‘Okay. These floorboards are resting on top of rafters, thick, strong wooden beams that go between the floors of a building. Inside, there’s insulation – that yellow stuff you can see – and usually some space. With the bones out of the way, you should be able to shove your feet between the rafters and kick away the insulation between this pair of beams …’ He pointed downwards. ‘Attached to the underside of those beams from below is the ceiling you’d see if you looked up from below. The plasterboard might have been decorated, but basically, it’s just a thick piece of board. You’ll need to make sure you don’t put all of your weight on it at once, and that we’re holding you, because I need you to stamp your way through that board, okay? We have to make a hole in it, and that hole will have to be big enough for us all to get through.’

‘What then?’ Elspeth asked.

‘Then we’ll have to tie some sheets together for us to get down, or one of us will have to get out and get help. He might even have a phone in the rooms below.’

‘That won’t help if we can’t give the police an address to come to. How long do you think he’ll be out? And what are we supposed to do about you? We can’t just drop you through. Shit, I’m sorry, that came out much worse …’ Elspeth’s face reddened.

‘Forget it. Now isn’t the time for political correctness. You’re right. It’s not going to be easy getting me out, which is why one of you two needs to get through and escape. Time is limited. If we’re going to do this, we need to get on with it.’

Meggy sat on the edge of the hole and pushed her feet inside. Elspeth wrapped an arm around her waist, and Xavier took hold of her right hand. She scuffled her feet inside the space, kicking insulation aside. A cloud of dust rose up into the room. They turned their heads aside and covered their mouths.

‘It stinks,’ Meggy complained.

‘Never mind. Can you feel the plasterboard?’ Xavier asked.

Meggy nodded.

‘Good. Now kick. The fewer kicks and the harder they are, the better. The longer we’re doing this, the more chance that we’ll draw his attention. Okay? Now make them count.’

Elspeth tightened her grip around the girl’s body.

‘Go!’ Xavier said.

Meggy raised her right knee, closed her eyes and slammed her foot down as hard as she could. There was a fierce crack, and Meggy’s body slipped to one side. She cried out, reaching down into the space.

‘My ankle,’ she said. ‘My foot hit something.’