‘Do you consider yourself a good mother?’ Maggie eyed the gas gauge again.

‘I cope.’

‘That’s not what I asked.’

‘Yes. I believe I am,’ Holly replied earnestly. ‘Why?’

‘I just wonder if we’re being punished. For being single mothers.’

‘Didn’t Janet Braun have a partner?’

Maggie had forgotten she’d given Holly that impression. ‘She was sleeping with someone, but her Facebook page said she was single.’

‘So you think Babysitter is some kind of single-mother-hating religious freak or something?’

‘Just trying to work out why he would target us.’

Holly’s expression hardened. ‘Let people judge after they’ve tried to bring up a child on their own.’

Maggie nodded. ‘Every time I switch the light off in Penny’s nursery is like a victory. Sometimes it scares me it’s my responsibility alone to want the best for her. But that gives me clarity. It’s terrifying but it makes me happy. Now, I don’t think I’d want it any other way.’

Holly inhaled. ‘Every morning I set my alarm five minutes early. In that time I have to fill myself up, make myself strong for Abigail before I even get out of bed. I’ll never forgive myself for allowing her to be taken.’

‘He would have found a way no matter how vigilant you were. No need for self-recrimination. Just concentrate on getting her back.’

---

They reached Lime Falls before they found a gas station. The dash alert told Maggie they’d have to get to one soon. She usually got a good few miles on reserve, but driving through the snow was burning more fuel.

Drifts clogged the narrow route into the tiny community. There were no streetlights, but a long row of houses decorated with blue fairy lights allowed her to trace the camber of the road.

‘The satnav says this is it.’ Holly peered into the shadows beside her.

‘There.’ Maggie’s headlights illuminated the wooden sign to their right. She could just make out the lower part of ‘Waggity Camp’ through the snow that had been blown against it. ‘Shit, another hill.’ She swung the car towards the dark opening in the trees, had second thoughts and reversed towards the houses. ‘Let’s take a run at it.’

Jamming her foot on the pedal she rocketed them up the incline, but they started rolling down. She slammed on the brakes, and the Scion slid backwards. They settled at the bottom again, lodging in a drift behind them.

She killed the engine. ‘Let’s go on foot. It can’t be that far.’ Maggie examined the single set of tyre tracks she’d left in the snow before them. ‘No other vehicles have been through here recently.’

‘Doesn’t mean he’s not up there.’ Holly opened her door and swung herself out.

As they walked under the tree cover every crunch they made seemed magnified by the branches above.

Soon the slope made the backs of Maggie’s legs pound, and they were both wheezing for breath.

‘I can see a light on up there.’

Maggie followed Holly’s gaze to a small glow ahead of them. She loosened the collar of her coat.

They were now on open ground and dogs started barking. Sounded like there were a lot of them.

‘I’m not big on dogs.’ But Holly didn’t slow her pace.

‘They’re all probably locked up.’

‘We don’t know that for sure.’

‘Don’t worry. I grew up around them,’ Maggie placated, although the aggression in the cacophony unsettled her.

‘Well, whoever owns this place knows we’re coming.’

The barking intensified as the outline of a lone, two-storey house emerged against the moonlight. Maggie could make out a tall boundary wall at the left side of it. On the other was an area surrounded by a tall fence, dark canine shapes moving within it as they noisily anticipated their arrival.

‘Are they all the right side of the wire?’ Holly observed them nervously.

‘Looks like it.’ There were about eight to ten dogs snapping their jaws at the women and pacing the perimeter.

Their attention was drawn to an outside light coming on beside the front door of the house. It opened, and an obese man was standing in the frame aiming a double-barrelled shotgun at them.

‘Who the fuck are you two?’ His voice was dried out and mean.

Maggie halted and gripped Holly’s coat to prevent her from continuing further. ‘It’s OK!’

‘What’s OK, that you’re trespassing or that you’re doing it in the early hours of the morning?’ He rounded on the dogs. ‘Shut the fuck up!’

They didn’t obey.

‘Our car broke down at the bottom of the hill. We’re out of gas,’ Maggie improvised.

‘And why’s that my problem?’

