Elaine fixed Richard with a steely glare and probed, ‘So, tell me, Richard, why couldn’t you get the money together in time?’

‘They wanted everything in cash and we simply didn’t have that kind of cash to draw on. Most of our money’s invested, but we’ve got it now, so as soon as the kidnappers contact us we’ll be able to get Danny back home.’ It sounded so simple as if no one was to blame. Martha wanted to scream at him but her mother’s presence made venting her emotions impossible. Perhaps she could go upstairs and scream into her pillow instead – but would it help?

Later, when Richard had retreated upstairs, Elaine asked her daughter to repeat everything she knew about the police investigation.

‘There’s very little else to tell you. I’ve tried to keep you up to date on the phone.’ In truth Martha couldn’t remember what she had and hadn’t told her mother.

‘So you’re not keeping me in the dark to spare my feelings?’ Elaine asked.

‘No, Mum. I haven’t been thinking straight since this all started – keeping you in the dark never occurred to me. To be perfectly honest, I hardly know what day it is…’ Once again, Martha broke down; the thought of Danny spending his birthday locked away somewhere, afraid and alone, was too much for her.

She allowed her mother to hold her for a few moments before pulling herself together. The two women had never enjoyed a close relationship and the physical contact was uncomfortable. Elaine was not a demonstrative parent and her daughter couldn’t recall the last time they’d hugged.

It prompted Martha to question her role as a parent. When had she last held Danny or told him she loved him and was proud of him? Her thoughts moved into other realms – was she emulating her own mother in how she treated her son and if so, did she want to be like that?

Martha closed her eyes and allowed Elaine to lift her feet up onto the sofa and cover her with a throw. Sleep would be so very welcome – she longed to sleep until this whole affair was over and then wake to find Danny safely returned to her.

28

DAY 4

Elaine watched her daughter, whose eyes were closed, resting if not fully asleep. She’d noticed the signs of anxiety as she and Richard outlined recent events and detected the strained relationship between them. Martha constantly twisted her ring around her finger and her foot bounced all the time she was talking. She looked pale and thin and her gaze flickered around the room rather than focussing on Richard or Elaine.