‘Oh,’ he said. He frowned, his brow creased in what looked like disappointment. ‘You didn’t guess? I thought you would have.’

‘How the hell would I have guessed?’ she said. ‘You told me you were in Brighton.’

His frown deepened. ‘I thought you might have worked it out,’ he said. ‘I was rather hoping you were looking forward to it?’ He pointed to the champagne. ‘I thought we might celebrate.’

‘Looking forward to it?’ she said. ‘Celebrate? What would we celebrate?’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Despite his words, there was a note of doubt in his voice.

‘No,’ she said. ‘Why on earth have you done this? Why have you brought me here?’

‘I think you know,’ he said. ‘Deep down.’

‘No, I don’t,’ Annabelle replied. ‘Trust me. I have no fucking idea. And I want to leave, now.’

‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible,’ he said. ‘This is your home now.’

‘Guy,’ Annabelle said. ‘You know that’s not true. You know I have a family. You know my home is with them. Whatever has happened, whatever made you do this – if you’ve had a problem – it’s fine. Just take me home and we’ll forget this ever happened. OK?’

He looked at her for a long time. She had the sense he was like an eagle, sizing up its prey. There was a watchful, almost wild look in his eyes.

‘Problem?’ he said. ‘You think I have a problem?’

‘I don’t see any other explanation. I’m confused, Guy.’

‘I must say that I’m a little confused too. This is not what I anticipated.’ He tilted his head to one side, his eyes, flat and expressionless, fixed on hers. ‘And disappointed.’

‘Disappointed?’ Annabelle said. ‘You’re disappointed?’

‘Yes. I am. And I can get quite upset when I’m disappointed.’

‘Well, I’m sorry to be such a disappointment,’ Annabelle said. ‘But you did kidnap me and half-rip my arm from its socket.’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry about that. It wasn’t part of the plan. And neither was you attacking me.’ His voice was reproachful. ‘That was completely unnecessary.’

‘Well, let me apologize,’ she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm. ‘I should have had better manners, but I don’t know how you were expecting me to react after you kidnapped my kids.’

‘You don’t?’ he said, and the last vestiges of his smile fell away, to reveal a face that looked less than human. ‘I thought you’d be glad.’

2

Glad? He thought she’d be glad?

Of all the crazy things that had happened, this was almost the craziest.

She looked out of the window. At least she knew where she was now. She knew where she’d seen this view. It was in a photo Guy had sent her. He had bought a cottage by a lake, somewhere between Brighton and London, a few years back.