‘I hope it works out for her,’ Matt said. ‘But I don’t need her to be part of my life again.’

‘No,’ Annabelle said. ‘That would not be good.’

Matt looked at his sister. ‘So maybe don’t share details of our private affairs in the future, OK?’

Sunday, 8 March 2020, 5.41 p.m.

She is mine, now.

It is done. Finally. She is in the back of the car.

Mine.

I can barely contain my excitement. I want to take off this hood and turn and smile at her and say, Look, it’s me!

I want to see her reaction, I want to glory in the moment.

But I will have to wait for that. I want this to be as special as possible, and now is not the right time. I have set up the perfect tableau at our destination.

And I have waited this long. I can wait a little longer.

Matt

A few minutes later, two cars came through the gate and up the track. Mike and Tessa got out of the first one and sprinted over.

Mike grabbed Norman in a hug, then picked up Keith in one arm and Molly in the other.

‘Oh my God,’ he said. He wiped tears from his eyes. ‘I’m so glad you’re OK.’

Rob got out of the second car and beckoned to Matt. ‘Let’s go.’

Matt hesitated. He looked at his kids. Now he had them back, he did not want to let them out of his sight ever again. He took a deep breath. He had to. He had to get Annabelle back. Everything else – even the kids – had to wait.

‘Come on,’ Rob said. ‘I’m sorry. But we have to go.’

Matt hugged all three of his children. ‘Uncle Mike and Aunty Tessa will take you home. I’ll be there soon. Take care of them until I’m back, OK?’

‘No,’ Keith said. ‘I want you to stay here.’

He felt his heart breaking.

‘I know. But I have to go, and I won’t be long.’

‘Can we come?’ Norman said.

‘Not this time.’

‘We could help,’ Norman said.

‘Matt,’ Rob interrupted. ‘We have to go.’

‘I’m going to get Mum,’ Matt said.

‘You’re going to get Mum?’ Keith said.

‘Yes.’

‘OK,’ Keith said. ‘Then you can go.’

Annabelle

She was wedged in a tight gap. When he had shoved her into the car he had pushed her down between the front and back seats; she had heard a click and the front seats had pushed back, trapping her in the footwell.

She supposed he didn’t want anyone seeing a hooded person through the car window. It was simple, but effective.

And very painful. There was something pressing hard into her chest. It hurt, but worse was her arm. It was twisted in an unnatural position, and the pain was steadily increasing as the seconds ticked by.