"Daddy?"

"I'm here."

"You have to come and get me."

"I will. Tell me where you are?"

"I don't know. But he's after me."

"Who?"

"The man who owns this phone. I don't know his name, but he's looking for me. I called the police, but they wanted me to give them a street or a house number and I told them I don't know where I am. He has Tash, Daddy. He caught her when she tried to run away. You have to help us."

"You're breaking up, Piper. Try to stand still."

Can you hear me now?"

"Yes."

"Are you crying, Daddy?"

"I'm just really happy."

"So am I. It's so good to hear your voice."

"Yours too."

"I didn't run away, Daddy. We talked about doing it, but we didn't get a chance. A man took us. Can you tell Mum? I don't want her thinking that I don't love her. And tell Phoebe and Ben and my little sister. What's her name?"

"Jessica."

"That's pretty."

"What did you tell the police?"

"Just what I told you. Tash escaped but he caught her again. I couldn't find her and I'm scared he's going to do something to her if I don't go back."

"Don't worry about Tash. Tell me where you are."

"I don't know."

"We're going to find you, baby. They'll trace the call."

"He's still looking for me. I have to hide."

"Can you wait a second, sweetheart?"

"Don't go away."

"I won't."

I can hear him having a conversation. Someone is talking about calling the police.

"Are you there?"

"I'm here, Daddy."

"The police are trying to find you. Stay on the line. Don't move, Piper."

"What if he comes? I'm scared."

"I know you are. I'm with a man called Joe. He's going to talk to you."

"h.e.l.lo, Piper."

"Hi."

He has a nice voice, soft but strong, not wheedling like George.

"Where are you right now?" he asks. "Describe it for me."

"I'm in a forest, standing on a ridge. I couldn't get any signal so I climbed higher. I don't have much battery left."

"Where did you get the phone?"

"I took it from George."

"Is that the man who's been holding you?"

"Yeah."

"His name is George?"

"I don't know. Tash called him George. She said he looked like George Clooney, but he doesn't really, not unless George Clooney has put on weight and got ugly. Has he got ugly?"

"My wife doesn't think so."

"That's good."

"What can you see, Piper?"

"Trees."

"Anything else-a landmark, a river, or a road or a railway line?"

"No."

"You said you escaped."

"Yes."

"Where did you escape from?"

"It was some sort of factory but it's empty and everything is broken and overgrown. Are you there, Daddy?"

"I'm here."

"Please come and get me."

"I will."

"It's getting dark and I can't stop shivering."

A bird lifts from the trees behind me. Jerking my head around, I search the shadows.

"Piper?"

"I thought I heard something."

"Why are you whispering?"

"I can't talk very loud in case he hears me."

Joe speaks. "When did you last see George?"

"I don't know what time it was. He said he was going to get Emily."

"What?"

"He had a photograph of Emily in his wallet. He said he was going to get me a friend. I told him I didn't want a friend. You have to stop him. You have to warn her."

"We will. What does George look like?"

"He's old and ugly."

"What color is his hair?"

"Brown."

"How old is he?"

"I don't know-thirty or forty."

"Is he tall?"

"Taller than Daddy, but he has small hands. I'm wearing his coat. It hangs down to my ankles. Are you still there, Daddy?"

"I'm here. The police are tracking the signal. I want you to stay put."

"It's getting dark."

"I know."

"What about Emily?"

Joe answers. "We'll make sure she's safe."

"It's starting to rain."

"Can you find somewhere out of the rain?"

"I don't know. I just want to curl up and go to sleep."

"No," says Joe. "You mustn't fall asleep. You should keep moving."

"Daddy told me to stay still."

"You mustn't fall asleep. Try to stay warm."

"OK. I can't feel my fingers. I'm just going to swap hands..."

"h.e.l.lo?"

"Daddy?"

"Joe."

"Are you there?"

42.

Dale Hadley is cradling his phone in both hands as though he's dropped a priceless vase and is holding the broken pieces.