‘I know,’ Annabelle said, her voice close to breaking. ‘It’s just us, waiting to see what happens. And it’s so unfair. What have we done to deserve this?’

‘Nothing,’ Matt said. ‘No one deserves this.’

‘What can we do, Matt? Is there anything?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘I can’t think of anything. But then I can hardly think at all.’

‘Maybe we should get help.’

‘From who? We can’t risk telling the cops.’

‘What about my brother?’ Annabelle said. ‘He might have an idea.’

‘I suppose. But what if the kidnapper finds out? They said to tell no one.’

‘How would they find out? And I’d like to see my brother.’

Matt nodded. He’d like to see Tessa, his sister, too. If nothing else it would make them feel less alone.

‘OK,’ he said. ‘I’ll call Mike.’

Mike answered on the second ring. He lived in Bebington, on the Wirral, where he had a building firm.

‘Matt,’ he said. ‘How’s it going?’

‘Not great. Can you come over?’

‘What’s the problem?’

‘I’ll tell you when you get here.’

‘You’re calling at eight-thirty on a Saturday evening asking me to come over? What’s going on, Matt? Is it the kids?’

‘Can you come?’

There was a pause. ‘It’ll be an hour. OK?’

‘See you then.’

He texted his sister.

Are you free?

She replied immediately.

Just finishing a shift at the hospital. Pooped, but you need me for something?

Can you come over?

Now?

Maybe nine-thirty?

Sure. Is everything OK?

Will tell you when you arrive.

He put the phone down and looked out of the window. It was dark outside, and he imagined someone hiding in their garden, watching them. He got up suddenly and closed the curtain.

‘What?’ she said. ‘Did you see something?’

‘Only in my mind,’ he said. ‘I’m jumping at shadows.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘But this time the shadows are real.’

Annabelle

1

Annabelle sat next to Matt on the couch, her legs tucked underneath her. Tessa had arrived a few minutes earlier and was opposite her in an armchair. She took deep breaths, fighting to control the panic.

It didn’t help much. Every few seconds she was hit with an image of her children, locked in the car or in a strange room, crying out in terror or hunger for their parents, and she felt a physical pain that took the place of everything else in her world.

‘So,’ Tessa said. ‘Are you guys going to tell me what’s going on?’

‘Let’s wait for Mike,’ Matt said. ‘He’ll be here any minute.’

‘Do you’ – Tessa nodded at Annabelle’s stomach – ‘have any news?’

Annabelle shook her head. She wished it was that.

The bell rang and Matt went to answer it. She heard the front door open, and then her brother’s voice. Mike walked into the living room.

‘So,’ he said. ‘What’s up?’