Ben glanced up to see where Milly was and then said softly to Laura, ‘I have to find where he’s staying. It’s close by, along the road somewhere. It has to be. He’s got to be near enough to be able to watch, but far enough away so’s not to be seen.’
‘No, Ben. I won’t allow you to go out there looking for him. It’s too dangerous. Listen to yourself for crying out loud. Stay here.’
Ben wanted more than ever to follow her instructions. ‘Laura, if I stay here and we wait, he’ll kill all of us. I have to find where he’s holding the others. It’s the only way.’
‘What about calling the police? We’ll ring them. Tell them what’s happened. They’ll arrive in swarms and take the bastard out.’
‘Laura, the phone is monitored. He’s already killed the driver, Andrew. He ran, taking his chances and look at how it ended. The caller listened on the phone as Nigel blew his head off. The guy may as well have pulled the trigger himself. As soon as a text is sent or a phone call is made, that’s it. We may as well sign our death warrant.’ Ben hesitated, composing himself for what he had to say. ‘He mentioned a game he wants Lydia to play. I have to escort her to the barn.’
‘Game. What kind of game?’
‘He says there’s a dead body in a box. I think he’s killed at least one more; he told me he was running low on bodies where he’s holding the other passengers. Christ, maybe they’re all dead. He’s close by, watching us. He’s watching from somewhere near.’ Ben glanced out of the window, fear washing through his body.
Laura knew her husband was right. There’d be a bloodbath at the first sound of a police siren or the sight of flashing blue lights. The caller would make his escape through the fields while the bodies lay strewn across the seats.
‘I have to speak with Lydia. Wait here. If you see anything, I want you to shout,’ Ben instructed.
Laura nodded. He was so proud of her and how she was dealing with this. He’d die before anything happened to his wife and daughter.
Ben sat in the seat next to Lydia. ‘Hey. I haven’t spoken much to you.’
Lydia smiled, but her eyes were dark, empty and lifeless. ‘Have you heard from Jack? My husband. How’s he doing?’
Ben rubbed his chin, waiting to think of the right thing to say. ‘Lydia, we’re going to do everything we can to get him back. I think he’s being held captive close by. When it’s the right time, I’m going to go looking for them, the people he’s taken. But right now, I’ve had an instruction.’
Lydia turned towards the window. ‘He’s not coming back, is he?’
‘I don’t want you to think that way. Please don’t give up hope.’
Lydia slowly turned her head. ‘You’re a brave man. I can’t thank you and your family enough.’
Ben’s face flushed, he looked down to the ground for a second to let the embarrassment pass. ‘Thank you, but I’m just doing what’s right.’
‘I doubt many families would have stayed with us. Stop being so modest.’
There was a shyness about the woman. She spoke with anguish and her aura was one of hopelessness, despondency. She was gentle and completely beautiful, but her body language was closed, like it hurt her to be exposed to the world.
‘Lydia, this is going to be difficult. I need you to brace yourself, get ready and come with me.’
Her expression suddenly changed from awkward to startled. ‘What’s going on?’
‘The caller has set up challenges, if you like. He’s ordered you off the coach. I’m coming too. We need to walk to the barn, which is further along the path. Lydia, I’ll be with you, every step. If we refuse to go, he’ll come up here and try to take my daughter.’ Ben didn’t want to explain the challenge the caller had set for Lydia just yet.
Lydia looked as if she wanted to scream. As he untied the rope which held her to the seat, Ben wondered if she was contemplating going with him. He fished the rope from the back of the seat, untying the knot and she stood, smoothing down her skirt.
She stopped beside Milly on the way out. ‘I have to go. You’ll be safe; I won’t let anything happen to your father. He’s a brave man.’
Milly was confused as she hugged Lydia. ‘What’s going on?’ the girl asked.
‘There’s something I have to do,’ she answered bravely. ‘But I’ll be back soon.’
Ben followed the woman to the front of the coach. He held his wife close, kissing her forehead.
‘Make sure you come back in one piece,’ Laura demanded.
‘I will.’ He took the phone from the dashboard and stepped out onto the ground. Lydia followed.
As they moved along the path, the mobile rang in Ben’s hand. He lifted the phone to his ear and waited without saying anything.
‘Glad she could make it. Now, walk to the barn; you know where it is. I’ll call you again when I see you arrive.’
Click. The phone went dead.
They walked, side by side, only the sound of the wind for company, beating against their skin. The lights from the coach illuminated the rough ground ahead, and as they turned left, the road ahead became pitch-black. The cloud cover was still threatening to break, and the tip of the moon was pushing through. Ben worried that any second the caller could jump out from the fields either side and grab him and Lydia. He strained to hear footsteps or a rustle in the grass, pushing himself to prepare. He shone the torch, steering over the bleak wilderness. He couldn’t hear anyone approaching.
A short while after, Ben and Lydia approached the barn. Through the open door they could see the light hanging from the ceiling; but the space was completely barren. Ben had flashbacks from earlier; his head started to spin, he felt faint. He needed to gain control. He had to be strong and guide Lydia. He moved along the path, shining the torch and watching around him. Lydia followed.
‘I don’t get why we’re here,’ she said.
Ben turned around, looking over the fields, making sure they were alone. He kept his voice low and hushed. ‘He has these sick games set out. All you need to do is follow his instructions. Don’t do anything else, only what he says, understood? You can do this. I know you can, Lydia.’
Ben pushed the door, letting Lydia inside and then moved next to her. Right on cue, the phone rang.
‘Okay, stay calm. I’ll talk to him,’ Ben instructed, answering the call and putting it on speakerphone.
‘Welcome again. You’re beginning to like this place – a proper regular. Make yourselves comfortable, relax. We need to make the lady welcome.’
The caller was whispering. Ben was losing his patience. ‘What does she have to do?’
‘Oh, I sense a little frustration in your temperament. I don’t like that. I can’t have unruly guests showing disrespect. That won’t do at all.’
‘I’m sorry if I’m not feeling your hospitality.’ Ben was struggling to hear what the caller was saying.
Lydia listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. She peered across the barn from the front door; it was bigger than it looked from outside, as long as it was wide and resembling a warehouse. It smelt like it was used to store manure or some other foul fertiliser. It reminded her of when she was younger, and her father took her horse riding. The smell of the stables was something she never got used to.