Page 58 of She Saw What He Did

‘Get it tomorrow for me.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Try hard,’ he’d smiled. ‘Phone me on this number. I’ll collect it from you and pay you the money, in cash.’

He’d walked from the restaurant with Maria staring after him.

‘You in love?’ The owner had snapped. ‘We have other customers’

Maria had hurried to the kitchen with the plates and phoned Kristof.

‘We can go home to Hungary for good,’ Kristof had said excitedly. ‘Just imagine. We wouldn’t have to worry again.’

But why would anyone want to pay ten thousand pounds for a child’s box? Maria didn’t understand that at all.

‘It makes no sense,’ she’d said to Kristof.

He’d argued it wasn’t their business.

‘You don’t know what the Millers are really like,’ he’d explained. ‘When do people like us ever get a chance to make ten thousand pounds that easily? We’d be fools.’

He was right, she knew that. She’d buy Sam a new toy and bring it to her before they left for Hungary. That would make her feel much better. It wouldn’t have to be a cheap toy either, not if they had that much money. She poured hot water onto a teabag and took the mug of tea upstairs with her. She glanced into the master bedroom where Abby had left the bed unmade. Maria pulled clean sheets from the cupboard on the landing and then went into Sam’s room. The box sparkled on the bedside cabinet. Maria picked it up and shook it. What could be inside? Ten thousand pounds was a lot of money. It seemed to Maria that the box was empty. She tried to open it but couldn’t find a catch. How strange, she thought, stroking her hand over its smooth exterior before dropping the box into her overall pocket. Maybe they wouldn’t even notice it had gone. After all, Sam Miller had lots of toys.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

After a while the man stopped the car and said gruffly, ‘Let’s go.’

Daphne doubted she could walk even a few steps but knew she had to. She must try and stay calm for Sam’s sake. He gave Sam another bag of jelly babies. Daphne stupidly wanted to protest that it was too much sugar and realised how silly that was under the circumstances. It was strange, she thought, how the brain tries to normalise even the most bizarre situations. Sam fortunately seemed to be enjoying the excitement. Daphne knew that it was her job to make sure that Sam never saw any danger, but she was afraid of what the man had planned for them. She so wanted to believe him when he said he wouldn’t hurt them. They were at an old cottage. The only sounds were the birds singing. There were no nearby houses and Daphne’s heart sank. He opened the cottage door and led them through to the kitchen where he unbolted another door.

‘They’re a bit rickety,’ he said. ‘So be careful.’

He led them slowly down the steps and Daphne’s heart sank as she realised he was taking them to the basement.

He clicked on a light. A pink lampshade gave the basement a warm glow, but it still looked damp and nothing hid the musty smell.

Daphne stifled a gasp and her eyes widened at the sight of a carefully made mattress that lay on the floor. It was covered in a pretty flowered duvet. Several pillows, also covered in pillowcases of the same pattern, sat on top of the mattress. Daphne blinked nervously before glancing around the rest of the basement. In the far corner toys and games were piled neatly. A small monitor had been placed on a table and beneath it were a stack of children’s DVDs. She tried not to look at the mildew on the wall. She hoped there weren’t mice down here. Stupid to be afraid of mice, she thought, when there was a guy dressed as a clown wielding a gun standing in front of them. She hoped Sam hadn’t spotted the gun. A boiler in the corner gurgled and Daphne jumped.

‘There’s a kettle and tea,’ he said almost proudly. ‘And a fridge with milk and Coca Cola,’ he added turning to Sam.

‘I can’t have Coca Cola,’ said Sam.

‘We can’t stay here. You must know that,’ said Daphne, lowering her voice and trying to reason with him.

‘It’s not for long,’ he answered, and she heard a tremor in his voice. He’s as scared as us, she thought.

‘There’s a portable loo,’ he pointed.

Sam looked down at the jelly babies and said, ‘It smells in here.’

‘I’ll get the pizza,’ he said.

This is surreal, Daphne thought. She considered making a run for it but the pain in her chest prevented her from doing so.

‘I’ll need your phone,’ said the man, holding out his hand.

Daphne reluctantly handed it over.

‘I’ll be back soon.’

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