Annabelle looked from one to the other. She couldn’t quite believe the words she was about to say. ‘It’s the kids. They – they’ve—’ her voice broke and she started to sob.

Mike knelt next to her. ‘Annie. What’s happened?’

She couldn’t reply; all her breath had left her and she was shaking with sobs. Mike wrapped his arms around her.

‘They’re gone,’ Matt said. ‘The kids are gone.’

‘Gone?’ Mike said. ‘Gone where? What the hell is going on?’

She forced herself to inhale, slowly and deeply. ‘They’ve been taken,’ she said, eventually.

‘Taken?’ Tessa said. ‘What do you mean?’

‘The children have been kidnapped,’ Matt said, his voice slow and heavy. ‘We don’t know who’s responsible. But we know why. It’s a ransom.’

‘A ransom?’ Tessa said. ‘You’re saying your kids are being held for ransom?’

‘Right,’ Matt said. ‘For ransom.’

In the silence that followed Annabelle started to feel numb. It was a welcome break from the fear and panic. She supposed she might be in shock, her body trying to defend her from what was happening.

‘OK,’ Mike said, eventually. His voice was calm and measured. ‘Someone has the children, and they want a ransom. How much is it?’

‘It’s not money,’ Matt said.

‘Then what is it?’ Tessa asked.

Annabelle looked at each of them in turn.

‘It’s me,’ she said.

2

Mike looked her in the eye.

‘What does that mean?’ he said, his voice even.

‘It means that the kidnapper wants Annabelle in exchange for the kids,’ Matt said.

‘That’s ridiculous,’ Mike protested. ‘There’s no way that can happen. No way.’

‘I know,’ Annabelle said. ‘But I’m starting to think it might be the only option.’

‘No,’ Mike said. ‘There’s another way.’

‘What exactly did the messages say?’ Tessa asked.

Matt picked up his phone and read out the text messages. Annabelle watched their eyes narrow and their frowns deepen. It had been shocking enough watching events unravel over a few hours, but they were getting the full impact in minutes.

The kidnap, the threats, the revelation of what the ransom was.

‘They want you,’ Tessa said. ‘So it’s someone who knows you. Any thoughts?’

‘Have you been through everyone?’ Mike said. ‘Your colleagues at the law firm? Friends?’

‘Everyone we can think of,’ Matt said. ‘And we still have no idea.’

Annabelle shifted on the couch. ‘There’s one possibility,’ she said. ‘Perhaps a fan. A crazy fan.’

‘Jesus,’ Mike said. ‘So if that’s it, it could be anyone.’

‘Exactly,’ Matt said.

Tessa folded her arms. ‘What about the police?’ she said.

‘No,’ Matt said. ‘Too risky.’