Holly forgot the pain of her restraints as Maggie’s admission briefly halted the interrogation. Was she attempting to dupe them? But Holly had suspected Maggie might have been lying to her since the first time they’d spoken through the bedroom door.

‘I stabbed Janet.’

Holly was riveted to Maggie’s deadpan features.

‘She was told to do the same.’ Maggie indicated Holly, but the men didn’t turn. ‘Broke into my home and tried to kill me. Who’s Pauly?’

Howie briefly grimaced. ‘Not your concern. All you have to do is tell us where you’re supposed to be meeting him.’

‘I told you, if we’re not there, he’s not going to show.’

Holly held her breath.

Lester tugged off the mask. He seemed agitated. ‘She’s full of it.’

‘It’s a fucked-up story. Which is why I believe it.’ Howie stared unblinkingly at Maggie. ‘What’s the purpose of the meeting?’

‘I don’t know. We’re just following his instructions.’

‘Doesn’t make sense. If he sent you in here to find cold storage, the chances were you wouldn’t be leaving again. Maybe this meeting is bullshit. His or yours.’

‘It’s not,’ Holly interrupted. Four heads swivelled to her but she needed to shift the focus from Maggie before things got too intense. ‘But neither of us is going to tell you where we agreed to meet because that’s the only thing keeping us alive.’

‘That’s cute. But you will tell us.’ Howie uncrossed his arms. ‘Really, it’ll take minutes. I take it you have a time for this meeting?’

‘Yes.’ Holly barely cracked the word.

Howie suddenly crossed the room to her and bent his ear to her lips. ‘Just whisper to me what it is then.’

His head was completely blocking Maggie.

‘Nine this morning, OK?’ Maggie blurted out.

Howie stood, jaw muscle twitching.

It had been a test. Holly would have whispered. Then he would have got Maggie to do the same. If the times hadn’t tallied he would have known they were lying. Maggie had removed the threat.

‘In a wharf parking lot,’ Maggie added before he could silence her. ‘Near some net lofts.’

Holly knew exactly to where she was referring. Even if they were separately interrogated now they both had the same location in mind.

‘But neither of us will tell you more than that until we’re in a car driving there.’

‘Bravo.’ Howie pulled his sleeve back to glimpse his watch and strolled back to Maggie. ‘But if this meeting’s not until nine I can find out what your names are, even who the first guy who fucked you was. I know already who’ll be the last.’ He briefly rested his hand on Lester’s shoulder.

‘He won’t show himself if we’re not there.’ Holly managed to stand straight.

‘So you both keep saying,’ Howie murmured thoughtfully.

‘Are we going to waste our time with this crap any longer?’ Lester gestured to the laptop. ‘We can’t keep the clients waiting.’

‘If we’ve been compromised, I’m not comfortable continuing.’ Haden put his hands in his pockets.

Lester huffed. ‘Jesus, you’re such a chicken shit. Are we really afraid of Pauly?’

Haden’s beady eyes darted to Howie. ‘Tie them up and drive them out to this rendezvous. If it’s bullshit, we slit their throats.’

Holly was positive the matter-of-fact way he said it meant it certainly wasn’t a ploy to scare them.

Howie considered it.

‘Really?’ Lester was impatient. ‘They’re just playing for time.’

And that’s all they had. When they got back to Astley, Holly was sure it would be over. But at least that way they’d maybe have an opportunity to escape.

Howie sucked his teeth. ‘Tell me now if I’m wasting my time, girls.’

Neither of them spoke.

‘Because if he’s a no-show then we bring you both back here. I’ll keep you alive for days. If you don’t want that, one of you speak the truth now.’

‘It IS the truth,’ Holly said before Maggie could.

Howie studied Maggie, and she slowly blinked.

‘Fuck this.’ Lester removed his surgical gloves and slapped them onto the trolley. ‘What if we get caught?’

‘Nobody’s out in this weather,’ Howie placated.

‘But we might get stuck in a drift. It was difficult enough getting over here tonight.’

‘He’s got a point.’ Haden flattened a strand of hair to his flushed pate.

‘Both you boys are coming. We can’t sedate them if we want them to get out of the truck when we get there, so I’ll need you two to strong-arm them.’

Haden shuffled on the balls of his feet. ‘I didn’t sign up for this. I’m your tech man.’

‘You’ve never objected to pacifying the girls and boys before.’ Howie raised an eyebrow. ‘Not in your remit either but you always get a shot when Lester’s done.’

Haden looked suddenly self-conscious.

‘Where else would you be allowed to do what you do down here? Huh?’

Haden’s expression softened.

‘Come on.’ Howie clicked his fingers twice. ‘I need your help.’

Haden returned his attention to Holly. ‘I get to finish her, agreed?’

Howie nodded, benevolently. ‘Sure. After we’ve cut the feed you can take as long as you like with her.’

Haden smiled coyly at Holly, like she’d consented, and a cold wave of dread broke over her.

‘So I got to get changed now?’ Lester pointed at the laptop. ‘What about them?’

Howie picked up the wire brush from the trolley. ‘They’ll have to wait. We can’t pass this up.’

‘Fuck’s sake. Give me a couple of minutes.’ Lester slipped his feet back into his flip-flops.

Howie pressed the metal bristles hard against Maggie’s left cheek. ‘We’re going to take you down now but every time you disobey I take off a layer of your face with this. Clear?’

Maggie didn’t make a sound but nodded.

Howie jabbed his finger at Holly. ‘Same goes for you.’

Holly felt hatred for him reviving her.

Howie removed the brush and reached up to the hook above Maggie’s head. ‘Haden, can you let our clients know we’re experiencing technical difficulties. Something to do with the weather maybe.’

He didn’t reply.

But Holly could see why he hadn’t. The yellow twin wires of a taser were sticking out of his back, and his body had gone into spasm.