Joe nodded tersely. ‘Can you put it on speaker?’ he said, his eyes growing a shade darker.
Her hands trembling, Sarah did as he asked, then breathed deeply to stop the tears flowing. ‘Courtney?’ she said, trying to relate to her while her world was collapsing around her. ‘Do you have him? Please tell me. Is Ollie—’
‘He really is a beautiful little boy, isn’t he?’ The woman cut across her.
‘What do you want?’ Sarah swallowed back the shard of glass in her throat. ‘Why have you—’
‘You know what they say.’ The woman sighed expansively. ‘Fair exchange is no robbery. You stole what’s mine …’
Oh God.Nausea burning her throat, Sarah locked petrified eyes with Joe.
Inhaling hard, Joe reached for the phone. ‘Courtney,’ he grated. ‘What in God’s name …Courtney!Fuck it!’ Ramming his door open, he pulled his own phone out, radioing for help with one hand as he raced towards the apartments, calling someone on his phone with the other.
Her heart pelting in her chest, Sarah spilled out after him, catching up with him as he punched a security code into the intercom at the entrance. ‘Kayla? Joe,’ he said into his phone, swinging the door open and pushing through to the foyer. ‘She’s fine. She’s here with me. I’ve called it in, but I need backup fast, no sirens. My old address, Severn House apartments. I think Ollie may be here.’
Jabbing the lift buttons, he cursed liberally. ‘Whereisthe fucking thing?’ Glancing up at the elevator display, he dragged a hand over his face, then, ‘Jesus, Sarah, I’m sorry,’ he said, his voice choked. ‘Why thehelldidn’t I—’
‘The stairs,’ Sarah stopped him. The lift wasn’t coming. It was stuck, sitting on the third floor while … She would kill her. She wouldkillher if she harmed one hair on her baby’s head.
‘Shit!’ Stumbling as she climbed, her shin screaming with pain, Sarah limped upwards, waving Joe on as he faltered. It was taking too long. Much too long. The woman’s mind was twisted with some need to seek vengeance. What was her warped reasoning urging her to do? What was going through Ollie’s mind?Don’t let her have hurt him. Please don’t let her have hurt him.
Her heart splintered as Joe rammed the front door open and went straight to the bedroom, each piece piercing her chest like an icicle. ‘Ollie …’ she said, her voice trembling, her body shaking as she took in the scene before her. He was on the balcony, standing on the balustrade. He hadn’t been there a short while ago. She must have brought him out to stop them… Stop themwhat?Her blood froze as she noticed Mr Whale tucked under his arm. Sitting next to him, one arm around him, her legs facing out over the water, was the woman who’d taken him for reasons Sarah could barely comprehend.
‘We’ve come out to look at the pretty boats. We can see them better from here, can’t we, Ollie?’ Courtney said, her voice light, harmless – unthreatening.
He’s just a child! My baby.Sarah almost crumpled.
‘Tell Mummy which one is our favourite, Ollie,’ the woman urged him.
‘The red one.’ Ollie pointed out at the water. ‘It has Donald Duck on it. See, Mummy?’
‘Yes!’ Sarah lurched forward as he twisted to look at her. ‘I see it, Ollie. Keep still, baby. Please …’ She forced back the sob that racked her body. ‘Keep still, sweetheart.’
‘Courtney,’ Joe took a tentative step towards her, ‘it’s cold up here. How about you let Ollie come inside and we’ll talk, just you and me?’
‘You came, then? I thought you might, my very own hero,’ Courtney said, her voice still deceptively light. Smiling, she glanced over her shoulder and then back at the water. ‘Who will you save, Joe, I wonder, if I let go of him?’
Sixty
Her heart frozen with fear, Sarah sank to her knees. She couldn’t stop the tears. Couldn’t breathe.
‘Mummy, what’s wrong?’ Ollie asked, his small voice quavering.
‘Mummy banged her leg, Ollie, that’s all,’ Joe tried to reassure him. ‘Don’t worry, we’ve called the paramedics. She’ll be fine.’
‘Will I see them?’ Ollie asked, his voice filled with awe as he anticipated blue flashing lights.
‘No!’ Joe said quickly, taking another step onto the balcony as Ollie leaned forward. ‘They’re friends. They’re coming in their car. They’ll be here soon.’
‘Oh.’ Ollie sounded disappointed. ‘Can we go inside now, Courtney?’ He looked at her. ‘I want to hug Mummy and make her feel better.’
‘Soon,’ Courtney said. ‘We don’t want to miss the long boat coming through the lock from the river, do we?’
‘No,’ Ollie said uncertainly.
Joe took another small step. ‘Why are you doing this, Courtney?’ he asked, his throat hoarse.
‘Do you remember our honeymoon?’ she said.
