Nelson is wondering how to disabuse her of this notion when his phone rings. Ruth. Thank God for that.
Ruth! Where the hell are you?
Ruths voice sounds tight and strained. Nelson, we think weve found Michael. Danis got him. The producer. Were chasing them now.
Nelson leaves Shona standing and starts to run back towards his car. Why the hell did he leave it at the end of the bridge? Once again, he scatters film people right and left. Someone swears as they almost drop their camera.
Who the hells "we"? he pants into his phone.
Me and Clough. Oh, and Frank.
Put Clough on the phone.
Hes driving.
OK. Im on my way. Where are you heading?
Towards Kings Lynn.
Tell Clough to put his tracker on.
Nelson has reached his car. He is about to put on the siren but has another thought. He calls Ruth back.
Ruth, tell Clough to keep it low key. No sirens. Its just possible this woman may be returning Michael to Judy, like she did with Poppy. We dont want to spook her.
Theres a muffled consultation. Then Ruth says, Clough says he doesnt think shes spotted us.
Good. Keep me updated. Ill pick up your route and follow.
Nelson drives back across the bridge. Parked by the grass he finds the two squad cars that answered his earlier call for backup. Nelson dispatches them both to Castle Rising but tells them not to approach Judys house. Just lie low until you hear from me. Hes finding these precautions very irksome. His instinct is to get into his car and scorch after the suspect. But its over an hours drive from Norwich to Kings Lynn, if thats where theyre heading. He has some time and he must use it. He cant afford to get this wrong.
Luckily Cloughs car is one of the few in the force equipped with a tracking device. Nelson gets the coordinates from the station and sets off in pursuit. Ruths right. Theyve taken the main Kings Lynn road. Using his hands-free, he calls Tanya. He tells her to go to Judys and prepare her for some news. He knows its a risk sending a police officer to the house because it could spook Dani if shes watching, but, after all, both Judy and Tanya were present when Poppy was returned. Maybe its a good omen.
Once hes clear of Norwich, the roads are dark and mercifully empty. Its only eleven oclock but people go to bed early round here. At this rate hell catch up with Cloughie. God, he wishes he was the one doing the chasing. And what will happen when they catch up with the woman? Whos going to talk her down, persuade her to hand Michael over? Cloughs a good copper but subtlety isnt his strong point. And hell be hampered by the presence of Ruth and Frank. Why the hell has Ruth brought that bloody TV bloke with her? Why is she even bothering with all this TV stuff when she should be staying at home and looking after Katie? Its irresponsible, thats what it is, gallivanting about with Americans, leaving her daughter with that nutty Clara (Nelson has reasons of his own for disliking Clara).
He jumps guiltily when Ruths name appears on his incoming calls.
Shes taken the turning for Castle Rising.
So Dani is taking Michael home. As long as nothing happens to make her change her mind. Nelson presses down on the accelerator.
Cathbad, Darren and Judy are watching television. Thing lies at their feet, occasionally sighing heavily. Thing has developed a real passion for Judy, watching her all the time and whining whenever she leaves the room. Really, thinks Cathbad, he has heard of familiars acting out their masters wishes but this is ridiculous. He himself is careful never to be alone with Judy. He even tries not to look at her too much but hes conscious of her all the time. Now the space between them on the sofa seems charged. Cathbad almost imagines that he can see little pluses and minuses hovering in the air. He knows that if he were just to stretch out his hand he could touch her hair, that strand that has escaped from her ponytail, he could …
He jumps up. Anyone want a cup of tea?
It seems that over the last three days they have done nothing but drink tea and watch television. The mere action of filling the kettle is comforting, giving the impression that something, at least, is being achieved. Liquid is reaching boiling point, hot drinks are being made. Setting out the cups, finding sugar for Darren, waiting for the water to boil; in those minutes Cathbad allows himself not to think, except about whether he should bring in a plate of digestives. Even being in a separate room is a relief. The kitchen, with its shiny new cabinets, is pleasantly sterile in contrast to the teeming emotions in the rest of the house.
