Nick breathed hard while his heart raced. Outside Bongo Bingo, he turned left and jogged down the street. His clear distress and wild eyes cleared the crowded pavement before him. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, the words like acid in his throat. ‘You got kids?’

‘Did the negotiator teach you to go for “hooks”? So we can have something mutual to chat about and do the bonding thing? We could talk about your kid, so that soon I like her and can’t bring myself to hurt her. And then all that guilt makes me let her go and go throw myself under a bus. I’ve got one kid. Yours. Remember that. And one knife, and I really can’t think of much more I need to ruin the rest of your life. Are you at the estate agent’s yet?’

Nick pulled up outside a branch of Reeds Rains. ‘I’m here. Look, I just meant please understand my emotion. I want my little girl back.’

‘Then I can’t worry about you, can I? Promise you won’t hurt me?’

‘What?’

‘You need to promise, Nick. I want you to promise never to hurt me.’

He knew he had no choice but to go along with whatever game this animal was playing. So he said it: ‘I promise I won’t hurt you for taking my daughter.’

‘You didn’t say never. You might plan to come after me in ten years’ time. Do I have to cut and run?’

‘I promise I will never hurt you.’

The guy gave a giggle.

‘Good. Right, now, memorise the price and location of the house two across and one up on the latest properties. Then go inside and talk to the youngest one. She’s got your next instructions. Here’s the code for her…’

Nick had had the foresight to activate the mobile phone’s speaker, so the police could now hear the kidnapper. And he aimed his camera to perfectly capture the advertisement for a two hundred grand detached house in Doncaster. A detective offered to track it and got on his phone to do so. Someone was already trying to learn all about the Reeds Rains staff. Miller and Bennet were in radio contact with various players dotted around Rotherham city centre, who would mobilise depending on where Nick went. Others were on the Internet or their phones, or conferring with each other. So many people, so much activity. Like a military operation. Unwilling to listen, and unable to get near Jane, Anna went for the playroom.

As she passed the toilet, Detective Constable Ella Hicks came out. Anna tried to get past without acknowledging her, but noted the young woman looked pained and was rubbing her swollen belly. So she stopped and asked if everything was okay.

Ella nodded. ‘The boss ordered us all burgers. She doesn’t have kids, obviously. Now my baby’s telling me, heck no, Mum.’