Fingers trembling, she eased the front door open and squeezed out, the rope burns on her wrists stinging in the coolness of the summer morning. The contrast between the stench in the house and the early-morning air hit her like something solid, but there was no time to stand around taking deep breaths. Away, away; she had to get back to Naomi. Please God her baby was safe in bed at Cassie’s and not tied up in some other hell-hole of Paul’s.

Stumbling down the path, she came to the next hurdle. The creaky gate had fallen shut. With the bedroom window tilted and facing this way, she couldn’t possibly risk opening it. Jagged branches tore at her clothes and scratched her hands as she forced her way through the hedge – which way now, which way? Nina trembled in silent frustration. She had no idea, but Paul’s car was facing right so she turned left and started to jog along the uneven pavement.

The street was deserted; why was no one up yet? Didn’t they have jobs to go to? The combatants of the previous evening were gone, but shards of glass on the pavement marked where the fight had been. And dear God, look at the blood in the gutter. Where the hell was she, anyway? Dilapidated houses and litter-strewn side streets loomed up as she continued down the road. In a different area she could have knocked at someone’s door and asked for help, but not here.

Her heart gave a great leap at the next corner. Yes! Oh, thank God. They had driven down here yesterday. About two hundred metres up this road was a roundabout, and if she turned right there she’d soon be in a more civilised area; she was so nearly safe. Run, Nina, run…

A loose paving stone wobbled under her foot and she stumbled, her stomach cramping yet again. The thought of Naomi spurred her on, her breath ragged in her ears. The next street she crossed was wider. Hallelujah, there were the shops she’d remembered seeing yesterday. Maybe –

Hope plummeted. None were open yet – but she was nearly at the roundabout now. She would flag down a car. That would be safer than knocking at one of these shabby, anonymous doors. Please God she would find someone respectable, some woman driver who would call the police for her. She had so nearly made it, help was within grasping distance.

The sound of her own heavy breathing meant she didn’t hear the car behind her till it drew level. Nina jerked to a halt, dizzy with horror, gaping helplessly as Paul wound down the window; he was laughing, oh God how horrible. This was a hideous caricature of the gentle, shy man who had greeted her the first time on the doorstep of John Moore’s house. He leaned out the window and Nina moaned.

‘Race you to Naomi!’ he yelled gleefully, and gunned the car towards the roundabout.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Wednesday 26th July

Horror chilling through her, Nina stood motionless as Paul’s car circumnavigated three-quarters of the roundabout and disappeared. Her feet felt as if they were stuck to the ground. It took a huge effort to wrench them free and run on. Naomi must still be at Cassie and Glen’s; I’m coming, baby, stay safe, Mummy’s on her way.

Pain stabbing through her cramped leg muscles, Nina staggered towards the roundabout. No one at all was about, and shit, she needed help. Right now. But the buildings to her right looked like warehouses, and the one across the road was a derelict factory. For a second her feet faltered – should she go back and risk knocking on someone’s door? No – onwards was best; a car must come soon, she would flag it down. The thought of Paul speeding towards Naomi spurred her exhausted legs on.

The first car to approach blared its horn and swerved round her when she jumped into the road and tried to wave it down. Bastards. They must have seen that she was in trouble. But of course in an area like this it was equally likely she was out to rob them. Another car was approaching and she waved even more frantically.

The car stopped, and a dark male face glared out, a painful reminder that Sam must be worried sick.

‘Please. I need help. Can you phone the police for me?’ Her voice sounded ragged.

The man in the car laughed scornfully. ‘Yeah, right,’ he said, and skidded off like Paul had.

Nina swore. Time, time, she didn’t have it. Paul would soon be at Cassie’s, and God knows what he’d do when he got there. She had never felt so impotent. It was like one of those nightmares where you keep running and running and it’s so important that you arrive somewhere on time, but you can’t find the way…

The third car stopped too, and Nina gasped in relief when she saw two women in the front. Panting, she repeated her plea. The woman in the passenger seat raised her eyebrows.

‘Police? Why?’ Her face was reluctant but not hostile, and Nina bent till she was level with the women.

‘My cousin’s driven off to get my little girl and I’m afraid he’ll hurt her.’ It was difficult not to scream at the women, but that would certainly frighten them off. ‘Please. Do you have children?’ she added, and the women glanced at each other.

‘Your cousin from round here?’ asked the driver, and Nina felt like shaking them both.

‘No, but he kept me in an empty house here overnight. I’ve just got out. Please, phone the police for me. My name’s Nina Moore. Please.’

Again the women exchanged looks, and the driver gave a slight nod. Her companion reached into a bag at her feet and produced a mobile. Nina stood panting. Thank God. Help would soon be on its way. The woman pursed her lips at Nina before punching out 999.

‘I guess I need police. Crazy woman here called Nina Moore wants help. At the Leeway roundabout.’ She disconnected and dropped the phone back into her bag. ‘They’re comin’,’ she said, winding the window up again. ‘And we’re goin’.’

The car jerked as the driver slammed the gearstick in and drove off. Nina sank to her knees on the dirty pavement. Oh God. She had no way to tell if the woman really had called the police. And even if she had, they still didn’t know to protect Naomi. Should she stop another car?

But the next two cars didn’t stop and after that there was a lull. Nina trudged towards the roundabout. She had failed. Paul would have reached Cassie’s by this time. All she could hope was that Naomi would be asleep in bed. And she might be, she wasn’t an early riser. But then again, if Paul rang the bell and introduced himself, there was no reason for Cassie and Glen not to believe whatever he told them, even if they did know by this time that Nina was missing. After all, Naomi knew Paul. Worst case, Sam’s parents might even waken Naomi and bundle her into Paul’s car.

Nina stood at the roundabout, dry sobs mixed with shivers shaking her body. She had never felt so out of control and so – beaten. Nobody stopped to help her; there were no good Samaritans at the Leeway roundabout this morning and dear God, she was so dead. What would Paul do with Naomi? He would be furious that Nina had escaped, Christ, it would be all too easy for a grown man who was mad and hurt and unhappy to take out his frustration on a small girl… Please God he won’t hurt Naomi… Nina buried her face in her hands. If the woman had called the police they should be here any second, surely. But it was another five minutes before she saw a blue light flashing in the distance, swooping up to stop beside her.

‘Christ, Nina.’ David Mallony was out of the passenger seat and helping her into the back before Nina could draw breath.

‘Paul. He’s gone to Cassie Harrison’s to get Naomi,’ she whispered, and David pulled out his radio.

The car sped off, Nina slumped in the back seat. She had done all she could, but – would it be enough? Naomi was still in grave danger… David was here; she wasn’t alone any more – more than that, she was safe – but how unimportant that was beside what could be happening to her child. Nina sat shaking, taking noisy, painful breaths, unable to stop her teeth chattering.