‘I don’t know! I didn’t know I’d be driving you up there. I panicked. I’m a … I’m a coward. I’ve tried to end my own life but I can’t. You need to … you … Just shoot me, for fuck’s sake!’

Ray stared at Laura. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think while witnessing her terror. A feeling of helplessness had enveloped him.

He shook his head. He couldn’t give into despair.

He steadied his nerve and his resolve.

Ray blinked and met her eye again, slowly nodding his head.

He looked at Tom, who was doing his best to keep Lane distracted.

Laura watched her two colleagues. She knew what they needed from her, but she was so tired and Lane was so strong. They had no idea how strong he was. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down.

I’m panicking, she told herself. I was caught off guard from the start and I haven’t been thinking straight since.

There’s always a way out.

What have I learned over the years that I could use?

She tried to recall every self-defence lesson she’d ever had.

Slowly, hesitantly, it came to her.

She had to stop fighting Lane and disable him. She still had her shoes on, and they had small block heels. The man holding her wore trainers, not boots. She’d noticed them when he’d carried her to the car boot.

Now – while his attention was directed at Tom – this was her best chance.

Laura opened her eyes and looked straight at Ray.

She finally nodded back with the faintest movement of her head.

One. Two. Three, he mouthed.

She summoned every ounce of energy she had left and, all at once, stamped hard on Lane’s foot, forced the pointy tip of her elbow into his ribs and bent back the fingers of the hand gripping her shoulder. Three small but painful manoeuvres designed to unhand any attacker.

Lane cried out in shock at the triple-pronged approach and loosened his grip just enough for Laura to slide down his body and lean to the side.

The sound of a shot filled the air as Ray swiftly aimed and fired.

The bullet landed on target, hitting Lane in the upper body and sending him stumbling backwards. His weapon flew from his splayed fingers.

Laura stood upright and ran to the gun. She threw herself on the ground and grabbed it, then pointed it at her assailant.

There was no need. Lane was down.

Tom ran at him as several more guards emerged from the trees behind them.

Laura collapsed backwards into a sitting position just as Ray arrived and skidded to his knees in front of her. He pulled the gag from her mouth and she sobbed, gulping in great gasps of air.

‘About bloody time you lot showed up,’ she cried, as tears spilled down her cheeks.