The return journey took them longer than Maggie anticipated. Visibility was almost non-existent and they both kept a watchful eye for Babysitter’s car. He could easily ambush them coming back from Hexham, so when they found themselves behind a salt spreading truck Maggie stuck close to it until she spotted the first turn off that would take them to Brinkley.

Now they were alone, and there were no streetlights. The pines that lined the thin road were white laden, and the snow before them untouched.

‘Hexham, now Brinkley.’ Maggie clenched her fists around the wheel.

‘Trying to find a connection?’ Holly fought to find a comfortable sitting position.

‘Maybe there isn’t one. After all, Janet Braun was a stranger to me.’

‘And you to me.’ Holly wiped her nose. ‘Perhaps he’s just a misogynist getting off on manipulating women.’

‘He’s definitely an egotist. Maybe we should be pandering to it to get Abigail back.’

‘How?’

Maggie put the fan on to clear the windshield. ‘He clearly wants to show us who he is. He’s been skulking in the background. Maybe operating in secret as the East County Slayer isn’t reward enough. If he wants to let us in to how he thinks we have to take advantage of it.’

Holly’s head darted back to the blackness beside her. ‘I think I just saw a sign for Ebden – that’s where the steak place is, right?’

‘Blink and you’ll miss it.’ Maggie peered left. ‘People only come this way if they want to find The Grey Wolf.’

‘I’ve never heard of it.’

‘It’s just a steak and baked potato place but my sister likes to remind herself where she’s from every once in a while.’

‘She older than you?’

‘Younger. We’ve nothing in common except we both love Penny. Here it is. Let’s make sure the guns are out of sight.’

The sign was still lit, but the name and insignia were obscured by snow. The headlights swung around the car park at the side of the inn, which was in darkness.

‘Doesn’t look like she’s made it yet.’ Holly gritted her teeth and hissed.

‘You OK?’ Maggie saw pain register on her face.

‘Think I need some more painkillers.’

‘Sascha will have some. She’s a walking drugstore.’ It struck her that if she’d shot at the bedroom door a few more inches to the left she would have killed Holly. Things had changed so much in the last hour but she reminded herself what she’d been prepared to do for Penny. If it came down to it, she’d do the same again, and Maggie was sure Babysitter had already concocted a way of using their maternal instincts against them a second time.

‘Look at her.’ Holly regarded still-sleeping Penny. ‘Don’t you ever get jealous of how oblivious they are?’

Maggie could see how her daughter was a constant reminder of Abigail’s absence. ‘She’ll be hungry soon.’

‘So she hasn’t spoken her first word yet?’

Maggie had forgotten she’d shared that. ‘I’ve been told she will in her own time.’

‘Are you still breastfeeding her?’

Maggie shook her head. ‘I can’t. I’m having chemo treatment.’

Holly turned to her, her expression stunned. ‘But when you were locked in the bedroom…’

‘I needed to plant that image to stop you attacking me.’ There was movement at the entrance to the lot, and Maggie was relieved she didn’t need to elaborate further. ‘Here she comes.’

A silver Acura cleaved through the snow and parked beside them. The driver’s door immediately opened, and Sascha emerged; her head was bandaged and she wore a pink quilted jacket.

Maggie got out of the car into the bitter air, and they embraced stiffly. ‘Thanks for coming. You OK?’ Her sister always smelt good.

Sascha quickly released her. ‘Is Penny OK?’ She squinted in through the back window of the car at the baby. ‘She must be freezing.’

‘She’s fine.’

Without a word, Sascha went to her car and pulled a baby bag off the passenger seat.

This was how it always was. Like Sascha had taken over from her mother and was always silently despairing of every decision Maggie made.

‘Let me wrap her properly before I take her out of the car.’ Snow was already settling on Sascha’s false eyelashes.

‘She’ll be fine.’

‘We’ll see.’ Sascha circled around the car so she could get in beside Penny’s seat.

Maggie took a breath and dropped back in the driver’s seat. She closed the door the same time as her sister and, momentarily, nobody spoke as Sascha unzipped her bag, took out some blankets and draped them around Penny.

‘There,’ Sascha said, as if it were a job long overdue. ‘So what have you got yourself mixed up in this time?’

‘Where’s Christian?’ Maggie studied her in the mirror.

‘In Atlanta.’ It was Sascha’s stock response.

Maggie was aware she and Christian were having major problems but knew better than to probe any further. ‘You going to be OK coping on your own?’

‘Natalia is coming tomorrow.’

