It took several minutes for Richard to climb back into his car. Gasping and in considerable pain, he was soaked through and covered in mud, and all to no avail. Shaking and fearful, he doubted whether he’d made the right move by not involving the police. What would happen next was anybody’s guess. Danny’s fate was in the kidnapper’s hands.

Richard removed his overcoat, turned it inside out and used the bottle of water he kept in the car to splash his face and hands, then he wiped them clean with the lining of his coat. There was nothing he could do about his trousers – they were sodden and muddy.

He debated whether to remain where he was, which the kidnappers seemed to expect him to do, or go home to Martha who would probably have the police with her by now.

It was almost fully light. Richard dug into his trouser pocket for his phone and as he’d anticipated, there was a message from Martha. As he listened to her voice, anxious and afraid, he despaired of the utter mess he’d made of the whole situation. His wife would be furious, and with just cause. The police would be angry and probably already looking for something with which to charge him. And he was no closer to rescuing Danny.

Richard shivered, he put his head back on the seat and closed his eyes as tears ran down his face. He would remain in the corner of the service station car park simply because he was afraid to do anything else.

37

DAY 6

Martha didn’t wake until the doorbell rang at 8am. She struggled to pull herself from the bed then lay down again when she heard someone open the door. Assuming it was Richard, she pulled the duvet over her head, reluctant to face another day, and was surprised when her mother tapped on the bedroom door and entered the room.

‘DI Radford’s here with Suni. Are you going to get up?’ Elaine asked.

‘Can’t Richard talk to them? I need a shower.’

‘Richard’s not downstairs; I thought he was still asleep with you.’

‘Is he in his study?’

Elaine shook her head. ‘No, the door’s open, he’s not there.’

‘Okay, I’ll be down in a few minutes.’ Martha scrunched her hair in a band, took a quick shower, and then pulled on a robe. She and Richard hadn’t gone to bed until two – still waiting for a call that didn’t come.

DI Radford was sitting in the lounge, holding a cup of coffee. He stood as Martha entered the room. Elaine materialised from nowhere with a cup for Martha too.

‘Mrs Perry tells me your husband’s not at home. Can you tell us where he is?’ Radford asked, his face a tight mask, giving nothing of his thoughts away.