She flashed a cold smile. ‘I hope you’re not trying to excuse your particular peculiarities, Henry. We’re all responsible for our actions in this life. Blaming the long-gone past is rather a lame excuse if that’s what you’re up to. The vast majority of abuse victims don’t go on to become abusers.’

‘But I did, Mother, I did. Cause and effect. Those formative events set me on a path. And now look at me. Look where it got me. Those events defined my life.’

Her eyes widened. ‘Don’t tell me that’s the hint of a conscience raising its ugly head? Are you feeling guilty, Henry? Is that where this is going? I never thought I’d see the day.’

He clawed at his scalp. ‘Ha! Don’t be so absurd. I was born evil; I was rotten from day one. Daddy would be so very proud. I’m wicked to the core.’

She pointed at the camera. ‘That old thing seems a little dated now, don’t you think? Surely there’s something more up to date you could use, something digital, something that produces images you could upload directly to that computer you seem so very fond of.’

He pulled his lips back, baring his teeth, snarling. ‘I need actual photographs, Mother. Pictures I can develop myself – pictures I can hold in my hand. You can’t put digital images in an envelope. You can’t put them in a post box. I would have thought that was blatantly obvious.’

He heard her sigh in an exaggerated, dramatic way as if she was performing on a stage, signalling her disdain, as she had so many times in life. And then she spoke again. As he knew she inevitably would. ‘What on earth have you got planned now, you ridiculous boy?’

Heath held up the local weekly newspaper in clear view, pointing to a bold headline announcing Lottie’s disappearance, emblazoned on the front page in two-inch high capital letters. Lottie’s smiling face filled two-thirds of the page, with only two bold words above it:

‘The powers that be are looking for the obnoxious little brat, Mother. And they’re looking for me too – the ineffectual pigs with their criticisms and judgements. I’m a mystery man, a monster that haunts their dreams, the talk of the town. The investigation is in full flow.’

She wagged a finger. ‘I told you to move her, either that or kill her. When will you ever listen? You can’t target the brat’s mother effectively if you’re languishing in a cell. Think about that, my boy. You were incredibly fortunate to avoid prison in Syria. Why gamble with your freedom yet again? It’s ill-advised at best.’

Heath winced at the mere mention of incarceration. But he remained confident in his ability to outwit the authorities. He always was when anticipating the end game. The doubts came later. ‘Watch and learn, Mother. The potential pay-off entirely justifies the risks.’ He walked towards the cage, the newspaper still clutched tightly in one hand. He began shaking the cage with his free hand, pulling the entire structure first one way and then pushing it the other, the metal base rattling against the floorboards. He continued shaking it more and more vigorously until Lottie partially woke from her drug-induced stupor, opening one eye and then closing it again moments later.