Page 29

CHAPTER 29

OLIVIA – D AY T HREE

In the car now, I am sitting in the back with Chloe beside me and Amelie next to her, leaning her head against the tinted window. I have no idea where my father is taking us. I wanted at least one of us to sit in the front where the windows have normal glass: where we might be seen more easily. But my father wouldn’t allow that.

We picked up Chloe earlier and I’d hoped to raise the alarm with Alicia somehow but Dad parked around the corner and went to the door alone. Locked the car doors on us. He’s told Alicia I’ve lost my phone. Gone back to the railway station looking for it.

I’ve told Alicia you’ll be in touch after half-term ...

It’s all so mad and happened so quickly, I’ve been frightened for Chloe and haven’t figured out how to safely get help. All I’ve been able to do is try to calm Amelie. She looks exhausted as well as terrified. My dad put her in Chloe’s room at night while I was away apparently. She says she’s been given sandwiches and pizza but she clearly hasn’t slept much.

Back at the house – all four of us – he made me pack up things really quickly. He was devious. Unplugged the landline and carried Chloe piggyback with his pocketknife in his palm. The knife closed but the shiny red casing clearly and deliberately visible to me. Chloe stays with Grandad while you pack a bag and get in the car. Like some horrible threat in case I ran to a neighbour or called out for help. I wish now that I had tried harder to raise the alarm straight away but it was all such a shock. I was so scared for the girls and just trying to cover up my fear and keep them calm. And now it’s too late. We’re off again. No idea where.

‘Why’s Amelie crying?’ Chloe is whispering, her face all worry.

‘She’s just missing her mummy. But she’ll be back with her soon.’

Amelie turns her head as I speak and her eyes glance between the back of my father’s head and my face, frowning. She tried to talk to me some more before we left the house for the second time but my father closed it down.

Your mother is still ill, Amelie. We are looking after you as a favour and you need to stop asking questions. You understand?

‘Now. You probably need the toilet soon, Chloe? Yes. Shall we make a stop? Get you comfy?’ I try to keep my tone upbeat. My job to keep my father calm and these girls calm too.

‘No. I’m fine, Mummy. Grandad said to go before we left.’

‘What about you, Amelie? Do you need to stop for the toilet?’ It’s all I can think of. The car’s child locks are on again. I keep thinking about that at traffic lights. I can’t figure out how to get us all away from him safely. A service station or the toilets at a garage are my best hope to find someone to help us.

‘I’m fine.’

‘Well, I’m going to need the toilet soon. Can we stop soon?’

‘I’m sure you can hold it,’ says my father. ‘It’s not far. Goodness, if the young ones can manage, you can manage.’

He catches my eye through the driver’s mirror and I try to find a fake smile to appease him. I have no idea quite how to play this. When he’s had a bad turn in the past, I have always just kept my head down, spent time with Chloe and waited for it to pass. I had thought it was some kind of depression. Overprotective of me. Controlling and uncomfortable, yes – and it’s become so much worse lately. It’s the reason I’ve been so desperate to try to find my mother. But I had never imagined him capable of something like this.

This shocking. This bad. Taking someone else’s child.

I look at Amelie and my heart breaks for the fear on her face. I still don’t understand how my dad did this. Or why. I catch Chloe glancing again at Amelie, who is wiping her tears with her hand. Chloe in response takes hold of my hand and I squeeze hers to try to reassure her.

I close my eyes briefly and think. Think. Think.

My best hope is that the police will find us. Stop us. Yes. Put an end to this madness. The police must have CCTV of Amelie being taken by now surely? Maybe they already have my dad’s number plate? I just need to keep the girls calm and wait this out for someone to spot the car.

‘OK. So how about we play a game?’ Again I try to make my tone cheerful. ‘You’re bound to be missing your family, Amelie. But it’s going to be OK. And the time will pass faster if we keep ourselves busy. Now – when I was little we used to play a game where you had to count how many red cars. How about we do that? And when we get to twenty, I have sweets to share.’ I reach into my pocket to check they are still there. I had so little time to grab things. My father made us leave in such a hurry.

‘When will I see Mummy and Daddy?’ Amelie’s eyes are desperate. ‘It’s been ages.’

‘Enough questions.’ My father’s voice. ‘You just play the game with Olivia and Chloe and I’ll let you know when your mother is better.’

I still haven’t figured out all that he’s told Amelie. There hasn’t been time and I’ve been wary of frightening her even more with too many questions. But my father’s story is clearly pure nonsense. What was he even doing in Devon? How did he get her away from Maidstead and into the car? To our house in Oxford. And – why?

Why? Why? Why?

I’m longing for more time alone with her so I can try to figure out exactly what’s gone on. I glance again at the door. Remember the child lock. There’s nothing I can do while we’re travelling at speed.

It’s just getting dark now and I notice my father has used only minor roads. I assume that’s to avoid motorway cameras. Damn. But there will be cameras on A roads as well, surely? Dashboard cameras in cars. Surely someone will see us. Report us. Share the number plate. I just need to stay calm. Keep my father calm so that he doesn’t make matters worse. And try to keep Chloe and Amelie calm too.

‘I can’t see the colour of the cars. It’s getting dark.’ Chloe is pouting as she speaks.

‘OK. Well, look out the side and watch the cars as they pass closely. You could wave if you like.’ I don’t know how well we can be seen through the tinted glass in the back but it’s worth a try.

‘No waving.’ My father’s voice is firm. ‘Maybe the car colour game is not such a good idea.’

‘Oh, I think it will be fun for the girls. Pass the time—’

‘I said NO! You stop the game right now,’ he bellows suddenly, the colour of the back of his neck turning red. His head twitches and both girls burst into tears. Proper crying.

‘It’s OK. It’s OK.’ I reach out to squeeze first Chloe’s shoulder and then Amelie’s. I fish in my pocket for tissues for them and keep shushing and trying to soothe them. ‘It’s going to be OK.’ But my heart is pounding out of my chest and I have no idea how I am going to conceal the fact that I am every bit as frightened now as they are.

‘Let’s just be quiet and it will be fine,’ I whisper.

Amelie blows her nose in the tissue and turns to me. I try so hard to find some small reassurance in my expression for her but it’s no good. She is clearly terrified, her eyes pleading with me for help.