Maggie tried to gauge Holly’s reaction after she’d read the new message from Babysitter, but her face was impassive. ‘Well?’

‘He’s sent an address. Said we should make our way there as quickly as we can.’

‘And?’

‘That’s it.’

Maggie didn’t believe her.

Holly read out the zip code. ‘I’ll put it in the satnav.’ She entered it.

Was that all that had been in the text? She doubted it because otherwise Holly would have shown it to her. But Maggie didn’t want to aggravate her captor. Not with her holding both firearms and Penny in the back of the car. From their exchange in the street she knew how close Holly had come to taking her life and realised she had to make that decision as difficult for her as she could. Maggie decided to be as compliant as possible.

Hard flakes fizzed on the roof as they passed through an open area of the forest. Both of them waited.

Holly leaned forward to study the map. ‘It’s in Astley, eighteen miles from here. We’ll have to circle back on ourselves after we’ve cleared the forest but I think we should keep going this way until we’re sure we’ve lost the police.’

Maggie nodded and darted her eyes to the screen. The route took them into the heart of Astley. It was the nearest big town, and she’d had Penny in its main hospital.

‘Just get us there. You don’t have your child to shield you now, so don’t think I won’t shoot you. You didn’t have any problems pulling the trigger on me.’

‘Can I at least drop Penny with a friend to look after?’

‘No,’ Holly said flatly.

But she’d paused before replying, and Maggie suspected she was thinking about it. ‘I promise I won’t try anything, and I’ll come with you anywhere you want. Penny needs to be changed and fed.’

‘She’ll be fine. At least she can be with you.’ Holly fought to keep the tremor out of her voice.

Maggie felt for her. The fear for her daughter’s life had almost debilitated her every time she thought of Penny in the clutches of Babysitter. But the only motive Holly could have for exposing Penny to further danger was so she could make sure Maggie remained obedient. ‘Surely you don’t want to risk her life. She’s been through all that already.’

‘You’re in no position to make demands—’

‘I’m not. But if I know Penny’s in a safe place then you can be assured that I’ll cooperate.’

‘You have to anyway. Concentrate on not wrapping us around a tree.’

‘I have a friend in Astley. I could drop Penny there.’

‘I’ve said no. I don’t want to delay our getting to this address one second longer than I have to.’

‘But it will only take a minute.’ But Maggie knew she was already pushing it too far.

‘Don’t ask again.’

Maggie wouldn’t but she’d planted the seed. If Holly thought about it she’d see it made sense. It certainly meant that Holly wouldn’t have to take responsibility for Penny if she did follow through with her orders.

The car dropped down into a darker area where the snow hadn’t yet penetrated.

‘Where in Astley does your friend live?’ Holly was studying the screen again.

‘Brentwood. It’s on the outskirts.’

‘I know it. Specific address?’

‘Prospect Drive.’

Holly just nodded. Was she considering leaving her daughter there, or had she asked because she wanted to know where she could take Penny after she’d killed Maggie?

‘Babysitter told me Janet Braun was involved in distributing child porn. What have you been told about me, Holly?’

‘Stop talking.’

‘And what do you think the woman who comes to kill you is going to be told?’

Holly flinched and readjusted her position in the seat.

‘If you kill me you might get Abigail back, but then, a few days from now, somebody like you is going to come visit. You’ll be ready for them, but you’ll have to live with the idea that someone else will take their place. And unless you can stop them Penny and Abigail will be without their mothers.’

‘I’m just thinking about Abigail right now.’

That’s what Maggie had to fear most. ‘And we have no idea where we’re driving to. Maybe Babysitter is the Slayer and he’s setting a trap before we can speak to the cops.’

A low branch scraped across the roof of the car.

Holly gestured with the barrel of the gun for Maggie to keep her eyes on the road. ‘What other choice is there?’

‘We have to stop this now. If we walk in there it’s over for us… and our daughters.’