I decide to call her first. An anxious Gil is the Gil who may call the police. I can’t risk that now.
When she answers, her voice is trembling. ‘Did you get proof? Is she okay?’
‘Yes. Sorry, Gil; it all happened so quickly. I’ll send you the photo. She hasn’t been harmed, and I’ve paid the first lot of ransom.’
‘Oh God, Danny, was that wise? What if they start asking for more?’
‘They won’t,’ I say. ‘Look, I have to phone Donald and get back to work. Keep things normal.’
‘Everyone here thinks that Jo has some kind of awful bug.’
‘That’s what I told them this morning.’
‘I’d better go. I’m on a short break.’
I’m relieved to be rid of her. I call Donald and tell him everything went well, and that we must wait for the next contact.
Chapter Sixteen
Joanna
The bed feels damp.
I throw back the sheets.
‘Shit.’
I’ve started my period eight days early. It must be the stress. I glance at the clock: seven a.m. I don’t even know if he’s upstairs. For all I know, there's nothing above me but a crumbling warehouse.
I rush to the bathroom and shove wads of toilet paper into my knickers.
The phone rings a few times before he picks up. ‘What is it?’ he asks.
‘I’ve started my period. I need tampons. And clean bedsheets.’
There’s a long, audible sigh, and if I weren’t so terrified, I might laugh. His hostage is clearly proving high maintenance.
‘Strip the bed,’ he says finally. ‘Leave the sheets. I’ll swap them when I bring breakfast. You’ll get them back at dinner.’
‘I need tampons,’ I remind him.
‘I’ll get them.’ He hangs up.
My heart is pounding. It’s been one night, just one, but it feels like I’ve been locked in this room for weeks.Why haven’t the police found me? Why hasn’t anyone?
***
Only the bottom sheet is stained. As I peel it off, a memory ambushes me.
Danny and I were shopping for a bed for the new house. He had flopped down dramatically on every single one, making me laugh until I couldn’t breathe. Then he pulled me down beside him.
‘Wide enough for you?’
‘Have you seen the price tag?’
‘We can afford it,’ he said confidently. And he was right. We could.
The renovations were finally happening. Thanks to Danny’s promotion and my job, we were finally doing well.
