Frankie glared at him. ‘Well, I’m telling you now, one more word out of that drama-queen mouth of hers and I will. I’ll drag her out the door by her fucking bouffant if I have to, so best you sort her out.’

After what seemed like an endless wait, Jimmy O’Hara finally went out at two o’clock that afternoon. He had a couple of other blokes who obviously lived on the site in his Shogun as well, which in Ed’s eyes was an added bonus and a good omen.

‘I’m sure Jed clocked me earlier, but Jimmy didn’t even glance our way,’ Stuart said as O’Hara’s Shogun drove past them. Both vans were parked in a nearby layby, but far enough away from the site to avoid too much suspicion.

Ed took his mobile out of his pocket and rang Gary. He had sent him and Ricky back to the barn with the binoculars so they could keep a close eye on the kids. ‘Jimmy’s just drove past us. Where’s Georgie and Harry?’ he asked. The adrenalin was running through his veins now, the excitement had kicked in.

‘Harry’s riding up and down on a quad bike with that other lad he was with earlier, and Georgie’s just gone inside the barn with her boyfriend. We hid behind it as they walked towards us, but then we moved and hid behind some trees,’ Gary replied.

Eddie paused before answering. ‘Right, we’ll grab Georgie first, then Harry afterwards. Stay where you are, Gal, and ring me if anything changes. I’m on my way over to you now.’

‘What about the boyfriend, though? He’s bound to run back to the site and alert ’em,’ Gary said.

‘I’ll deal with that little fucker, so don’t be worrying about him. Just stay where you are and I’ll be with you in ten minutes.’

Eddie put his phone in his pocket and turned to Raymond. ‘Grab plenty of rope and the duct tape. You come with me, and Tel, you stay ’ere with Stu. I shouldn’t think Jimmy will be back for ages, but if Jed returns, or anyone else, ring me immediately. Georgie’s in the barn with that lad, so I’ll nab her first, then we’ll drive on the site and get Harry.’

‘Be careful, Ed, if you’ve gotta drag her across that field, someone on the site might see you,’ Stuart warned.

‘They won’t. I’m gonna take her the long way round behind all them trees. They won’t be able to see fuck-all if we go the right way.’

As he was about to get out of the van, Ed’s phone rang. ‘What’s up?’ he asked Gary.

‘Harry’s drove up the road on that quad bike. We’ve lost sight of him, but he’s heading your way.’