Present day
‘Are you absolutely sure?’ Freddie has his phone poised, a call away from setting a whole machine in motion, questioning, searching, waiting. They’re in the bedroom, Lara’s wardrobe door open, only a shoebox on the floor.
‘Yes, look, it’s normally here.’ Rachel pushes the clothes to one side, metal coat hangers banging against wood, releasing the smell of washing powder and something indefinable that is her daughter. Dust surrounds a rectangular shape where the bag has been stored. She inhales deeply and closes her eyes.
‘Call the police.’
Freddie is about to dial when Rachel’s phone beeps with a text.
‘Wait, it might be her.’ She reads the message and sinks onto the bed, the phone slipping from her hands.
‘Who is it?’ Freddie asks.
‘I don’t recognise the number.’
His face pales when he reads the message.
We have Lara. If you go to the police her life will be in danger. Keep quiet and she will be unhurt.
Rachel can’t stop shaking, as if a current of electricity has taken hold in her body, causing her to vibrate. Freddie kneels in front of her and holds her hands.
‘Breathe,’ he says. ‘Deep breaths in and out. You’ve had a terrible shock.’
Rachel grips hold of his hands and never wants to let go. She can’t imagine life without her daughter. The thought of her being harmed, in pain, is a physical hurt, and she lets out a cry that turns into sobs.
‘Don’t call the police,’ she says. ‘We can’t risk it. I will never forgive myself if she comes to harm.’
‘The police will be used to this scenario, they’ll know what to do. We could be getting ourselves into danger.’
‘I don’t care about that, I only care about Lara.’
‘These are dangerous people. I’m not sure we can deal with them on our own. Taking this on by ourselves is a risky thing to do. You must have seen those television dramas where avoiding the police causes everything to go wrong further down the line.’
‘This isn’t drama, it’s real life. My life.’ Rachel looks at Freddie and holds his gaze. ‘I am not going to call the police. This is my daughter, my decision.’
A flicker of hurt runs through his eyes, followed by a nod.
‘I understand. OK, whatever you decide, it’s up to you. But let’s keep reviewing it. Every minute will count.’
‘Which is why we must stop talking about the police. I need to reply to this text.’ She opens the message and they both look at the screen. ‘Should I try calling?’
‘Yes.’
She presses the call button and holds her breath as the tone rings out over and over. Eventually she hears that the caller is not available at this time.
‘Send a text message instead,’ Freddie says. ‘Let them know you’re complying with their demands.’
Rachel hesitates, then types: I won’t go to the police. Tell me what you want.
She looks to Freddie for confirmation and he nods. She presses send, then stares at the phone, willing it to light up with a message, a call, anything to let her know what is happening to Lara. Her baby.
Images haunt her mind. Her daughter locked in a cellar, chained to a bed, being dragged off the street and into a car. Or she arranged to meet someone online only to find they weren’t who they said they were, and now she’s been taken somewhere against her will, or worse… She won’t let her mind go there, can’t bear to comprehend her little girl being assaulted. She should have asked more questions when Lara said she was going to the cinema.
‘Rachel, you’re shaking again.’ Freddie strips off his sweatshirt and wraps it around her shoulders, pulling her to him, trying to stop her body from juddering.
‘They’re not going to reply, are they? What if they don’t? What can we do? I can’t bear this.’ She pushes him away and shrugs the sweatshirt from her shoulders. ‘I can’t just sit here wrapped up like an old woman, I have to do something.’ She paces around in circles, then stops.
‘Money, they’re going to ask for money, aren’t they?’ Her eyes fill with tears. ‘I’m not going to have enough, I’m not a millionaire. I have a bit left that was for the builders, but what if it’s not enough?’
‘Try not to second-guess them. It will just make you more stressed. All we can do is wait.’
‘No, we have to be prepared. If they’re going to make a sudden demand for cash, then I need to get it ready for them.’
‘They’ll know you’ll need time to get it out – nobody has huge sums of cash lying around. If it comes to it, I have some money, and we’ll see what we can do. Are you sure you don’t want to ring the police, though? They’ll know exactly what we should do, and—’
He’s interrupted by the sound of the phone, alerting them to a text message. Rachel snatches it up.
‘It’s them.’ She reads it first, and then shows it to Freddie.
Drive in the direction of Underdale Hill. Come alone. You are being watched. If you bring anyone, Lara will not be safe. Tell no one. Further instructions will arrive by text when you are nearer your destination.
She swallows down the lump that has lodged in her throat and draws on her inner strength. She has to step up for Lara. She will get in her car alone, and she will go and save her daughter. She will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
‘I’m coming with you,’ Freddie says.
‘No.’ She finds her car keys and puts on a jacket. He watches her in silence.
‘You can’t do this alone; you could be walking into a trap. Let me drive behind you. I’ll be discreet, I promise. These are dangerous people.’
‘Do you know who they are?’
‘No!’ His shoulders slump. ‘How could you ask that? Nobody takes a child without being dangerous or disturbed. It’s an unpredictable situation you’re heading into, and that scares me. I’m frightened for you as well as Lara.’
‘I can look after myself.’
Her phone beeps with another message, and she jumps before opening it with trembling fingers.
Leave the house and get in the car now.
She gasps. ‘They really are watching. They know I haven’t left yet.’
‘We don’t know that for sure. Please let me come with you.’
‘No. Don’t try and stop me, Freddie, and don’t follow me. If you do, I will never speak to you again.’