Chapter Thirty
Daniel. The next day.
Fear hits me like ice-cold water. If anything goes wrong today, I could lose everything.
I have to keep my head. Nicola arrives on time, as usual.
I thank her again for coming to the rescue and comforting Joel the night before.
She must have picked up on the fear clawing at me, for she asks, ‘Any news?’
‘Not yet,’ I lie, unconvincingly. ‘See you at six.’
She leaves with Joel for preschool, and I anxiously wait for Burrow. The ransom drop looms over me like a dark cloud. How will I survive the rest of the day?
***
Josie
By the time Geoff trudges out of the bathroom, I’ve already cleaned up the boys’ breakfast mess and wiped down the kitchen counters. He descends the stairs, rubbing his neck.
‘Can you drop the kids off?’ he mumbles. ‘I’m feeling a bit off today.’
I turn to him, eyes hard.
‘You know what, Geoff?’ I say. ‘I don’t care if you’re on your deathbed. I’ve got a critical assignment today. I told you that. So either you take the kids, or they stay home and your fancy bit comes here to babysit. Your call.’ My voice is calm, deliberate.
His face flushes. ‘I don’t think now’s the right time…’
‘No,’ I snap. ‘It’s not. And how did you even manage to get time off today? Let me guess, you told your customer you'd be in late?’
I crouch and kiss the boys on their cheeks. ‘See you later, boys. Daddy’s on lunchbox duty.’
I slam the door behind me, the sting of tears blurring my vision. Halfway to the station, I pull into a side street, wipe my eyes, and hurriedly apply make-up. The redness around my eyes soon fades, but not my resolve.
At the station, Dario spots me right away. My smile fools no one, least of all him. He opens his mouth to speak, but Burrow cuts in.
‘Right, Josie, you’re with me. Dario, you and Sergeant James follow. Stay alert; we’re likely dealing with one suspect, but we can’t take chances.’
He turns. ‘Lily, are you ready?’
‘Yes, sir.’