And now we are on the way to our final destination.

But there was one imperfection spoiling it all.

I hurt her.

Yes, she attacked me, so it’s really her fault, but still: I did not want to hurt her.

I wanted her to be comfortable until we reached the final destination, when I could reveal myself to her. It would have been the perfect ending.

And beginning.

Yes, I could have avoided all this by telling her everything as soon as she was in the car, but I wanted more than that.

I wanted it to be extra-special. That – if anything – is my failing. I wanted it to be too good.

I am too good.

But that is not what happened. I will make it up to her, though. And this time it will be perfect.

Monday, 9 March 2020, 8 a.m.

Wynne

Detective Inspector Wynne studied Matt Westbrook closely. He was haggard and drawn. He looked like he hadn’t slept, which was more than likely.

He sat on the couch in his living room and rubbed his eyes.

‘So,’ she said. ‘You and your wife had no ideas who this might be?’

‘None,’ he said. ‘When we found out it was a ransom, we assumed someone wanted money – and that they’d made a mistake targeting us, since we don’t have enough to make this worthwhile. But when we found out the ransom was Annabelle …’ His voice tailed off and he shrugged. ‘We had no idea who it could be.’

‘And you have thought through all areas of your lives? Family, friends, work? Nothing unusual springs to mind?’

Matt Westbrook started to shake his head, then hesitated.

‘There’s nothing, really,’ he said. ‘But there were some weird emails, right before we got married.’

‘Emails?’ Dudek asked. ‘From who?’

‘They were anonymous. Saying things like “you don’t have to go through with this”. That kind of thing.’

Wynne looked at Dudek. ‘And you have no idea who sent them?’

‘None. They stopped, and we didn’t think too much about them. We thought maybe it was a stupid joke.’

‘They stopped?’ Wynne said. ‘Do you still have them?’

‘We looked. They’re gone.’

‘Good to know,’ Dudek said. ‘But it doesn’t help much.’

‘No,’ Wynne said. ‘But it is interesting. If the emails are linked, then this dates back to the time of Mr and Mrs Westbrook’s wedding.’

‘If,’ Dudek said. ‘We don’t know they’re linked.’

‘True,’ Wynne said. ‘There’s something else I’d like to explore. Mrs Westbrook is an author?’

‘Yes,’ Matt said.

‘I assume you considered that it might be a fan?’

‘We talked about it, but it didn’t help. It could be anyone. And whoever’s behind this knew so much about us. My phone number, where we live. The kids’ names. It seemed more likely it was someone who knows us.’

‘That information is relatively simple to get hold of.’