Megan sighed, making zero effort to hide her frustration. ‘Okay, have it your way. But this had better be good. You’d better not be messing me about. Getting my hopes up and then letting me down would be so cruel. You’ve always made a big deal about your faith. I hope you’re better than that.’

‘Just come as I’ve asked of you. You won’t be disappointed. I may even introduce you to Mother. I’m sure she’d be delighted to meet you.’

Megan banged on Heath’s front door at precisely the right time, not a second late and not a second early. He answered almost immediately, on her second knock. He was dressed in his father’s old clothes, but still had the hint of cherry-red lipstick on his lips. ‘Come in, come in, it’s lovely to see you. I’m so excited. This is going to be an extraordinary day.’

Megan felt increasingly agitated as she entered the hallway. Why the evasion? There was something about Heath’s demeanour that concerned her. He seemed different. So unlike the man she’d got to know. ‘What’s this about, Martin? I hope you’re not playing some kind of ridiculous game.’

Oh, it’s a game all right, bitch, but not one you’ll want to play. He led her into the old-fashioned lounge, where a white porcelain cup containing a thick green liquid was sitting on the veneered coffee table. ‘Game? No, not at all, you’ve been praying to find out where Lottie is, and now you’re about to get an answer. How good is that? It’s a matter for celebration. All your dreams are about to come true because of me.’

Megan’s eyes lit up. ‘You know something? Where is she? What have you found out?’

Heath looked her in the eye. ‘Right, I need you to listen to me very carefully. I want you to sit yourself down, and then pick up that cup. If I’m going to tell you where Lottie is, you’ll have to follow my instructions to the letter and without question. Even the slightest deviation from my plan and my mouth will be sealed forever. Tell me you understand.’

Megan’s entire body began to shake as she pressed her back against her chair, retreating, making herself smaller. ‘Oh my God, it’s you. You took her. You had her all along!’

‘Ah, so you’ve finally worked it out. Ten out of ten, what a clever girl you are.’

She snarled at him. ‘You heinous bastard! You’ll be locked up for the rest of your miserable life.’

‘Oh, I don’t think so, Megan.’

She reached out, grabbing his wrist, digging in her nails. ‘Where is she? Tell me now. Where’s my little girl?’

Heath began to laugh as he pulled away, crazed, and then suddenly stopped, the expression on his face becoming thoughtful. ‘You can report me to the piggy police if you want to. Feel free, because I won’t stand in your way. But I can guarantee you that I’ll say nothing if you do, not a single word. The right to silence. Isn’t that what you legal types call it? Talk to the pigs if you want to, do it right now, by all means use my house phone. But if you do, you’ll never see your helpless little brat again. I’ll sit there in whatever interview room they drag me to and say “no comment” time and again as Lottie slowly dies from starvation and thirst.’