Radford and Foster were on the move. Graham opened their car and waved to the police car to tell them to move off, then pulled out close behind them.

DI Alex Radford was wired. ‘If they go on the motorway the cameras will soon pick them up, or that number plate recognition thingy you like so much.’

Graham laughed. ‘That number plate thingy is a wonderful invention, and yes, hopefully we’ll pick them up quickly – otherwise it’s a hundred and twenty miles or more to London.’

51

DAY 6

Danny had been transferred to a private room where his mother and grandmother sat, one at each side of him, like bookends, and Suni, still with them, hovered in the background. Richard had left the room at the request of Alex Radford and been away for about twenty minutes, presumably, Martha thought, to get an update on what was happening with the kidnappers. She’d reminded her husband to ring his parents with the good news before he returned to sit with them again.

Danny was weak and quiet and allowed his mother to gently wash his face and body without even seeming aware of what she was doing. The doctor warned his parents, and the police, not to ask too many questions. Martha was happy to comply and simply told Danny how delighted they were to have him back, how much she loved him and that everything would be okay – but she was unsure how much he was taking in.

When he first saw his parents, Danny cried – hot tears of fear and relief, huge sobs shaking his body. Now he lay still on the bed, staring at the ceiling, a drip in his arm to help rehydrate him. He’d also been given a mild sedative to help him sleep. The doctor suggested keeping Danny overnight – he reassured Martha and Richard that physically their son should make a speedy recovery but his emotional healing could take much longer.

Richard returned to Danny’s room looking, his wife thought, still worried, with deep lines etched around his eyes and a concerned expression. Martha smiled at him, recognising the ordeal had been exacerbated for Richard because of his direct dealing with the kidnappers. It’s not every day you’re threatened with a gun and he’d suffered physically too from the attack in the car park.

With Danny safely returned to them, Martha felt more kindly towards Richard. Yes, he’d failed in his attempts to get the money together and they still needed to have the conversation about exactly where he’d invested their savings. Still, she thought perhaps she’d been too harsh with him, when he felt the effects of the kidnapping every bit as keenly as she had.

‘Shall I get you some coffee?’ she asked.

‘No thanks, but we need to talk.’