I could almost hear Nick’s wheels turning. He knew I’d gone there that time, supposedly to check out the facilities. But why would Conway have my name and address?

‘That’s weird, I’m sure she doesn’t know anyone by that name. We looked at the hospital as a possible birthing location – we’re pregnant, you see.’

We! What the hell did he have to do with it! For a moment, rage replaced fear as my dominant emotion.

‘Strange that he had her details in his home, though.’ The police were being very forthcoming. I wondered if they had a plan – if they thought Nick was involved in this death somehow.

‘That’s so odd. If I had to guess, maybe he saw her at the hospital and took a liking to her. My wife is . . . well, she’s beautiful.’ He almost sounded proud, when he said it. A good actor too. Why had I underestimated him so much?

The police didn’t stay long – it was freezing, I could feel the cold air from the open door, and Nick hadn’t invited them to sit down or offered them tea.

‘Thank you for your help, sir. Can you ask your wife to call us when you speak to her?’

‘I will. It’s really coming down out there. Be careful on the lane, it’s not gritted.’

‘Don’t we know it,’ said the male voice. ‘Almost went into a tree on the bend. It’s meant to get worse tonight. Your missus might not make it back.’

‘As long as she’s safe,’ said Nick tenderly. ‘I’ll get her to contact you.’

‘Please do.’ And they left, and the soft electronic click of the door was like a prison gate slamming shut. Why hadn’t I tried harder to get free, struggled, shouted? I was pathetic. And who had killed Conway? It seemed too much of a coincidence to be an accident, you and then him, your confidant, both dying within months of each other. I heard the soft fall of Nick’s feet coming back to the bathroom. When he took out the gag, I gasped in air. My mouth was dry with threads of cotton.

‘I was good,’ I said, almost shouting in fear. ‘I didn’t say anything!’

He stared at me, still naked, still tied to the rack.

‘Who’s this Conway?’

I knew that look in his eyes, the dangerous quietness. I had to talk my way out of this, and fast.

‘I’ll tell you everything,’ I said, my voice shaking. ‘It’s not what you think. I’ll be honest with you, I swear. Just let me get dressed. Please?’

Eleanor

Eleanor