It was to be expected, no parent should have to go through this experience and it looked as if there were to be two more days of uncertainty before Danny would be released. Elaine hardly dared contemplate the possibility of her grandson not being returned to them – it was simply too disturbing a thought to entertain.

Elaine closed her eyes, not in an attempt to sleep but to collect her thoughts. Danny’s disappearance had affected her deeply. She’d long since admitted to herself that she hadn’t been a good mother to Martha but there were mitigating circumstances, mainly in the form of Martha’s father. He’d been a brute of a man, hiding behind a façade of respectability.

Owen Perry hadn’t been violent but cruel in other ways to his wife and child. He’d had a way with people and was perceived by many as a pillar of the community and a generous man with both his time and money. But his charity certainly didn’t begin at home and had been all for show.

Elaine understood why people had respected him – she too had looked upon him in such a way once, which was one of the reasons she’d married him. But the bubble burst almost as soon as they returned from their honeymoon when he became demanding, treating her like a slave rather than an equal partner and she very soon regretted their marriage.

Owen was exacting in his standards and his expectations were high, too high for his new wife to attain. Elaine was expected to cook and clean and spend all her time in the home, only leaving on his arm when he was sure she appeared sufficiently elegant to be seen at his side. The kind, loving words of their courtship were no more, nor was his attentive attitude and concern for her welfare.

In those early years of their marriage, Elaine considered leaving him but just as she was summoning up the courage to do so, she became pregnant. She stayed with Owen, hoping a baby might change him and soften his attitude, but her hopes were in vain.

The first few years of Martha’s life were spent in keeping the little girl out of her father’s way. He couldn’t stand the noise of a baby crying, the mess of toys in the house when he came home from work and the broken nights during teething. As Elaine tried her best to keep the peace, Martha was often pushed aside, expected to be good and quiet and consequently missing out on some of the happiness which should have been her right as a child.