Page 129 of 36 Hours

‘The guy who told us to hang around here and make a noise. He gave us twenty quid,’ the lad said, patting his pocket.

‘What guy? What did he look like?’ Kim asked.

The one she grabbed appeared to have turned mute.

‘Just looked like a guy,’ Bryant’s captive answered.

‘You’ve gotta be able to give me a bit?—’

‘Guv…’ Bryant said, letting the lad go and then tapping his watch.

Her colleague was right. The priority right now was finding Nazeera and not being late.

‘Get out of here,’ she said to the kids, shoving one against the other.

They turned and ran, having escaped parental wrath and made a few quid.

Despite the time factor weighing down heavily upon her, she took a second to think.

The man had left a trail of women’s garments on the other side of the site and had provided a time-wasting distraction on this side.

It was clear that their sicko wanted them travelling in both directions. The only question was why.

NINETY-SEVEN

6.45P.M.

‘Bloody hell, Penn, that’s a scarf,’ Stacey exclaimed as they reached Providence Chapel at the end of the road.

To the left were the steel trap works and yard and stables. To the right were a row of cottages and access to the bakery and the rolling mill.

‘Which way are we supposed to?—’

‘Shush,’ Penn spat at her.

She froze.

‘Did you hear that?’ he whispered.

She shook her head.

He focussed and waited. She did the same.

‘I heard it that time,’ she said.

‘I think it came from over there.’

Stacey followed him as he sprinted through the buildings, pausing only to listen for the faint noise of what had sounded like chain rattling.

Given they were running around the Black Country Museum and the breeze was picking up, it could mean absolutely nothing.

They paused again at the Limelight Cinema.

Same noise but louder.

Stacey felt excitement mix with the adrenaline surging around her body. She loved what she did in the office, but every now and again it was good to feel her feet out on the ground.

They ran towards the chain-making shop.