Maggie fumbled the last bullet into the chamber of the snubbie, her eyes bouncing between it and the windshield. No figure emerging from the snow. ‘He might be circling around us.’ Her attention darted to the side window and then to Penny in the back seat. She’d half woken. ‘Ssshhh.’

Holly took her safety off. ‘Try again.’

Maggie accelerated hard, but still couldn’t free the Scion.

‘Should I get out and push?’

‘No. Stay inside.’ Maggie pumped the pedal.

‘Perhaps he doesn’t know we’ve come off the road.’

‘He does now.’ She stopped gunning the engine.

‘If we do nothing he’ll definitely find us.’

‘Don’t open the door.’ Maggie hefted her weapon and aimed it at the windshield.

‘So what do we do, just stay here and wait for him?’

The phone vibrated.

Holly read the message aloud: ‘“Do you need assistance?’”

‘Son of a bitch.’ Maggie’s gaze shifted to the rear window then Penny. ‘It’s okay, sweetheart.’

‘Doesn’t mean he’s still in his car either.’

Maggie switched off the engine and wipers. ‘Just listen.’

They both strained their ears for feet crunching snow, but the wind surged against the Scion.

Holly held up her hand. ‘Is that the pickup?’

Maggie could just discern the low rumble of the Nissan. She told herself she should have heeded her instincts and stayed at the fork. Or taken Holly up on the offer of letting her go to Hexham alone. Now she’d endangered her daughter again. Her finger rested against the trigger. It was stiff and she knew she had to pull on it long and hard. Would he try to pick them both off?

Another message alert.

Maggie fixed the whiteout before them. ‘What does he say?’

‘“Go to the middle of Hexham town square. I won’t be there, but a part of my life will.’”

A car door slammed.

‘Hear that?’ Holly swallowed tightly.

They both held their breaths.

An engine revved.

‘That’s him. Let me push us out.’ Holly started to unlock her door.

Maggie grabbed her shoulder. ‘No. Wait.’

Holly stiffened.

Maggie loosened her grip, but Holly remained rigid.

Tyres hissed on the snowy road and then Babysitter’s headlights swung in their direction.

‘He’s coming at us!’ Maggie trained the gun on the vehicle.

But the beams angled away as the pickup straightened and barrelled back the way it had come.

The drone of the engine receded.

They remained silent as a whistle of breeze swallowed the last traces of the Nissan.

‘He’s gone back towards Astley. It’s got to be a trick,’ Holly said eventually.

Maggie nodded. ‘If there’s more than one of them someone could still be here.’

‘I only saw one person in the pickup though.’

‘You’re sure of that?’

‘Pretty sure.’ But Holly didn’t sound it.

A minute ticked by.

‘We can’t stay here all night.’ Holly pocketed her Browning, unlocked the door and let the storm in.

‘Come back!’

But Holly had slid out, and Maggie heard her stagger to the rear of the car.

‘Start it up again!’ she shouted over the gale.

Maggie complied and increased the pressure on the pedal.

‘I can see where it’s—’

Maggie lost the remainder of the sentence. ‘What?’ she yelled at the open door.

The Scion suddenly lurched forward, and Maggie took her foot off the pedal. But it was still rolling across the road. There could be a ditch the opposite side. Maggie hit the brakes, jerked the wheel, and the car skidded and turned forty-five degrees before coming to a halt. She was now pointed towards Hexham. Maggie squinted through the open door, but couldn’t see further than a few feet. ‘Holly!’

A shape emerged from the maelstrom. It was Holly, and she quickly jumped back into the car and pulled the door closed.

‘Lock it.’ Maggie checked on Penny again. She was blinking with confusion. Maggie felt the cold envelop her and shivered inwardly. ‘Let’s take off.’ She moved them carefully forward, peering through the arcing wipers for signs of anyone nearby.

‘Step on it. At least until we’re clear.’

Maggie guided them to the middle of the road.

Holly glanced over her shoulder.

‘Keep an eye out. He could easily come back and surprise us.’

The windshield was suddenly bathed in bright light, and Maggie yanked the wheel as two headlights headed straight for them.

The truck honked a late warning.

Maggie wrenched the car to the side of the road as the rig rumbled past, its cargo of felled trunks swerving behind it as it passed.

‘Jesus.’ Holly was frozen as they came to a standstill.

Maggie swiftly turned the wheel again, accelerated and moved them off the edge of the road before the car could glide into the ditch once more. Her heart was leaping hurdles, and she waited for it to slow. ‘This is madness. We can’t even see a foot in front of us.’

Holly consulted the satnav. ‘Hexham’s only three or so miles from here.’

Should they carry on? Babysitter had gone back the opposite way. ‘We could all get killed before we get there.’

‘Let’s see if we can get Penny somewhere safe.’ Holly pulled on her belt.

‘In Hexham? There’s nothing there but vacation homes.’

‘Maybe you can contact your friend, Sascha.’

Maggie was relieved that Holly had again confirmed Sascha was alive. ‘She’s my sister.’

Holly shook her head. ‘I’m sorry. I could call her and get her to come meet us.’

Maggie concentrated on the road. ‘OK. Call her at home now.’ She gave Holly the number.

Holly quickly dialled. ‘Better you talk to her. I’ll put it on speaker.’

But the phone went to voicemail.

Holly hung up. ‘Perhaps she’s with the police… or been taken to a hospital?’

But Maggie felt a stab of panic – what if Sascha hadn’t been found alive? ‘Try her cell.’ She reeled off the number.

Holly dialled again.

‘Hello?’ Sascha answered breathless.

Maggie had never been so glad to hear her. ‘Sascha, it’s Maggie, you OK?’

‘Where are you? That bitch attacked me and tied me up, but somebody called the police. Was that you?’

‘No. That was the person who attacked you. I’m with her now.’

‘The police told me your house is on fire and that you were taken by a woman at gunpoint.’

‘Listen to me, Sascha. Are they still there?’

‘Yes. I’m with a paramedic.’ She lowered her voice. ‘The officers are searching the yard.’

‘Then hang up. Call me when you’re alone.’

‘Are you being held hostage?’

‘No.’

‘What about Penny?’

‘She’s with me. We’re both safe.’

‘Are you being forced to say this?’

‘No. Really, I am fine. Just hang up now and call me when you can.’

There was a pause, and Maggie and Holly could hear the sound of a low male voice.

‘Just say yes if you’re in danger,’ Sascha whispered.

‘I’m not. Go somewhere private. I need you to pick up Penny as soon as you can.’

‘OK. Sure you don’t want me to tell the cops?’

‘Please don’t. Now hurry.’

Holly ended the call. ‘She’s got this number now. Feel better?’

Maggie felt her chest loosen. At least she’d established Sascha was safe.

‘We’ll wait for her to call us. Just get us to Hexham in one piece.’

Maggie rubbed away tiredness and the permanent image of the headlights on snow. ‘What are you going to do once you get there?’

‘Play his game,’ Holly replied. ‘Do whatever he needs me to do to get Abigail back.’

‘You know she’s not going to be there.’

‘No. I don’t,’ Holly snapped.

‘Well, we have to decide what we’ll do if she’s not.’ Maggie couldn’t leave Holly to face Babysitter alone; but was she right about not handing them both on a plate?

‘Let’s make it to the town square first.’

Maggie grasped the wheel tighter. ‘There’s only this one road in. Maybe he’s just sending us somewhere until he’s figured out how to dispose of us.’

The snow was building on the glass, the wipers unable to handle the flakes. Much harder and they’d be buried before they got there.