He narrowed his eyes at her in disbelief. “Firstly, I can’t believe a word you say, honey, not after what you did to me. And secondly, I won’t need to worry about you saying anything to the police because pretty soon you won’t be saying anything to anyone ever again. But kudos for trying, I suppose.” He turned to Constance. “You ready to come home?”

“Never.”

“Hmm.” He shrugged. “I really wanted to make you sorry for what you did. But actually, this might be better. Makes things simple for me. No loose ends, shall we say.”

Still clutching the small girl, he turned and walked away from them, started hiking over the rocks, up the steep part at the edge of the bay. Ruby felt her arms twitch with the urge to fight him for the baby. Both women followed, gasping when he stumbled and nearly dropped the child, afraid to go too close for fear of what he might do to Leonie if they did. At the top of the cliff, he turned to face them. Leonie had gone limp, was whimpering silently, her eyes red with tears. You’ve silenced her again, you bastard.

Ruby stepped towards them, but Constance held out a hand to stop her. The man took another step backward, edging closer to where the ground fell away to a deep crevasse.

“Okay, so, kid first, I guess?” He grabbed a fistful of Leonie’s coat and held her out toward the edge.

“No,” shouted Constance and Ruby together.

They were fifty feet above the sea, perhaps more. A few steps away from a long drop into deep water, with needles of rock sticking up like teeth.

He took another step, held the child out at arm’s length.

Ruby shrieked, tried to run toward him, but again Constance stopped her.

“He’ll kill you,” she said.

“I don’t care!” Ruby struggled with Constance to get away, “I’d rather die than let him hurt Leonie.”

“There are two of us and one of him,” said Constance, shouting so that Gregor could hear. “If he throws her, we’ll both go for him.” She turned toward him, his laughing face, mocking them and their panic.

“You’re weak,” he said. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“If you hurt her …” said Ruby.

Constance said, “Gregor, if you do anything to Leonie, we’re both going to take you down.”

His smile faltered as he glanced over the cliff at the rocks. He looked at each of them in turn, seeming to weigh things up. Then he drew back his arm as if to throw the child.

“Maybe I’ll risk it anyway.”

“Leonie!” Ruby shouted. But she was too far away to stop him.

“I’ll come with you,” said Constance, and he hesitated, the arm holding Leonie dropping to his side so that she dangled there like luggage.