“No problem at all.” His gaze is fixed on mine as he tries to figure out what’s going on. I just hope he’s smart enough to go straight to the police.
We make our way out of the bank. My heart pounds as we walk up the high street and approach the passageway towards the car. As soon as we’re out of the view of passersby, Magnus’s hand is on my elbow, squeezing hard.
“Are you back in the real world again, Mrs Mathis?” He says my name with a hiss.
“Yes,” I reply.
“What the hell were you trying to pull in there?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I reply. “I did what you asked. I’m just not feeling well.”
He’s silent. He’s analysing what happened in the bank and that could be dangerous. “I think you said something to Froome. You tipped him off.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t. I promise I didn’t.”
He squeezes harder. I can tell he doesn’t believe me.
I swallow dryly. “What happens now?”
But he doesn’t reply. He leads me back to the car. In the moment before he opens the door for me, there’s another sharp pinprick in my arm. He has injected me again.
I cry out in shock and he shoves me into the passenger seat and slams the door closed. I grope for the handle but there’s some sort of child-safety lock on the door. It won’t budge. He hurries around the front of the car as I beat against the windows, yelling for help. The street is quiet. There’s a woman walking her dog further up the road on the opposite side, but she’s too far away to hear anything. Magnus slides into the car next to me and slams the door closed.
“Stop!” He slaps me hard across the face. “Be quiet. Unless you never want to see Penny again.”
I comply and sit silently as we drive through town, past shoppers and old people and mothers with buggies. I am helpless. Entirely at his mercy.
“Tell me… what… happens now.” The drug is taking effect. My speech is beginning to slur.
“I leave. That’s what happens now.” He pulls off the main road onto a quiet one. With no cars around, he grabs hold of my hair and yanks my head back. “Except that I think you might have fucked things up, Mrs Mathis.” He pushes my head forward, letting me go. “You did something in there. I saw his fucking expression change as we were leaving. He’s going to call the police.”
“I… I didn’t do anything! I didn’t!”
“If he calls the police we can’t get out.” He shakes his head. “The police are coming after me. I can’t get on a fucking plane now! Because of you!”
His arm sweeps out, the palm slamming me into the window. I cry out, terrified, pain exploding above my ear.
Magnus tightens his fingers around the steering wheel. “We don’t have long until those drugs work. Are you listening to me?”
“Y-yes,” I stutter.
“And you understand what’s happening, right? You’re not having one of your little episodes?” he says, the words patronising.
“I understand.”
“Good.” He gives my hair another yank. “You fucked up, Auntie Faye. I have nothing to lose now. I won’t get the money. I won’t get out of here. So I’m going to take your daughter?—”
“No you’re not! I won’t?—”
“You need to be punished for what you did in the bank. And you need to keep your mouth shut. So, I’m taking your daughter and if you tell the police I’ve taken her, I will murder her. Think of it as a deposit for her safety. If you go to the police, they will find her dead. Is that clear?”
Acid builds up from my stomach. I can’t open my mouth. I can’t speak.
“Why?” I whisper. “You don’t need her. I don’t understand. I promise I won’t tell the police anything. Just let her go.”
He shrugs. “We’re engaged. Come on now, Faye. Don’t you understand that I like her? She’s a sweet girl.”
“Take me instead.” The words slur. I don’t have long before I pass out. “Please.”
