Too high to have been caused by a dog…

And breathing became hard as the memories bombarded her like a rain of giant hail. Nick squeezed her hands tightly.

‘And then he told me,’ she said between gasps of breath. ‘When he was back. Two young people. I’d hit two people. Walking across the road. He was shaking and traumatised, so I knew it was bad. That’s when he told me. I’d killed them.’

‘I’m sorry you had to go through that, Anna. And to relive it. But what has it got to do with kidnapping Josie?’

‘He drove us back to his car. I couldn’t face driving. He was careful with what roads he took, making sure as few people as possible saw us. He knew what he was doing. And then he called the research centre to say he’d be attending the function after all, but would be late. And he called for a taxi. But he even made us walk into the garage to tell the cashier that he would be leaving his car overnight. And then I would drive home, back the way I’d come. That’s what he said to do. If ever we had to answer questions about our movements, we would say he broke down at the petrol station and I came to help, and we were both there until his taxi came and then he went to the function and I went home. And the cashier would back us up.

‘I couldn’t face going back in the car, but he left me. I was just left there, alone. So I had to. And I did. I was terrified, but I managed to do it. I drove. I was a wreck, but I did it. I went along with his plan and I just drove home.’

‘There was blood in the engine bay. So you got home and you cleaned the outside of the car?’

The hard breathing increased tempo, coming in short bursts. ‘He told me to.’

‘And then you told me a lie about a carjacking attempt, to cover your depression. And you virtually hid away from the world for a couple of days.’

‘I’m so sorry about that. I couldn’t face anyone. My family was way up north, so I would have time to adjust. But you were staying in my house by then and I knew I couldn’t just pretend nothing was wrong. I had to have a reason why I was so messed up. Marc also made me come up with a story to explain my distress, because I couldn’t hide it from you. Not you. I’m sorry.’

He touched her shoulder to calm her. ‘And you needed a reason why you suddenly couldn’t face being in a car. And still can’t drive at night, even years later. You need silence, too, to concentrate.’