had no doubt that it was true. Some poor girl had probably been too ashamed to tell, at the risk of not being believed.
He looked at Leo. Her whole face tightened, and she looked very much as if she would like to cry but was fighting it hard. He wanted to pull her to him and wrap his arms round her, but he knew that would be one step too far.
* * *
Ellie was frantic. She had to act. She was right outside the police station. She could go in and report the whole story, but there were so many pieces missing. She could admit to the fact that she was out on Friday night and what she had seen, but she would also have to tell them now about the break-ins and the lost security pass. It would take forever.
The only consideration now was the safety of the children. She grabbed her phone and stabbed in the short code to get Max. Please let him be home, she prayed. The twins should be in bed by now, so they should all be there. But if this person was still able to get into their house, he might be there now - he might be with her children.
The phone was answered - but she barely gave Max time to speak.
‘Listen, Max, I can’t explain this to you now - but are you and the twins okay?’
‘Of course we’re okay. But Ellie, I need to talk to you.’
With a sinking heart she knew that Sean must have told him everything.
‘I know you do, but for now please just listen. I need you to keep all the doors locked and bolted until I get home. Do you understand, Max? Bolted. And I want you to check on the twins all the time. And I mean all the time. Max - I was right about somebody getting into the house. I know it now, for sure. Please just do as I’m asking. I’m going to find out who this bastard is, and I’m going to find out now.’
‘Ellie - what are you talking about? You sound demented.’
‘I have been, but I’m not now. I’ve got to go, but Maxy - I love you.’ She hung up the phone before he could answer.
She was about to turn her phone off when it beeped.
Sean.
She didn’t want to read it, but she knew she had to. To find out what he’d said to Max.
I PROMISED I WOULD WAIT, BUT IT’S TWO DAYS NOW, AND STILL NO WORD. I’VE BEEN FAIR. I’VE GIVEN YOU TIME. MAX CAME TO SEE ME TODAY - I SAW HIS CAR WHEN I GOT HOME SO I STAYED AWAY, OUT OF SIGHT, UNTIL HE LEFT. I COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM. BUT I RESPECTED YOUR WISHES. NOW IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO RESPECT MINE. I WANT YOU, ELLIE. AND THIS SECRECY HAS TO END. MEET ME TONIGHT, OR I’M COMING TO GET YOU.
Ellie’s mind was assaulted with mixed emotions. Relief that Max still didn’t know, fear of what Sean was going to do and anger that, because of Sean, she hadn’t taken the threat to her children seriously.
She flung her phone on the passenger seat and screamed. Nobody could hear her inside the car, and all the pent up frustration and anger shot through her to find an escape. She banged her head backwards on the headrest. Once, twice, three times.
She leaned across and picked up her phone, and with shaking fingers, typed a response.
MEET ME AT THE OLD HASLETT’S FARM AT EIGHT. DON’T BE LATE.
She pressed send, put the car into gear, and turned around to head to the rendezvous.
45
The narrow sandy track that led to Haslett’s farm was deeply rutted and was slowly disappearing under the tenacious invasion of brambles and knotweed. Sean knew the farmhouse was derelict. It had been falling apart for years, but nobody would buy it to renovate because the ground underneath wasn’t stable enough, as evidenced by the foot wide cracks in the top storey. The whole place had been boarded up, and there didn’t appear to be any way of getting inside. Old pieces of guttering were hanging off, and some kind of weed like creeper was climbing up the stone walls and wrapping itself round drainpipes.
Ellie didn’t seem to be here yet; at least, there was no sign of her car. Parking at the side of the track, Sean stepped out and looked around. There was almost total silence, although if he listened