Megan frowned. ‘They’re short of resources.’

Well, that was good news. Fate was smiling on him. ‘That’s completely ridiculous; what does money matter? What’s more important than a little girl’s survival?’

‘I think it’s a matter of priorities. They don’t think he’s coming back.’

Well, the cretins got that wrong. ‘I pray that he doesn’t. But what if he does? Have you considered that possibility? What if he does?’

Megan’s muscles jumped under her skin. ‘A part of me hopes that’s exactly what happens. I want to know who he is. I want to see his face, look into his eyes. I want the opportunity to force him to talk.’

Be careful what you wish for, bitch. I’ll pay you another visit soon enough. ‘I have to say that you’re wonderfully stoic in the circumstances. If there’s ever anything I can do to help, anything at all, you only have to ask. I’m very fond of Lottie. She reminds me of my sister.’

Megan looked him in the eye and thought he meant it. That they weren’t just empty words as uttered by so many. He appeared sincere. As if he really cared. ‘Thank you. I’m doing all I can to stay strong for Lottie’s sake. My falling apart isn’t going to help her.’

‘You’ve never said a truer word, and it’s to your credit. I don’t know if I could be nearly so brave in your place.’

‘Thank you again. I’m glad someone understands.’

‘Are you a woman of faith, Megan?’

Megan replied in a soft, halting voice, ‘Why do you ask?’

‘I was brought up a Catholic. My dear father used to trust in prayer. He believed in miracles. He was such a good and worthy man. I like to think I share his virtues.’

Megan took a sip of her fast cooling tea, glad of the time to think, however briefly. ‘I never thought I’d hear myself saying this, but I’ve been doing a lot of praying in recent days. If there is a God, I’m very much hoping He’s listening.’

Heath smiled. And now here you are entertaining the devil’s disciple. If only you knew the truth, if only you understood the horror you faced. ‘Would you like to pray with me now? We could kneel together.’

Megan was well and truly outside her comfort zone, but that was never going to stop her, not if there was even the slightest possibility that prayer would help save her little girl from whatever dangers she faced at the hands of an unseen monster. The two knelt alongside each other. Eyes closed tight shut and heads bowed.

‘Shall we link hands, my dear girl?’

Megan thought it a strange choice of phrase, but she reached out anyway, holding his hand in hers with a firm grip, as he started quietly chanting in Latin. She listened in contemplative silence for almost three minutes before he stopped and spoke, ‘Hopefully that’s got the Almighty’s undivided attention. My father taught me the words and phrasing as a boy when we were alone together. Would you like to pray now, or would you like me to take the lead? I’m no expert, I can’t guarantee results, but it’s something I’ve done many times in the past with good outcomes. Often in times of great adversity. I’ve spent a great deal of time with children in need of help.’