Richard was in agony from being kicked in the stomach but felt he somehow deserved the physical pain as punishment for messing things up yet again. DS Foster drove him home in his car and suggested going to the hospital first, but Richard refused. He longed to get home but simultaneously dreaded seeing his wife – certain she would blame him for making the situation worse – he blamed himself and deserved Martha’s wrath as well as the pain he was suffering.

He tried not to think about how angry she’d be, but Martha surprised him when he entered the house by almost falling into his arms. He pulled back in pain at the sudden contact and she gasped at the sight of him. Looking more than a little dishevelled and with his clothes caked in mud, there was a cut at the side of Richard’s mouth which was starting to swell.

‘What happened?’ she asked.

Richard collapsed onto the sofa, not caring about the mud on his clothes. ‘They took the money and were leaving without telling me where Danny is. I – I tried to stop them but probably only made things worse.’ He put his head in his hands, unable to say more.

‘That about sums it up,’ Foster explained. ‘They said they would ring when they’d counted the money but there’s been nothing yet.’ He looked almost as dejected as Richard, whereas Martha seemed to have adopted a calm exterior – her previous anger gone, her face pale and her eyes lifeless.

‘He’s dead isn’t he?’ she asked calmly.

Elaine spoke up, having remained silent until then. ‘Martha, don’t say such a thing. It’s not true!’

‘We don’t know, Martha. There’s still hope,’ Foster said. ‘They could simply be making you wait, getting back at you for not having the full amount before.’

‘Yes, that’s probably what they’re doing. I’m sure they’ll ring soon.’ Richard lifted his head and latched onto the detective’s words as if squeezing them for the tiniest drop of hope to present to his wife. He watched her turn, shaking her head as she silently went upstairs. There was nothing he, the police, nor Elaine could do; Martha was a grieving mother, convinced her precious son was dead.

DI Radford arrived at the Stones’ house shortly after Martha had gone upstairs. Radford and Graham shared a brief whispered conversation in the hallway before joining Richard and Elaine in the lounge.

‘You’re sure they were in the same vehicle?’ he asked Richard again.

‘Yes, the white transit van. I didn’t get a good look at the number plate but I assume it was still covered.’ Richard didn’t feel up to answering the detective’s questions but was aware they must move swiftly to find Danny.

‘Do you think they’ve... killed him?’ Richard could hardly form the words, they sounded so absolute, so final.