Page 104 of The Perfect Teacher: A completely unputdownable psychological thriller with a mind-blowing twist

I follow the road between the trees and indicate for the retirement village, but Mina grabs my arm. Bevan’s car is on the hard shoulder next to a little yellow car with its driver’s door open. Both cars are empty.

I hear a helicopter. Loud. Close.

I pull over. We jog into the cool woods. Voices. There, crashed into a towering oak, is Theo’s Porsche and Rose sitting on the ground, Croft crouching with a hand on her shoulder.

Rose looks up at me, her face crumpling, and I rush over and gather her in a hug. ‘Where’s my mum?’ she asks.

I try to figure out what to say. ‘She’s safe,’ I say. ‘Where’s Jenna?’

She shakes her head. ‘He took her.’ She gestures into the woods. ‘The other police lady person went after them.’

‘Stay here with Rose,’ says Croft to me, getting up.

I shake my head and stand.

Mina grabs my arm. ‘Frances, it’s his job.’

Croft frowns. ‘Don’t go anywhere. Back-up is coming. They know where you are. One of you call the station. They’ll keep you on the line.’ He starts walking backwards.

‘I’m coming with you,’ I say.

I can see him sizing up my middle-aged body. He shakes his head. ‘Try to keep up.’ And then he turns and starts running.