It was terrifying to think that the man must have been monitoring them for quite some time before he struck. He’d known about their travel plans, known exactly when they were due to leave. Although that wasn’t so strange; they’d posted on Facebook, talked extensively about what they were going to do. The children had been very busy on social media. Anyone who wanted to find out exactly what the family were up to needed nothing more than a mobile phone or a computer.

What do we do if no one misses us?

Malin was so frightened she could have wept. The children’s friends would notice that Hedvig and Max had dropped off the radar, but they wouldn’t be able to trigger a major search. If only she’d been closer to her father! And if only there were more people who’d realise something was wrong. Thank God for Noah – but who would listen to him?

‘Mum, when can we go home?’

Hedvig. For the second time in a very short period.

‘I still don’t know.’

She heard a bang from upstairs that made her jump. Dan. A part of her wanted to oversee every move he made, check what he was doing, because she was certain he’d disappeared into a darkness where she couldn’t reach him. He’d said he’d had an idea; he thought he’d found a way of getting out of the house.

I don’t want to know. I just want to live.

No one is going to find us. Her heart contracted with fear.

‘I’ll get us some fruit,’ she said, getting up from her chair. Her legs felt wobbly as she went over to the worktop and started to peel an orange. They would have to share it; she didn’t know when they’d be given more fruit.

We’re going to die here. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. And no one will know.

She opened a drawer, looking for a knife to cut up the orange. She stared down blankly. She had expected to see a carving knife and a bread knife. Both were missing.

She closed the drawer, opened another. Found a small knife and began to divide the orange.

‘Has either of you borrowed a knife?’ she said to the children, fighting to keep her voice steady.

They both shook their heads.

‘It’s all right if you have. I won’t be cross.’

‘We haven’t touched your stupid knives!’ Hedvig snapped.

‘Okay,’ Malin said quietly.

Suppressed tears made her throat constrict, her eyes sting. Dan must have taken them. Panic spread through her body like wildfire.

What was he going to do with the knives?

Chapter 6