Annabelle

Brenda listened as they explained everything that had happened. When they had finished, she puffed out her cheeks.

‘Any idea who this is, love?’ she said.

‘None,’ Annabelle said. ‘That’s what makes it so hard.’

‘And you find out the location around five p.m., right? Handover five-thirty p.m.?’

‘Right,’ Annabelle said.

‘Good,’ Brenda said. ‘There’ll be enough light. This is what I think’s going to happen. The location is going to be quiet and hidden away, but with more than one way of getting in and out. When the kidnapper has Annabelle, the children will be returned. There’ll be a delay in handing the kids over so they can get away from the location without you following them.’

‘What do you mean, delay?’ Matt said.

‘They’ll make it take a while – have the kids walk to you, something like that.’

‘But we’ll be watching,’ Matt said.

‘We’ll be watching,’ Brenda said. ‘I’ll be close enough – maybe half a mile – so that Rob and I can come and pick you up. Someone else needs to get the children. Then we track Annabelle.’

‘I can get the kids,’ Mike said.

‘I’ll go with him,’ Tessa added.

‘What if the drone is visible?’

‘It won’t be,’ Brenda said. ‘It’ll be too high. And even if it is, once the kids are with us it doesn’t matter. All that matters is we don’t lose Annabelle.’

‘And if the drone can’t keep up?’ Tessa said.

‘It will, unless they go on the motorway,’ Rob said. ‘Which I doubt will happen.’

‘Why not?’ Annabelle said.

‘Because they’ll stick to back roads. Motorways aren’t safe. Not enough ways off. It’s easy to apprehend someone on a motorway.’

‘Then, once we have the children, we call the cops,’ Tessa said.

‘Right,’ Rob said. ‘Once the cops are informed, Brenda’s involvement is over.’

‘You know,’ Brenda said, looking at Annabelle. ‘You might want to think about being ready to do something. Once the kids are safe.’

‘Like what?’ Annabelle said.

‘Take something with you. Something sharp. A blade, or another weapon. The kidnapper’s probably going to restrain you – handcuffs, something like that – but there’ll be an opportunity to attack them. And if you have a weapon, your chances will be much higher.’

‘It’s a good idea,’ Rob said. ‘You could conceal something in a shoe, or a sleeve. A large nail, or a screwdriver. Anything.’

‘And the sooner you use it,’ Brenda said. ‘The better.’