had taught myself to be, all my mother’s lessons, snapped back. I scrabbled at the door handle. “You can’t make me. I didn’t want to leave. I just wanted to know—” Know what, I didn’t remember. I needed to be free of the rush and closeness, the rattling and noise.

Trish grabbed me around the shoulders. “Stop, Gary! She’s going to jump!”

Gary braked. Trish, still holding me, slid forward and banged her elbow into the dashboard. She didn’t let go.

But I wasn’t the reason Gary had stopped. Sergeant Aberdeen was pulling up behind us. I’d never even seen his lights flashing. He came over and leaned on Gary’s window.

“Young Mr Damson. Do you have a working seatbelt in that deathtrap yet?”

“Trish is doing double duty, sir,” said Gary.

Sergeant Aberdeen looked further in. I was too mortified to struggle.

“Hey, Dad,” said Trish. “We’re kidnapping Tina.” But she let me go. I straightened my dress and ran my fingers through my hair, trying to look meek and respectable. My neck hurt, an old ache, and the rhythm of the wheels still rattled in my joints. I wanted to be on the sturdy earth.

“Sergeant Aberdeen,” I said.

“Hello, Miss Scott,” he said gravely. My mother has woken up, I thought, taking refuge in panic, a cocoon of fears. She found me missing and told the police. She will be frantic with worry, and disappointed. I am a terrible daughter. Maybe the house caught fire and she ran to safety and doesn’t think I survived. I am—

“Patricia,” he said. “You could have left a note.”

“You could have let me get a mobile phone.”

“They don’t work out here,” said Sergeant Aberdeen. He looked back at me. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to threaten to detain you. These two are Known To The Police. Are you with them willingly?”

We liked Winston Aberdeen, my mother said. He had been good to us. It took me a moment to realise he was laughing at me.

“It was her idea,” said Gary.

“Bettina Scott,” said Sergeant Aberdeen gently, talking past Gary. “I can take you back to town.”

I hesitated. My bones felt weak; I had been afraid and sick since we left Runagate. And yet—

“Da-ad,” said Trish.

“She’s looking for her brothers,” said Gary. “We thought she ought to.”

Sergeant Aberdeen’s smile faded. He glanced at Trish.

“Wasn’t my idea,” said Trish. “I’m over it.”

“Sir,” said Gary. “What really happened to Mr Scott? And the boys?”