Mitch whimpers, keeping the stroller pulled well back from the corner and tucked out of sight. Jenny is restless. She wants to get out, to run and play. "Mommy...""Shhhh, Sweetheart." Mitch pulls a sticky paper bag from a pocket, takes out the largest, chewiest candy she can find and gives it to the toddler. Then she peers around the corner again.Where did they take Frank?The car pulled away, driving perfectly normally, but with her husband packed between two strangers...Police?Really police?... and Larry at the wheel...She sees the man in cop uniform speaking to Gemma.He looks familiar...She knows him... knows his face...Where from?"Wanna go home. Wanna play. Ellie." Jenny bangs little fists on the front bar of the stroller. Green sugar encrusts her mouth and chin, clashing against carrot-orange hair.The familiar/unfamiliar cop finishes talking with Gemma, touching his cap as she bangs her door closed. He smiles as she does so. It's not a pleasant s

"What d'you want done with her?" Bech tilts his head to the toddler, raises brows, draws a forefinger across his throat.Kempner pauses, plucking at his lower lip, then, "No, I'll take her back to Blessingmoors. Pick out one of the women... not one of the pretty ones... Tell her she's on creche duties. As long as she's looking after the kid, she's excused other work."Bech blinks. "Sir?""It'll draw in the mother, Bech. I want her alive." He turns to Frank. "And we'll see what happens after that shall we, Frank? I'll have to be inventive about what happens to your daughter, eh?" He cocks his head and winks.From behind the tape come muffled gurgles."What was that, Frank?" Klempner cups a hand to an ear. "I can't hear what you're saying. But then, who gives a fuck?" Bech regards Jenny with a flat gaze. "Y'know, it's worth thinking about. There's a market out there for the kids. Not just the adults. And there's always plenty of them available. Especially from some of those

JAMESThe door closes behind us, the latch dropping, but from behind us, clearly audible, "How could you, you bastard? How could you...""Don't you fucking talk to me like that, you bitch. You were the one doing all the lying. Lying all these years. You knew she was...""She's my daughter and you made me leave her..." The last word ends on a shriek, then a thump and a scream. "Frank, no!""My business ruined. One fucking dead-end job after another. No money. You fucked up my life, you bitch!"The next door along opens and a head pokes out; an old lady with blue-rinse hair and a face like a wrinkled apple. She takes us in with gimlet eyes then, "Don't mind me. I hear this too often. When I do, I leave my door open so she can run in here 'til the whiskey's worn off."From inside, another yell and a thump."That's enough," Michael mutters. "I'm not having this." He turns back, knocks on the door. "Mitch, open the door. It's Michael again."There's a shout, a male shout; a

JAMESMitch's mouth draws open. The glass almost slips from her hand. "Larry? You've spoken with Larry? But he's in prison. I saw it on the news.""Yes, but Charlotte visits him. Michael and I go with her to be sure we know what's happening."Mitch stands. "Why? Why would she visit him? Why would Jenny want to see him?""She was trying to find you. She hoped he'd be able to tell her something that would lead her to you."Mitch lets out air, stares into space. "Was he very cruel to her? When she was small..."She's not ready for that...But I don't know what else to say. So, I don't reply. An emerald gaze shifts to mine. "You think silence protects me? When I know that I could have reached her... Gotten her out of there?""Mitch, I don't think you need the details. Not yet. Charlotte... your Jenny... She grew up. She's a fine woman. An exceptional woman. Brave. Intelligent. Beautiful. Her childhood may have been harrowing, but it formed her; forged her into what she i

MICHAELI stand, resisting the blow-out on my belly. "Shall we go?" I gesture to the door, then trying not to be obvious about it, let out my belt a notch.Too many pancakes...Mitch rises. Charlotte too, but James snags her by the elbow. "Help me with the clearing up please, Charlotte.""But Mas...""You can load up the dishwasher."I lead Mitch out. She follows but twists back, looking to the house. "Where are we going?""To the hotel. It's just a short walk.""Hotel? James said something about that.""It's a spa and leisure centre. You know, gym, pool, pamper days, beauty treatments.""It's yours?""Yes, but not just mine. Come on, I'll introduce you to the staff, then you can use any of the facilities you like." I cast an eye over her; beautiful, but she looks so tired. "I'd say you could use some pampering."She shifts under my gaze. "What are you looking at?""You." Her head inclines. "They used to say before you marry a woman, take a look at the mother.