She was being escorted, with Nick, to an ambulance, but she stopped. Miller said, Not a good idea, but her grip loosened. Anna tugged free, turned and ran. Policemen rushed towards her. Miller had slyly given her freedom for this, but couldn’t pretend to treasure the rulebook any longer. When she was grabbed and it was over, Miller only gave it a second’s thought:

‘Let her go.’

Just moments later she was in the back seat of a police car with Ball Cap again, who now didn’t have a cap. And had no control over her. Officers surrounded the car, ready in case he tried anything, even cuffed. She wouldn’t look at him. But she asked him, Please, help me.

He wouldn’t look at her, either. ‘I don’t know who’s got the money and I don’t know where your kid is, first of all. Sorry about that.’

She took a deep breath. But didn’t move. She was willing to hear the rest.

‘And I’m sorry about that.’ He nodded at her shoulder, and she put a hand there. Her hand brushed her hair, catching something weighty and solid. Bubblegum. She hadn’t even noticed. She didn’t care.

He got that and said, ‘My name is Alan Anderson. I’m in this with my woman, Elsie, and she’s got your girl. Her and my partner’s wife. Her name is Louise. Someone decided a couple of girls should watch the kid. Me and Dom back there, we got you. And there’s another guy involved, I think. But all I did was help snatch the kid, make some stupid phone calls, and then bring you here. It’s all I know. Bring her to this bank and get what she brings out, go home, get paid, live happily ever after. That was my orders. The kid wasn’t my business. What I’m saying is the kid side of it is all separate and I can’t help you get to her. After the last of the ransom calls, we all had to get new burner phones and I ain’t got my girl’s number, so I can’t call her for you or anything like that. Not allowed, probably in case the cops grab one of us. Which they just did. We’re to stay hidden for today and tomorrow we meet up at a place where Dom says. I don’t know where and his girl is running things the other end.’