Megan couldn’t see very much at all as her eyesight began to blur. She was becoming increasingly drowsy, as she fought to stay awake. Heath watched her closely, studying her expressions and the rhythmic movements of her chest, as her breathing became more laboured. He watched and counted the seconds pass until he decided the time was precisely right.

‘Right, up you get. It’s time for us to visit my latest plaything. Time for me to have some fun.’

Megan tried to stand, shaking herself awake, but the effects of the drug were already dulling her senses. She fell back into her seat, groaning slightly as she sunk into the soft cushion. Heath took her arm and then leaned backwards, dragging her to her feet in one co-ordinated movement. ‘Okay, come on, bitch, up you get, come on, I’ve been waiting for this! It’s playtime.’

‘What… what are you saying?’

Heath shoved Megan towards the hall, yelling when she stumbled, struggling to regain her footing. He slapped her face hard with an open hand on reaching the base of the stairs and then pointed to the top. ‘If you want to see the little mare, you’ll get up there now, one step at a time, that’s it, climb, right to the very top.’

‘She… she was here all along?’

He pushed her hard. ‘Shut your stupid mouth. Get up there, and you may find out.’

Megan climbed the stairs one slow step at a time, focusing on her need to see Lottie, clinging on to hope. Her partially anaesthetised legs felt as if they were weighed down by lead boots, which seemed to get more substantial and more obstructive with every step.

When Megan reached the landing, Heath slapped her again, and then shook her, fearing he may have administered an excessive dose of the medication. He manoeuvred her towards the six-step ladder leading to the open hatch, and then ordered her to climb, jabbing her in the back when she stalled.

Megan’s head was swimming now, the entire area an impressionist blur, as she scrambled up the ladder, semi-conscious, with Heath pushing her from behind. She fell onto her knees as she entered the attic room, and began slowly crawling towards the cage on all fours, focused on Lottie’s sleeping form. Megan started weeping when she first touched the steel bars. She was desperately struggling to find the strength to free her captive daughter when Heath hit her from behind. He rained down blow after powerful blow until Megan lay unconscious, bruised and bleeding.

‘Can you see, Mother? Can you see what I’ve done?’

She clapped her hands together, shrieking with girlish glee. ‘You’ve done well, Henry. But don’t take too long. Kill them quickly and dump the bodies. There’s no time for delay. It’s time to bring this to an end.’

45

Kesey nodded in greeting as Police Constable Rees answered the front door to the Wellers’ spacious house.

‘Hello, Bethan, how’s it going? I’d like a quick word with Megan.’