Find Them Dead

104 Thursday 30 May

Throughout her train journey back to Hove, fighting off tears, Meg repeatedly tried to get in touch with Laura. No response.

A vortex of thoughts raged inside her head. What to do? What could she do? She had failed. What would she say to her tormentor when he called, as he undoubtedly would?

Now she had nothing to lose, should she go straight to the police and tell them the whole story? But would that put her into legal trouble? Perjury? Perverting the course of justice? None of that would matter if they got Laura back, she didn’t care if she ended up in prison so long as she was safe. But would they get her back? Could they? How? By contacting the police in Ecuador? And saying what? It was a vast country, she didn’t even know if Laura and Cassie were still in the Galapagos — or even in Ecuador at all. They could be anywhere in South America.

She thought back to the tumultuous events of the past hour and a half. At least it was a 10-1 verdict. Not unanimous. Could the evil bastard at least give her some benefit of the doubt? Could he not recognize this was a majority verdict?

When she arrived home, she sorted out all the animals.

All the time waiting for the call.

She occupied herself with every possible distraction, first turning on the television news. But her mind was jumping all over the place, she couldn’t focus — she didn’t care about the news, all she cared about was Laura. Laura had to be safe. Nothing else, nothing in the world, ever, would matter again if anything happened to her.

Call, please call. Darling Laura.

Please call, you evil bastard.

She planned that when — if — he did ring, she would emphasize how hard she had tried, against what had become increasingly impossible odds. She would throw herself at his mercy, appealing to his better nature.

But he did not ring.