Page 44

CHAPTER 44

MATTHEW – D AY F OUR

The biggest shock as Matthew pulls up to Dawn’s bungalow is he’s the first to arrive. No police cars. No cordons.

A friend inside the team tipped him off – the same friend who tipped him off about the dive team. But it never occurred to Matthew that he’d make it here before local uniforms.

The realisation as he leaps from the car and runs to the door, that it is all down to him now to get Amelie out of there, is completely overwhelming. He feels a surge of adrenaline. And panic. And fear. He rings the bell, imagining his sweet Amelie somewhere inside. So afraid. Maybe bound. Gagged? Day four ...

By the time Dawn opens the door just a little, Matthew has lost all reason. All control. He pushes the door so hard that Dawn is slammed backwards between the door and the hall wall.

‘Amelie! Amelie! Where are you? Daddy’s here.’ He starts charging from room to room. The kitchen. Nothing. The utility. Nothing.

‘Get out of my house!’ Dawn follows him, fishing her phone from her pocket. ‘I’m calling the police.’

Matthew moves through the dining room and sitting room, then back into the hall, swinging open any cupboard door that looks large enough to conceal a child. Finally he is in what looks like Dawn’s bedroom with huge double doors to a dressing area. He swings them open and swishes back rows of clothes, frantically searching the corners and the floor area. A huge laundry hamper.

‘Amelie. Are you in here? Call out to Daddy.’

Nothing. He swings around to see Dawn dialling. He grabs the phone from her hand and throws it on to the bed.

‘The police are already on their way. Now – you tell me where my daughter is or I swear to God I will kill you.’

Dawn looks frightened. Backs away. And then suddenly there are voices – police, we’re coming in – and two uniformed officers are in the room.

‘What the hell—’ The taller and older of the two speaks first, striding towards Matthew.

‘This is Matthew Hill. He forced his way into my home. Threatened me.’ Dawn is now in the corner of the room.

‘Don’t listen to her. This woman has my daughter .’ Matthew lunges forward but the taller PC is quickly between him and Dawn. He’s big. Looks strong.

‘You need to calm right down, sir, and stay right where you are.’ The PC spreads his arms as a shield in front of Matthew. ‘So you’re Amelie’s father?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, you have no place here today. This is our job, not yours.’

‘No, no. You don’t understand. I need to check the loft. And the sheds. I need to find Amelie myself !’ Matthew tries to push the officer away to carry on searching but the PC is stronger. Fast. Well trained. He twists Matthew to face the wall and pins one arm high up behind his back while his colleague radios for backup.

‘I’m warning you again that you need to calm down. And let us do our job.’

Matthew keeps struggling and keeps shouting – Amelie, it’s Daddy. I’m here . But he’s held in too firm a lock, the image still exploding in his head of Amelie somewhere in this house. Bound. Gagged. Waiting for him ...