The crying intensified, and Symes heard a low groan from the mother.
‘Mummy, Mummy, wake up.’
‘It’s o…okay, Em. It’ll b…be…fine. I’m h…here. We’re together. No one is going to h…hurt you.’
Symes smiled. None of her words were true, but she didn’t know that yet.
He heard movement in the back.
‘Stay down,’ he barked, which made the little girl cry more.
Darkness was descending even quicker along the country lane with no street lights.
He knew he had to act quickly before the fog in the mother’s head cleared and she tried something stupid. She knew she was fighting for her own life as well as her child.
He drove quickly as he heard more movement amongst the crying. He pushed his foot down on the brake hard, sending them both crashing about on the rear seat, then drove forward at speed, bouncing them around like ragdolls. The spot he wanted was right in the middle of this three-mile lane. He stopped sharply on a bend. By the time he was finished, she wouldn’t have a chance to get his licence plate.
He stopped the car.
The crying intensified.
He walked around to the rear passenger door and pulled at the rope still around the woman’s neck.
‘Get out,’ he shouted.
She wrapped her arms tighter around her child as a protective barrier.
‘Let her go or I will kill you both.’
He pulled her again.
‘No, don’t take her. Take me. Let her go,’ she cried, trying to hang on to the screaming child.
He yanked the woman towards him. ‘No trade. I don’t want you. Now let her go or I’ll cut both your fucking throats right here.’
‘No, no, no,’ the little girl cried, trying to hang on.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake,’ he said, reaching in and placing a meaty hand around her little fingers. He squeezed hard and then yanked again.
The child cried out in pain, and the woman became free.
‘Please, I’m begging you. Don’t—’
He slammed the door shut and pushed the woman forcefully into the brambles and put his foot on her neck.
‘Listen carefully or you’ll never see your daughter again. The detective you want is DI Stone and give her a message from me. One down, one to go.’
He removed his foot, jumped back into the car and drove away, travelling further into the night.
TWENTY-TWO
‘Care to explain to us why you’ve just told Woody to delay the press conference?’ Bryant asked once she’d ended the call.
There hadn’t been a chance to give him the details, but she’d stopped the announcement in time and that was all that mattered.
‘Well, I’m not sure Leanne gives a shit but I’m happy to tell you.’
‘Go on then.’