The car radio blares out when Rachel turns the key in the ignition, and she snaps the dial to off. She doesn’t need that interfering with all the other horrors that are swirling around in her head. She programmes the satnav for Underdale Hill. She knows roughly where it is, but it’s not an area she’s familiar with. It’s at the far edge of the town, where the roads become narrower and darker as the trees loom up on either side, as if pressing down on you and making you feel small beneath them.
She drives through streets that are still busy with people streaming out of pubs and restaurants. She wishes she was one of them, able to relax and enjoy eating out with friends. It’s hard to believe it was only a few days ago that she was doing that very thing with Freddie. Automatically she glances in her mirror, to check he isn’t following, but the road is empty behind her. She hates herself for the way she was forced to speak to him, pushing him away when she’s been dreaming of something happening between them. His concern for her shows he cares, and she’s relieved that at least he knows where she’s heading, should she fail to come back.
Drive to Blackberry Farm.
Her stomach drops when she sees the message. She has no idea how far away this farm is. Her mind is scrambled and she forces herself to focus. She pulls over in a lay-by to enter the address into the satnav, not trusting herself to do it while she’s driving. She’s shaking as if all the windows are open, blowing the cold night air in. Something raps on the back window and she lets out a cry, twisting her neck awkwardly as she swivels round to see what it is. A branch is knocking against the glass, and she lets out a breath of relief. A car drives past in the other direction, the headlamps lighting up the inside of her own vehicle momentarily before she is plunged back into semi-darkness.
She sets off again, driving faster now, anxious to get off this lonely road. What lies ahead may not be any better, but she has to get to her daughter, find a way to save her. As she follows the twisty lane, she tries to make sense of the motivation behind this kidnapping, given that she hasn’t been asked for any ransom money. What else can they be after? The sense of unease she has felt since the notes arrived through the letter box is magnified, and she can’t help wondering whether the two are related somehow. Her life was ordinary until Tom met Heidi.
Heidi. Is she somehow involved? She banishes this suggestion immediately. Heidi likes Lara, she can tell from the way she interacts with her, the disappointment when she told her she was cancelling the lessons. She wouldn’t hurt Lara.
In the mirror, she sees the glow of headlights a long way behind. It’s the first car she’s seen since she stopped. She presses down harder on the accelerator. The satnav makes her jump.
At the next junction, take the first left, then after fifty yards take the first right.
She cuts her speed and slows down as she comes to a small junction. The final turn is barely a road, more of a track, with scarcely any room for another vehicle to pass, and the car bumps along over the uneven terrain. Feeling exposed, she switches off the headlights. She needs the advantage of surprise; any help needs to be grabbed with both hands. She continues along the track for a few minutes, her anxiety growing.
Destination reached.
She switches off the engine, and peers ahead. In front of her is a five-bar gate. The track continues beyond the gate and disappears into blackness. She checks her phone: no more messages. She’s loath to get out of the car, as this will mean facing whatever’s out there. As her eyes adjust to the darkness, she notices a white wooden signpost behind the gate. She undoes her seat belt and gets out, closing the door softly. She leaves it unlocked, just in case she needs to get away fast. She can’t help thinking she’s acting like a character in a television drama, but that’s exactly how she feels. This kind of thing doesn’t happen to people like her. If only Freddie were with her. Thinking of him gives her strength, though, and she walks towards the gate. She is doing this for Lara, and the sooner she gets it over with, the sooner she can take her home. If it’s not too late.