‘I understand,’ said Grace stiffly. ‘Has it not occurred to you that I might be ashamed of myself? That the story would reflect very badly on me, and I really don’t want you to see me as someone to despise or condemn? All I can say is that I made a very stupid mistake, which was based on greed. The whole thing is based on greed, in fact. Now, please let’s not talk any more until we get to the house. I am genuinely in pain, as well as possibly still being hunted. You have to believe that, if nothing else.’47

An engine was heard before Thea could respond, approaching from behind them. ‘Just walk normally, if you don’t want to be noticed,’ Thea said. ‘Don’t look at the driver. Keep right into the side.’ They were walking on the left side of the road, contrary to the Highway Code’s advice. Drew had informed her that it was safer to face the oncoming traffic, because a driver was less likely to kill you if he could see your eyes. It was sheer human instinct, he insisted.

But if you were a refugee escaping from some nameless threat, you might well be safer to show only your back. Two women strolling along at the end of a summer’s day were unlikely to be remarkable, anyway. Grace did as instructed, walking steadily, her head bowed. The vehicle slowed behind them, and then passed giving them a wide berth. Thea could see at least four heads in the silver-grey car. ‘They’ve been for a family day out,’ Thea said. ‘They won’t have any spare attention for us.’

‘Oohhh,’ moaned the woman at her side.

‘What’s the matter?’

Grace was swaying on her feet, her eyes almost closed. ‘I was so terrified,’ she breathed. ‘I thought I was going to faint. Is it much further to your house?’

‘Well, we’ve got to turn left again in a bit, and that’s the last stretch. We did have to take a detour to avoid the business park, you know. Just keep on walking, okay? One step at a time and all that.’ There were ripe blackberries in the hedge, she noticed with regret. They’d have made a useful contribution to the meagre food supplies at the house. But she not only had to keep 48Grace walking, but she didn’t have anything to put them in. This is silly, an inner voice insisted. Silly to come here without a car; silly to exchange one sort of bored isolation for another; and extremely silly to adopt this strange woman whose every action was suspicious.

She said nothing, wrestling with feelings of remorse at her persistent questions and sceptical reaction to those few answers she’d been given. Wasn’t every crime, on some level, based on greed? Traffickers, whether of people or animals, made very good money. Betrayals and deceptions were generally motivated by a desire for something unobtainable by legal methods.

‘Please don’t be annoyed with me,’ Grace said, after a few minutes. ‘I just want to rest for a while. Your kindness is deeply appreciated. Tomorrow – tomorrow I’ll go.’