Page 116 of She Saw What He Did

*

Ellen looked around the basement and swore under her breath.

‘There’s nothing,’ said Daphne quietly. ‘I’ve searched everywhere. There’s no way to get out.’

Ellen glanced over to Sam who was sitting watching Peppa Pig on the monitor.

‘She’s had a few tantrums,’ whispered Daphne. ‘I’m worried about the psychological effect on her. We’ve been here for what feels like forever. I’ve completely lost track of the days. The video of Abby has given us hope. Sam seems to believe we’ll be going home sometime today.’

‘Yes,’ said Ellen.

She thought it best not to mention the Prime Minister.

‘Do you want to play snap?’ Sam asked, looking up at Ellen.

‘Yes, okay.’

‘Are you taking us home today?’ asked Sam, her face hopeful.

Ellen knew she couldn’t say no. Tears hovered just beyond Sam’s bright eyes. She desperately wanted to go home. They would find them. Weis and Scott would be searching for them.

‘Yes,’ she said confidently.

Maybe they would go home today. Ryan wasn’t a bad man. Ellen felt sure of that. He would release them. He’d taken the photo of Sam, hadn’t he? That was to reassure Abby Miller. If only she could talk to him some more. Talk him out of going to Asquith Hall.

Ellen couldn’t believe the killer had been right under her nose the whole time. How could she have been so stupid? Now she was helpless and stuck in this basement, with no way to stop Abby from killing the Prime Minister. She looked over at Sam and wiped tears from her eyes.

‘Damn you, Ryan,’ she muttered.

*

Sergiy would have killed Sparrow in an instant. He was a puny little creep. Sergiy would have snapped his neck easily but they didn’t want that. Sparrow was the only person that could lead them to the box. Once Sergiy had that then he would ring the bastard’s neck, if only for all the trouble he had caused. He didn’t have the box on him. They knew that now. So where was he keeping it? Sergiy had only a few hours left. Then it would be too late. The Russians would have succeeded.

‘Damn the Russians,’ he muttered, lighting another cigarette. He sighed. This whole business was going to give him cancer. He’d wait. One thing Sergiy had and that was patience. Sparrow would take him to the box, eventually, and then Sparrow would be history. Sergiy would enjoy that.

*

As soon as Jaime saw Lester in his police uniform he felt relieved that he hadn’t called the police. Maybe it was all above board. Although, it didn’t make any sense why Lester would be driving the clapped-out Fiesta or why he was staying in a cheap hotel just outside Porthaven. Jaime decided he’d follow him today and then go back home. Best he kept his nose out of things.

The Fiesta slowed up and Jaime overtook. He didn’t want Lester to see him. He parked further down the street and watched through his rear-view mirror as Lester got out of the car and walked back, heading into the next street. Jaime hurried from his own car and followed him. He wished he had the drone. He felt much more confident watching from a distance.

He saw Lester walk down the front path of one of the cottages. Jaime pulled up the hood of his jacket and made to walk past. He reached the cottage as the door was opened by a pretty blonde woman. He took a sharp breath. Jaime had a good memory when it came to faces and he felt sure this was the woman he’d seen on the island that day. He remembered zooming in on her.

The woman opened the door for Lester to enter and Jaime hurried back to his car. Nothing made sense. He should get the ferry home and forget everything. Forget the murder on the beach. Forget the kid in the cottage. Forget everything. But how could he forget the kid? Only a heartless bastard would forget about a little kid.

Chapter Seventy-One

Abby

It’s four o’clock. My stomach gurgles and I rush to the loo. There can’t be anything left in my insides now. I clutch my stomach as another cramp grips me. I haven’t eaten anything all day. I can’t. I’ve spent every minute of the day going over and over what I have to do this evening. Nothing must go wrong. Sam has to come home. She must come home. I look down at the box and nausea again washes over me. I take two painkillers for the throbbing in my head. I can do this. I have to do this.

Jared watches me, but he doesn’t speak. I open my tote bag and carefully put in all the things that I will need. I glance down at my phone and then hand it to Jared.

‘He said no phones.’

Jared takes it and our eyes meet.

‘Abby …’

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