Connie

The needle cause discomfort as I expected, but as it leaves my mouth, it drips which is somewhat soothing. And I realise that it's water – it's just water.

Either they know it's water and the intention is to scare me or, they really believe it's a 'truth serum' and they been ripped off. It soon becomes clear that it's the latter – and a brilliant idea occurs to me. When they first took me, I over-heard one of them say that this – getting the information from me was the only idea they had left. They certainly aren't very bright, but if I can convince them that the 'truth serum' is working then they might accept that I don't know anything. It's a possible escape route anyhow, and if I'm their last way of finding out Grace and Sam's whereabouts then maybe it will help get them out of danger too. It's worth a try – perhaps this is the miracle I've been waiting for. I'm good at playing games – Sam and I play them all the time, so I'll treat this as one.

"I stole the sweets from the vending machine." I suddenly blurt out and then cover my mouth in shock as though the sentence just slipped out.

The men stare at me.

"...when I was nine." I add, making my voice sound timid and embarrassed. "and it was me that broke the window. I'm so sorry Mum."

One of the men crouches in front of me, smirking. Apparently, my plan is working.

I make my eyes go wide with surprise and my voice sound hesitant – as though I'm trying not to speak. "I kissed a boy in the playground."

"It's working!" The man exclaims nastily as I continue to make shock admissions. Are they actually buying this?! How gullible can they be?

"Never mind that." One of the other men crouches down next to the first man, giving him a rough shove so that he falls over.

"Jim!" The first man complains crossly – seemingly forgetting that they're not supposed to be identifying themselves in front of me.

"Oh shut up!" Jim snarls at the first man as he gets back to his feet and brushes himself down. The floor is anything but clean. The newly-named Jim turns back to me. "What we're really interested in is where that pretty little daughter of yours is – and her pathetic father. No doubt they're together seeing you haven't got her."

Seriously? It would appear that they've been watching me for months before they pounced – just in case I was hiding her in my house or something. Well, at least I've kept them occupied so their attentions were away from Grace. Sam got her away safely and they have no idea where she is.

"They left." I mumble tearfully. "Left me all alone."

"Yes." He presses me impatiently. "But where did they go?"

I sniff. "Went in the middle of the night. They left me all alone without a word. I never saw them again after that night." I choose my words ever so carefully and turn on the tears. "Sam took my daughter and there was nothing."

The tears flow freely – I just think of Gracie and how much I miss her.

"Jim" One of the other men says. "She doesn't known anything, does she?"

The other men seem convinced, I just have to hope that 'Jim' is too.

Sam

I pace back and forth in the police interview room. Grace stares at me with wide eyes from her chair by the table. She knew nothing of this before now.

I've done what I promised – I've kept Grace safe and I haven't gone back to England, but when I saw the news-

"Holby City's Clinical Lead goes AWOL'

I had to go to the police and tell them what I know – how could I not? This is Grace's mother we're talking about – and the woman I love more than anyone else in the world – besides Grace, of course. If only Connie would allow me to do so. When I get her back after this, she's not going anywhere. I'll make damn sure I convince that I'm her perfect man.

I got in over my head with some loan sharks and they threatened Grace, so I had to disappear with her, but now they taken Connie instead – and it's been five days the paper said. They've been trying to keep it under wraps, but when it got leaked – it was big news.

I didn't know what to do when I got in this mess – but Connie did. It was all her idea – her plan, but I thought it would save her too – at least until I earned enough to pay the loan sharks back. This is actually the first time I've really listened to Connie. I never listened to her when she was my boss – and yes, with hindsight it usually came back to bite me on the bum - in one way or another.

There weren't many details in the paper, but apparently both her house and her office at work had been broken into – her computer and laptop smashed, her house phone and mobile phone destroyed. It doesn't look good but it is comforting that they haven't found blood anywhere. There's something that niggles at me though. The ED is always a busy place – night and day. Surely, somebody would have seen someone going into her office to smash her computer – even if her neighbours at home didn't see anything. Yet, no one did apparently.

I came to the police on one condition – that they let us remain in the station until it's safe. We are not leaving.

"Mummy will be ok, Daddy." Grace tells me for the umpteenth time. "Whatever is going on, Mummy can outwit anybody – even you." Well, that's certainly true – she outwitted me on plenty of occassions.

I hope Grace is right. The door opens and a police officer comes in with a hot drink each for Grace and I.

"Thank you." We both say politely.

The officer clears her throat. "Sit down, please Mr Strachan. We have some news."