Finally, it clicked open. He flipped the padlock off and tossed it on the ground. Inside, the shed was small and dark. His eyes adjusted. A mower against one wall. Two snowboards stacked on racks. A bike hanging from hooks. An old wardrobe. Aha! Tugging on the doors, he almost toppled the whole thing over.

‘It’s okay, Bella. Daddy’s here.’

When the doors opened, a pair of snowboarding boots hit him in the chest. Snow jacket, gloves and goggles tumbled out. Heaving them aside, he turned back to the wardrobe. Another jacket, hiking boots, a tent, sleeping bag … Marty kept hurling the stuff onto the concrete floor until the shelves and hanging space were bare.

She has to be here.

He glanced around the shed again and then stared out of the door at the house. Where has the bastard hidden her? Marty studied the walls and the roof line. A two-bedroom townhouse with no secret rooms. Unless there was a space under the house. Had he put her in a cellar?

30 TARA

30

TARA

TARA FINISHED READING THE ARTICLE ONLINE AND REACHED FOR HER mobile. Fuck-a-duck. There’d been a baby before Bella. God, poor Lexie, such a tragedy. And hottie hubby had been crucified in the media. Tara didn’t remember the story—she hadn’t taken any interest in baby stuff before Zoe was born. Why hadn’t Lexie told them at playgroup? If that had happened to Tara, she’d have been shouting about the injustices of this cruel world, asking for help, looking for sympathy and support. But Lexie had changed her surname, moved house and kept it a secret.

Without saying hello, Tara launched straight into the phone call.

‘Mel, did you see the paper? Oh my God, did she tell you about the first baby?’

‘No, she never said anything to me.’ Mel sounded as hurt as Tara felt. ‘How awful to lose a baby.’

‘She must have been devastated, but she had Bella straight away.’

‘Yes, but I don’t think the second baby replaces the first.’

‘That’s not what I meant.’ Tara sighed. Mel was too nice about everyone; Tara should have rung one of her school friends. They would have echoed her sentiments but they wouldn’t have understood her sense of betrayal. Did Mel?

‘Don’t you think it’s weird,’ Tara continued tentatively, ‘that Lexie didn’t say a word about him?’

‘Mm. Maybe. Why do they have a different name?’

‘The paper said it was because of his work. He’d have no patients if they knew his real name.’

‘You’re right, it is weird. Will you go down to playgroup today?’

‘I don’t think so.’ Tara knew she wouldn’t have time. ‘Josh is there now but he’ll back soon. What about you?’

‘No, I’m taking Sammy to the zoo. He’s really upset; he needs some special time with me.’