‘I need one. That was embarrassing.’

He put his arm around her shoulders. ‘No it wasn’t,’ he said. ‘And who cares, anyway?’

‘It bloody was,’ Annabelle said. ‘There was an audience of five. One was you, two were there by accident, one swapped his hand-made pamphlet of poems for a book which I had to pay for, and the other already had one.’

‘When you put it like that,’ Matt said. ‘You do have a point. Although, look on the bright side. By buying a book for that guy you generated sales of minus one. That’s got to be some kind of a record.’

‘Thanks,’ Annabelle said. ‘That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear.’

‘How about a drink? Drown your sorrows?’

‘Now you’re talking,’ Annabelle said. ‘That was what I wanted to hear.’

Sunday, 8 March 2020, 2 p.m.

Matt

The doorbell rang just after 2 p.m. Rob was standing outside. He had left a few hours ago and now he was back, accompanied by a slender, tall woman. She had a thin face, her hair pulled back in a ponytail.

‘This is Brenda,’ he said.

‘All right,’ Brenda said, in a strong Birmingham accent. She did not smile.

‘Come in,’ Matt said. ‘Follow me.’

He showed them into the living room. Annabelle was upstairs, resting in bed. Tessa and Mike were standing by the window.

Brenda nodded at Tessa and Mike, then looked at Matt.

‘Payment?’ she said. ‘Has to be upfront.’

‘We …’ He paused. ‘The banks are closed. This came up last night. But we’ll give you the money. I promise.’

She shook her head. ‘I can’t take promises to the bank. Sorry.’

‘Then what do you want?’ Matt said. ‘Jewellery? My watch? The car? You can have anything.’

‘No,’ she said. ‘Cash. That’s what the boss wants and what the boss wants, she gets.’

Tessa stepped away from the window. ‘I can get cash tomorrow morning, as soon as the bank opens. I’m a doctor. I have money.’

‘I believe you, love,’ Brenda said, ‘I really do. But I don’t have any wiggle room.’

There was a cough from the door. Annabelle was standing there, her eyes sunken.

‘I’m Annabelle,’ she said. ‘My children are gone, and I’m the price of their safety. Did Rob explain that?’

‘He did, love.’

‘Are you a mother?’

‘I am,’ Brenda said.

‘Then you’ll know how desperate I am. And that we’ll find a way to pay you. You have to trust us.’

‘There’s the rub,’ Brenda said. ‘My boss doesn’t trust anyone she doesn’t know. It’s nothing personal, but that’s how it is.’

‘She knows me,’ Rob said. He folded his arms. ‘You know me. I’ll guarantee it. If they don’t pay, I will.’

‘Let me make a phone call,’ Brenda said. She left the room. A few minutes later, she was back.