‘I’m Mrs Johnson.’ Maggie said it as if he should recognise her.

‘Who?’

Maggie was sure the deceit was going to backfire before she’d started. ‘I live in Brinkley. You have my dogs here twice a year.’

He frowned.

‘I know that doesn’t give me a right to impose but this is the only place I know in Lime Falls.’

‘OK.’ But he sounded uncertain. ‘Johnson?’

‘Yeah. I was going to give you a call later this month. I’m in Hawaii for Christmas.’

‘Suzy handles all that side of the business.’ He lowered the gun. ‘Why didn’t you phone ahead?’

‘My cell’s died. We’re sorry to scare you like this. Is Suzy there?’

‘No, she’s visiting with her sister.’

Maggie tried not to show her relief. Was her bluff going to hold up?

‘You’d better come in a minute,’ he conceded grudgingly. ‘Shut the fuck up!’ he yelled again.

‘What the hell are those dogs doing out in this weather?’ Holly whispered.

Maggie moved forward and gestured her to follow.

The dogs snarled as they skirted the fence. He monitored their approach but didn’t step back from the doorway.

‘What are you out this time of night for anyway?’

Maggie could see his piggy features were still suspicious. He looked to be in his fifties and had short thinning silver hair and stubble. ‘I was taking my friend to the hospital.’

His scrutiny lingered on Holly. ‘What’s wrong with her?’ he asked as if she couldn’t answer for herself.

‘I’m anaemic,’ Holly answered immediately.

‘Got plenty of red meat for the dogs.’ He showed her his uneven teeth and flattened his back to the edge of the doorframe so they could step through.

Because of his build there was hardly any space so they both had to brush past him.

Maggie turned when she heard the door close. They were in a dingy narrow hallway, and there was the strong aroma of dogs and stale cooked onions.

‘Phone’s right in there.’ The man gestured to the closed door on their right.

Maggie felt a surge of panic. She’d been so concerned about her own lies being accepted that she hadn’t considered he might be telling his own. After all, Babysitter had sent them there.

Holly pushed the door, and there was darkness the other side. ‘Can you switch on the light for us?’ She obviously shared Maggie’s hesitancy.

The man sighed and lumbered to where they were standing. He leaned through and flicked it.

The old paper shade cast a yellow glow over the small, shabby lounge. There were two armchairs, a couch, a TV, and a coffee table. On it was a red phone positioned next to a hinged open and empty pizza box.

‘Knock yourself out. You want me to see if I can scare you up some gas?’

‘We’d really appreciate it.’ Holly smiled.

‘OK, I’ll see what I got in the trucks.’ He shuffled by them and headed towards a sealed door at the end of the hall.

They both watched him reach it and then disappear through. They glimpsed a lit kitchen the other side before the door swung back into place.

Maggie stared fixedly at it. ‘There’s something not right.’

‘We should take a look around while he’s out there.’ Holly entered the tiny lounge and took it in.

‘Wait—’ Maggie hissed.

There was the squeal of a rear screen door opening and closing.

‘OK.’ Maggie joined her.

‘I don’t even know what we’re looking for.’ Holly inspected the walls.

There were a few prints in small frames but nothing else.

Maggie picked up the phone for appearances’ sake. ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this.’

‘I think he swallowed your story.’

‘Maybe. But he doesn’t strike me as the sort of guy to give away free gas.’ Maggie got no tone. ‘This is dead.’ She checked the wire leading to the wall and saw it had been unplugged.

There was a clicking sound in the hallway and they both glanced back to the doorway. A squat, light tan pit bull with brown spots around its pink mouth was standing there, its ears raised and wet fur glistening with fresh snowflakes.

‘Hello, boy,’ Holly murmured apprehensively.

The dog cocked its head and padded a foot over the threshold.

Maggie tensed and put down the phone. She knew the breed. And suspected their host had just let it in from the yard. ‘Move behind the couch. Slowly.’ She put her hand on the gun in her pocket, and the dog’s lip lifted as it started growling.

Two more older pit bulls appeared behind it, their fur darker but the hostility in their black eyes no less focussed.