He climbed the stairs quietly, slid the key carefully into the lock and turned it. Put on the lounge light. She had left no note. He tiptoed into the bedroom. The curtains were open, and in the harsh light from the streetlamp he could see that she wasn’t there.

This was serious. She must have gone back to her mother’s. That had only happened once before. Leticia had always labelled him a procrastinator, but everyone had their triggers. He was really worried about his girlfriend now, but he’d ring her mother in the morning. It was much too late now.

Chapter Thirty-one

Leticia awoke to direct sunlight on her face, a headache and a raging thirst. The cold had turned to warmth. She could hear birds. The coo of pigeons. For what felt like an hour she suffered the discomfort, trying to focus on the birds and their freedom. Finally, she heard footsteps and the sound of a key in the lock to the shed. The door was opened slightly and the big man who had overpowered her edged his way in. He didn’t meet her gaze, but just scratched his head. ‘Are you hungry or thirsty?’ he asked.

Leticia nodded, and made a low groan through her gag, the only sound available to her. He glanced at her, then looked away hurriedly as if he had found her naked. She was too scared to eat but at least if he removed the gag she might be able to shout for help.

The man said: ‘If I take the gag off you mustn’t scream. If you do, bad things will happen. Understand?’ She followed his gaze and saw the many tools pinned to the wall, including a mallet and a hand scythe.

She nodded again. He crouched down and carefully untied the cloth around her face, and removed the golf ball that was in her mouth.

‘Please don’t hurt me,’ she croaked. He nodded. She could already feel that her captor was quite uncertain and lacking in confidence.

‘I need to go to the toilet, Gary. That’s more important than food.’

He looked surprised. ‘How do you know my name?’

‘Verity called you Gary.’

He nodded as if this made sense. Close up, his unwashed odour was pervasive.

‘I need the toilet. And something to drink. And headache tablets.’