And so he either had a plan for both of them to disappear for good – which was, if Annabelle wasn’t totally committed to it, virtually impossible – or he was going to get rid of her and disappear himself, which was much more feasible.

And at this point, Guy Sanderson was in the realm of doing what was feasible.

She feared for Annabelle. She really did. Because whatever Sanderson had planned, she was on her own.

No one could help her now.

DI Wynne picked up her phone, her heart heavy. This was not going to be an easy phone call.

Matt

The phone rang. It was DI Wynne. Matt snatched it up.

‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Did you find her?’

‘We know where she was,’ Wynne said. ‘But she was gone when we got there. Still, it’s progress.’

‘Where is she now?’

‘We’re not sure, although we know who she’s with.’

‘Who?’

Wynne hesitated. ‘She’s with Guy Sanderson.’

Guy? What was Guy doing involved in this?

‘Did he rescue her?’ Matt said. ‘I can call him.’

‘He didn’t rescue her,’ Wynne said. ‘He’s the kidnapper.’

‘Did you say Guy?’ Matt said. ‘Are you sure?’

What she was saying made no sense at all. Guy had been in Brighton. And he’d been calling them all the way through. Matt had been telling him what was going on.

And Guy was their friend. There was no way he had kidnapped anyone.

‘I think you’re getting this wrong somehow,’ Matt said. ‘Guy didn’t do this.’

‘We’re quite certain,’ Wynne said. ‘There was a report of an SOS signal from the window of his lake house last night. Two officers went to look into it this morning, but they found nothing.’

‘So how can you be sure?’

‘They didn’t go into the house,’ Wynne said. ‘When I called the local station to ask if they could visit Mr Sanderson to perform his DNA test they mentioned the SOS signal, and I asked them to return immediately.’

‘And?’

‘The house was empty. The officers did find a hidden room that showed signs of recent occupancy. It seems very likely that your wife was being held there.’

‘I can’t believe Guy is involved,’ Matt said. ‘There must be a mistake.’

‘I understand this is difficult to believe,’ Wynne said. ‘But there’s no mistake.’

Matt felt a physical sensation, as though he’d been punched in the stomach. Guy? This was Guy? But why?

‘They were gone?’ he said.

‘Yes. I’m afraid so.’

He felt a rising anger. ‘You mean, you got an SOS from the house and didn’t go in? And when you went back, he was gone? I mean, come on! You may as well have called ahead and warned him to run!’

‘I’m aware that mistakes were made, Mr Westbrook, but—’

‘Mistakes? I don’t think that quite covers it. This is a total fuck-up!’