ROB

I WANTED TO TELL her where I was going but I didn't want to frighten her. I knew she would try and stop me from going, tell me that I didn't know what her attackers were capable of doing.

But she didn't know what I was capable of either. I had the case beside me in the car when I set off, hoping I wouldn't have to use the contents.

"It's just one meeting and then I'll be back." She didn’t stir. I doubt she heard me.

Technically I hadn't lied to her. I was going to a meeting. It just wasn't a work meeting. It was to decide the fate of her, me, and them. It was also a chance to find out the truth about what happened to Harry.

It was a long drive. I'd set off first thing, leaving her still groggy in bed, knowing that was the best way to stop her asking too many questions. "I'll be back soon," I'd said as I kissed her on the forehead, hoping I was telling the truth, not wanting to think about the chance that I might not come back at all.

The roads didn't start getting busy until I was far along and I made good enough time to get to the house well before three. I pulled up at the roadside by the turn off and tried to think about what might happen, plan for all the different eventualities.

From what I'd heard of them last time, they weren't going to be a challenge. It had been child's play to throw the stone through the gap in the cupboard, hear it land outside. That was enough of a distraction to send them away.

But then they had managed to take on Harry.

I knew I couldn't underestimate them.

I twisted in my seat and opened the case. The contents looked up at me, accusingly. I hadn't looked inside for a very long time and it didn't feel good slipping one of the knives into my pocket. I just hoped I wouldn't need it.

I left the rest behind, I got the horrible feeling that if things went wrong, they might be used against me.

I made a mental note of the distance from the house to the car, walking through the woods and breaking a twig every now and then, leaving them dangling. To the untrained eye, they didn't stand out but they meant I'd be able to follow the route back to the car if they came after me.

I got to the house before them, walking inside cautiously, glancing around, looking for any signs that this was a trap.

The place looked different to last time, more threatening, though that had nothing to do with any ghosts. There was the blanket, still laid on the floor. It felt strange to think that I'd first had sex with Hope on that blanket. Part of me felt a strange sense of nostalgia, as if it had happened a very long time ago.

I'd barely got to know her but already I couldn't imagine a life without her in it. She'd gotten under my skin so quickly, wrapping herself around my heart and claiming me in a way that had been completely unexpected. I hadn't been expecting any of this. I hadn't expected her.

But she was part of my life now and there was nothing I wouldn't do to keep her safe. Which is why I stood my ground when I heard a car pulling up outside the house. A glance out of the window made me smile. Two things were in my favour. He was on his own and he hadn't noticed the softness of the ground where he'd parked.

"You're alone?" he asked as he climbed out of the car, looking across at me stood in the doorway.

"As are you," I said, nodding towards him.

He wasn't what I'd been expecting. For one thing he was older than he'd sounded on the phone, the wrong side of fifty, his hair mostly white, neatly brushed across his scalp.

He was wearing a woollen jumper with cream corduroy trousers and looked like the least threatening man I could imagine, not helped by the extra weight around his midriff.

He dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief as he crossed the ground towards me. "Rather warm today," he said, a weak smile forming on his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Edward Lewis, I'm Hope's father."

He held his hand out towards me and I found myself shaking it before I realised what was happening.

I'd been so ready for a film noir villain to step out of the car, duelling scar, eyepatch, gun at the ready. I hadn't expected a man who looked like he'd walked straight out of a retirement party at an accountant’s firm.

"I don't know what Hope told you about me," he said, seemingly unperturbed by the lack of a handshake from me. "But you must know she is ill."

I watched his body language closely. "How did you get my number?"

"A man gave it to me, told me to use it to get in touch with you."

"He...gave it to you?" I couldn't keep the suspicion out of my voice.

"I know you think I killed him, Hope probably told you all manner of awful things about me, how I'm capable of such things but I'm not.” He dabbed his forehead again. “She makes things up. It's what she does."

"So what happened to Harry?"

"Took his own life. I couldn't believe it when I found out."

"So why did he give you his phone?"

"Because I paid him a large sum to do so. Mr Davies, all I care about is my daughter. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get her back. Which includes paying you to keep away from her."

"How did you get that cut on your face?"

"Because she fought to get away from me. She doesn't like taking her medication. She does this. You're not the first man she's managed to convince to help her. Please tell me where she is. She needs help, Mr Davies, help that only her father can provide."

I almost believed him. But then his eyes flickered. It was only for the briefest of seconds but it was enough.

"I'm not telling you anything."

"I thought you might say that," he said, a smile spreading across his lips.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked, closing my hands around the knife in my pocket, keeping his focus on my face.

"Because you haven't worked it out yet. All your money and your education and you haven't worked it out yet. I just think it's funny, that's all."

"Worked what out?"

"Worked out that the only reason I brought you here was so that you wouldn't be at the cottage when my son went to collect Hope."

"How did you find out about that?" I asked, taking a slow step towards him.

"It was simple enough, we just used what's in the boot of my car."

"What have you got in there?"

"Have a look for yourself," he said, pushing a button on his keyfob. The boot of his car swung upwards.

I walked over slowly, keeping my eye on him in case he came for me. When I reached the car, I looked down into the boot, finding myself staring into the bruised and swollen eyes of Anthony.

"What have they done to you?" I asked, reaching down to untie the ropes binding his wrists together. In the shock of seeing him like that, I didn't notice the shadow falling over me until it was too late.