Maggie’s chest tightened, her circulation suspended. She’d told Sascha to find something heavy and ambush Holly when she arrived. It was her fault. ‘What did you do?’ she spat. Now she felt even more powerless. She had to get free.

‘I took her weapon. And used it.’ Holly’s voice was smudgy.

Maggie tried to straighten inside the trunk. ‘Let me out. I have to help her.’

‘It’s too late. We have to keep going. Penny has to come with us now.’

‘I’ll do anything you want. Just open the trunk.’ If Holly was delirious she could overpower her and wrestle Penny away. ‘Quick, I can’t breathe in here.’

‘I’m going to release the catch and lift the door two inches. Throw your phone out.’

Maggie considered whether she should boot the lid out as soon as it was unlocked, but didn’t want to risk it if Penny was in the way.

The trunk clicked and rose slightly so the weak yellow streetlight filled the crack.

‘Toss it out.’

Maggie put her hand through with the phone, dropped it and withdrew her fingers. It clattered onto the street. When Holly bent to retrieve it she might be able to clip her with the door, but she was still fearful of striking Penny.

The door thudded back into place. Holly had rammed it down.

‘What are you doing?’ She heard Holly stamping on her cell.

‘You’re going to stay in there now.’

‘Let me out!’

‘You both have to come with me.’

‘We can’t take Penny with us!’

‘We wouldn’t have… but that was your choice.’ Holly still sounded dazed.

‘You can’t drive and keep an eye on her!’

‘I’ll strap her in. She’ll be fine,’ Holly said bluntly. The rear passenger door opened, and Holly whispered to Penny as she secured her.

‘Please, let me sit with her!’

‘No more favours,’ Holly growled.

‘Call an ambulance for Sascha!’

‘No.’

The door slammed.

The Scion bounced as Holly got in the driver’s side, shut the door and started the engine. Maggie rolled to the back of the trunk as it accelerated and then sideways as the car turned and shot back the way they’d come. She anchored herself and turned so she was facing the back seat. She’d already tried kicking her way through it, but now all she wanted to do was check on Penny. ‘Penny!’ she called over the gunning engine. ‘Penny, it’s OK! I’m right here!’

Her constrained weight pitched again as they turned another corner. They weren’t far from the address Babysitter had given them. Had Holly really killed Sascha? If her sister had attacked maybe she had no choice. She couldn’t hear Penny. Maggie yelped as the vehicle shuddered hard down a ramp. She could make out the satnav voice instructing Holly.

‘Next left. Then next right.’

The movement of her body corresponded and soon the Scion was slowing. Holly wouldn’t be stupid enough to drive right up to the door. That’s if wherever it was had a door.

The engine was switched off, and the suspension lifted as Holly got back out.

No traffic. Wait, she could discern the lap of water. They must be down at the wharf. ‘Speak to me, Holly.’

She didn’t reply but footfalls moved away from the car.

‘Do you want me to scream and give us all away!’

Boots marched back. ‘Shut up.’

She was right outside the trunk now. ‘Let me out of here.’

‘Wait.’ The door clicked and sprang open.

Maggie was looking down the barrel of the Browning. Holly’s expression was set hard above it. Seconds passed and Maggie waited for the bullet.

‘Get out.’

Something had changed in Holly’s demeanour. Maybe it was because there was no longer any part of her that trusted Maggie or because her daughter might be close by. Her eyes didn’t blink as Maggie extricated herself and stood upright.

The car was parked on the edge of a waterside lot. The trawler jetty was on the opposite side of the port. Flakes melted into the inky black water between and in the distance lights coruscated where a handful of men moved around the moored boats. Maggie and Holly were standing about five hundred yards away from them in the deep shadow of a clock tower.

‘Move or say anything now and Penny is an orphan.’ Holly kept the gun pointed shakily at the middle of Maggie’s chest.

Maggie could see she was overwrought. She opened her mouth to protest, but had second thoughts. She’d been in this position once. Perhaps this time she wouldn’t be so lucky.

‘Behind me, Loft 7, that’s where you’re going. Walk along the wharf and go inside. Take this phone with you. Passcode is 050516.’ She handed Maggie her iPhone. ‘I’m going to take Penny and find someplace else to watch. ‘If he’s tracking the phone he probably knows exactly where we’ve parked up.’

Maggie shook her head. ‘I’m not leaving her.’

Holly raised the barrel so it was pointing at her face. She took in a wavering breath. ‘Don’t come out of there without Abigail.’

‘Why would he bring her here? This has to be a trap.’

‘There’s only one way off the jetty. If he leaves, I’ll follow.’

‘And take Penny with you?’

‘If I have to. Go. And tell him our silence is guaranteed if he frees her.’

‘You know this won’t work.’ Maggie regarded the weapon and wondered which was her best option – obeying Holly or trying to get the gun out of her hand. If she’d killed Sascha, Maggie wouldn’t hesitate to use it. But with Penny close by could she risk any shots being fired?

‘Go,’ Holly repeated.

Maggie strode slowly past the car and looked in through the window at Penny. Their eyes locked, and Penny beamed obliviously. Maggie tried to smile back and felt a pang in her throat. Would it be the last time she’d see her?

‘I’m watching you every step of the way.’

She paced stiffly past the car, and the front seat obscured Penny’s face. Then she set off along the lit edge of the wharf to the row of battered wooden fishing lofts. Maggie’s sight blurred but she wouldn’t allow the tears to come. She was coming back to get her daughter, by whatever means necessary.