That made Maggie feel better. Sascha’s housekeeper had three daughters and was great with Penny. Even though she was a conscientious godmother, Sascha didn’t have any natural instinct for childcare. After becoming bored with the lifestyle she’d willingly hemmed herself into she’d decided late that she wanted kids, and when she couldn’t it had caused a rift between her and Christian.

‘So how long before you pick her up?’ It was usually a bone of contention between them. Sascha maintained that Maggie was overprotective and should let her spend more time with her niece, but tonight she didn’t realise the implications of her question.

Maggie considered how to answer. ‘As soon as I can.’ She tried to keep the tremor out of her voice.

‘Whatever it is that’s going on between you two, I don’t want to know. Just work it out.’

Maggie fleetingly wondered if Sascha would be happy if she never knocked on her front door again. They’d had the discussion about what would happen if her treatment failed. It was early days yet, but she knew she had to consider the worst-case scenario. Maggie didn’t completely approve of Sascha’s lifestyle – did she really want Penny brought up in such a sterile, broken home? But Sascha did love Penny, and none of the alternatives would guarantee Penny the security she knew her sister could offer. Maggie had proved to herself she would do anything to enjoy every second of motherhood she had but now it could already be time to say goodbye to her daughter.

‘How’s your head?’ Sascha addressed Holly. ‘Not as bad as mine I bet,’ she added before the other woman could respond. ‘I don’t know who the hell you are but if Maggie doesn’t come back in one piece I’ll be calling the cops. I’ve seen your face.’

Maggie interrupted. ‘I told you, Sascha—’

‘We can talk about this later, Maggie. The priority is getting Penny back home safe.’ Sascha unbelted Penny, and she immediately woke up and started to cry. ‘No, no, no. It’s all right. It’s Auntie Sash.’ She lifted her out of the chair and wrapped her in the blankets.

Maggie got out of the car, trudged around to the other side and opened the passenger door.

‘Hold this.’ Sascha proffered the bag.

Maggie ignored her and gently took Penny from her as she got out. She rested her face in the crook of her neck and lightly squeezed. ‘It’s OK, sweetheart.’ She could feel her warm breath against her and allowed the tears to fill her eyes.

Sascha didn’t notice and was hugging her collar tight to her throat as she waited. She stamped her feet.

‘Be a good girl for Auntie Sash,’ Maggie whispered. ‘Love you.’ She cuddled her and inhaled her skin.

‘I’m freezing here,’ Sascha said caustically.

Maggie told herself her sister didn’t know what was going on. But she still felt anger spike. She held onto Penny for a little longer. There was no way this would be goodbye. She wouldn’t allow that. She handed her back to Sascha.

‘Come to Auntie Sash.’

‘Take good care of her.’

But her sister was already moving to her car. She’d had a seat fitted for Penny in the back. It was more expensive than Maggie’s. She opened the door, threw in the bag and belted Penny in before straightening. ‘So where are you two going now?’

Maggie didn’t respond.

Her sister narrowed her eyes. ‘OK, I’m out of here.’

Before Sascha could seal the door, Maggie leaned in and kissed the top of Penny’s warm head.

‘OK?’ Sascha said impatiently as Maggie stepped back again. She still hadn’t noticed her sister was crying.

‘Take care.’ Maggie embraced Sascha, and she remained rigid.

When she released her Sascha was frowning. ‘So when will we see you?’ She blinked against the snowflakes.

Maybe she could see her tears. ‘As soon as I can.’ It was the truth.

‘OK. Call me.’ Sascha shut the back passenger door. ‘But I’m free all weekend. I can keep Penny for as long as you need.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Then we’ll talk,’ she said sternly.

Maggie nodded then remembered. ‘Do you have any painkillers on you?’

Sascha sighed and then pulled her handbag from between the seats. ‘Tylenol?’

‘Something stronger.’

Sascha scornfully shook her head and rummaged deeper, produced a yellow bottle and handed it over. ‘They for her?’

Maggie nodded again and slid them into her pocket.

Sascha slammed her door, and the car started up and reversed back.

Maggie waved to her sister, but only got a withering look in return as Sascha spun the car and headed back to the entrance. Maggie watched her pull out and the headlights disappear before she got back into the Scion.

‘You OK?’

Maggie sniffed. ‘We’d better get going.’

‘She obviously cares about you and Penny,’ Holly mitigated. ‘Sure you don’t want to go with them?’

Maggie didn’t answer.

‘I wouldn’t blame you if you did.’

‘We finish this. Then I’m picking Penny up.’ Maggie accelerated, dropped them back onto the road and took off in the opposite direction to her daughter.