And the television is a life-saver. Sitting in front of the news or a turgid sitcom they dont have to speak. They watch late into the night – nature programmes, re-runs of My Family, Open University tutorials, political discussions, ancient horror films. Cathbad knows that, for himself, they all merge into one, a ghastly stream of consciousness involving Robert Lindsay chasing vampires through the Question Time studio. But its a hell of a lot better than having to talk. Darren seems to accept Cathbads presence in the house without question. In fact, the whole situation is so horribly surreal that it doesnt even seem odd that the three of them are there together, sitting side by side, watching endless television. Darren doesnt seem jealous of Judys relationship with Cathbad but, Cathbad reflects sadly, theres really nothing to be jealous of. Apart from that first moment when Judy had flung herself into his arms she has treated Cathbad exactly as she treats her husband – as if hes not there. Thing is the only one that she treats with any affection and he responds in kind, leaning against her legs and looking up into her eyes. Most of the time he ignores Cathbad completely. Cathbad feels that he deserves this but its hurtful all the same.
The kettle has done its stuff and Cathbad carefully pours the water into the cups. Hes always very careful with his choices. The best mug, bone china with hollyhocks, for Judy, a suitably macho choice for Darren (Norwich City or union Jacks) and the worst cup for himself, as a sort of penance. Sometimes he torments himself further by looking at the other items in the cupboard: the Thomas the Tank Engine bowl, the yellow beaker with two handles, the sterilised milk bottles. He doesnt do this now, he knows that he wouldnt be able to bear it. This is the third night and even his faith is starting to wane. Stay strong, he tells himself, stay strong for Judy. The spirits are protecting Michael. But, tonight, his trust in the spirits is beginning to fail. From the sitting room comes the sound of laughter from the Friends studio audience. Lucky them. Cathbad doesnt think that hell ever laugh again.
A knock at the door. Cathbad drops a mug (Darrens) and darts forward. He collides with Judy and Darren in the hall. Cathbad wins the race for the door. Outside is a strange woman in jeans and a dark jacket. She has a lean, sporty look, like a greyhound. Judy seems to recognise her.
Tanya, she says without enthusiasm.
Can I come in? says the woman called Tanya. We think theres been a development.
Shes not going to Judys, says Ruth. It seems like the first time that anyone has spoken for a long time. For the last hour they have all been leaning forward, eyes fixed on the white car in front. Clough is careful to keep as far back as he dares. He doesnt want to alert Dani to the possibility of being followed. At one point it seemed that they had lost her altogether but then Ruth spotted a white shape moving between overhanging trees. Shes taken a side road. Clough swerved to follow. Thank God its a white car, he said.
There are no other vehicles on the Castle Rising road but its dark and Clough doesnt put on his beam. Dani is driving fast but not too fast. Ruth wonders if this too is part of her mad logic, wanting to care responsibly for the child whom she has snatched from his mother. The castle looms above them behind its high earth wall, square and forbidding. Ruth seems to remember that, like most castles, it has a rather nasty history. Wasnt a queen locked up there once? Shell have to ask Frank. But not now. Now only Michael matters.
Dani drives past the turning to Judys house, following the castle walls.
Where is she going? mutters Clough. Dani has slowed down though and he too kills his speed. What was that thing you learnt in your driving test, thinks Ruth. Only a fool breaks the two second rule. She finds herself saying it under her breath. Only a fool breaks the two second rule. Only a …
Shes stopping, says Frank.
Mirror, signal, manoeuvre. Dani parks carefully by the side of the road. Its dark, open country all around. Clough stops in the shade of an overhanging tree.
Wait, he tells the others. Dont move. Ruth hears him radioing in to Nelson. Shes stopped. Castle Rising, just beyond the village. Yeah. I will. Yeah. OK Boss.
Ruth watches as Dani gets a pushchair from the boot of the car. She must have bought it specially, she thinks. She lifts Michael out of the car and straps him into the chair. Hes not moving but maybe hes asleep. Ruths heart is pounding. She wants to jump out and snatch Judys child back. Hes so close. She can see his dark hair and the white blur of his face. But Cloughs voice holds her back. Wait. Dont move.
Dani sets off at a brisk pace over the field. Clough swears. Im going to follow, he says. You wait here. The boss is on his way.
Clough gets out of the car and sprints over the grass after Dani, surprisingly light-footed for such a big man. Ruth watches his white shirt disappearing into the trees. She gets out of the car.
He said to wait, says Frank uncertainly.
You wait, says Ruth.
She hasnt gone a few hundred yards when she realises Danis destination. Theres a childrens play area in the shadow of the castle mound, swings, slides, a roundabout turning slowly in the slight breeze. Calmly Dani lifts Michael from the pushchair and puts him in one of the baby swings. Ruth can hear her singing as she pushes him to and fro. Perfectly normal behaviour, mother and child playing on the swings. Except that its nearly midnight. And Michael is someone elses child.