Boyd groaned and tried to open his eyes. How much had he had to drink last night? His head felt terrible. And one of his eyes seemed to be stuck closed. He reached his hand up to try to rub his eye, puzzled to find his hands cuffed, and heard a voice say,

'Boyd, you need to stay still.'

After a moment he realised that it was Grace's voice and then he became aware that he was half lying on the floor with his upper body leaning against Grace's body and his head resting on her chest. Which was a good result whichever way you looked at it so he decided to graciously obey her instruction and stopped trying to move, saying,

'What happened?'

'He pistol whipped you. I'm trying to staunch the bleeding.'

'Oh...'

Boyd lay there and tried to collect his scattered thoughts as the pain in his head became centred on the pressure that Grace was applying. After a few minutes, the pressure eased off and Grace said,

'It's stopped. Thank goodness for that. I was afraid you were going to bleed to death.'

Grace's hand moved, gently mopping up the blood on his eye. Boyd blinked as his vision began to return to normal.

'No, I'm too young to die, Grace.'

'Unfortunately, I don't think Jason Evans agrees with you.'

The minute he heard the name, Boyd's memories flooded back,

'Fuck! How long was I out?'

'About fifteen minutes. Long enough for Jason to barricade the door, I'm afraid. I tried to break the door down but I couldn't... and you were bleeding. I'm sorry, Boyd, I should have done something earlier.'

'Like what?'

'I should have crashed the car.'

'Bollocks! We would both be dead if you had.'

'If I'd got the angle right, Jason might have been thrown to the side and I might have been able to get out before he'd shot me and...'

'No you wouldn't,' said Boyd, cutting across Grace without hesitation, 'The air bag would have gone off, trapping you in the front and the force of the crash would almost certainly have killed me. Which reminds me, you're never driving my car again; what the hell were you doing?'

'I was trying to leave a trail.'

Grace explained about her erratic driving and said,

'I triggered one of the traffic light cameras on the North Circular and two of the speed cameras, I think. And my phone was active until he threw it out of the car. And hopefully a lot of people will remember my driving.'

'I wouldn't bank on it, there are a lot a crazy drivers in London. But the team should be able to pick us up on CCTV from where you triggered the speed cameras so we have a chance.'

'There aren't any CCTV cameras around here though, I looked.'

'No, but they'll be able to narrow it down.'

'True. And Spence and Kat will make Jason talk.'

'Assuming he doesn't do a runner.'

'I don't think he will. He thinks the police are idiots so he'll try to lie his way out of it.'

'I wrote Jason's name down on a piece of paper and left it in the boot so as long as he doesn't torch the car, they'll know it's him.'

'So all we've got to do is survive until they find us.'

'That's all right then. How long does it take to die of dehydration?'

'Three days but we might be able to find some water. I watched him start to barricade the doors and he had to improvise and he hasn't cleared this room out either.'

'How well is it barricaded?'

'Very well, unfortunately. He was clearly impressed by your size and strength.'

'So many people are.'

Boyd's smug tone of voice made Grace smile and she said,

'I see you're feeling better.'

'A bit. My heads feels like shit but at least I can see now.'

'Do you think you can sit by yourself now? I need to find out what's in here.'

Boyd reluctantly moved to let Grace get up but said,

'Any chance you could dig out the key to my handcuffs first. It's in my right hand jacket pocket.'

Grace moved in front of him and undid his coat, sliding her hand inside, feeling for Boyd's jacket pocket. Boyd made himself stay completely still and forced a neutral expression on to his face even though her touch was sending shivers down his spine. A few seconds later, Grace pulled out the key and fumbled it into the lock and turned. The lock opened and Boyd took off the handcuffs and rubbed his wrists to get rid of the slight soreness.

'All right?' asked Grace.

'Yes, I didn't tighten them properly.'

'Good.'

Boyd really tried not to look at Grace's body as she got up but was aware that he failed dismally. Even bundled up in several layers of clothing she was still gorgeous.

Spence looked at his phone in frustration, saying,

'No answer again.'

'Perhaps they're still interviewing Jason Evans,' said Kat.

'It's been over two hours and anyway, one of them would have picked up by now. Boyd only ignores his phone if he's in the interview room.'

'They've probably just gone for a drink or something...'

'Not without checking in first,' said Spence, completely oblivious to Kat's not very subtle innuendo.

'Has Eve heard from them? Do you want me to go and check, Sir?'

Spence nodded so Kat saved her work and went to the lab.

Boyd levered himself slowly and painfully on to his knees then used the wall as support as he stood. His head pounded but his vision stayed clear so he leant against the wall and looked around. They were in what had obviously been a store room; there were shelving units and filing cabinets along with some trestle tables and folding chairs. It was windowless, lit by a couple of fluorescent lights, bleak and entirely functional.
The shelves still had an assortment of items on them and as he watched, Grace began looking through them. It was tempting just to watch her and wait for the pounding in his head to subside but Boyd forced himself to stop admiring the way her hair framed her face and went over to the door. A few seconds peering through the small pane of glass in the door was all that was needed to confirm what Grace had told him; the door wasn't just locked, Jason had filled the stairwell with furniture, wedging it in. If the door had opened inwards, it might not have mattered, they might have been able to clear a path to the stairs once he'd picked the lock. However, the door opened outwards and even if he'd been uninjured, Boyd still couldn't have barged his way through it. Turning away, Boyd gingerly made his way over to Grace, saying,

'Found anything useful?'

'Some dustsheets.'

'Dustsheets? I know the place is a bit dreary but redecorating seems a bit unnecessary in the circumstances.'

'Ha ha. To sleep on, Boyd; that floor doesn't look very comfortable to me.'

Boyd looked down at the cracked and stained lino and said,

'You're right but we could do with more than a couple of dustsheets.'

'Can you get those filing cabinets open? Paper's not a feather mattress but it'll be softer than the floor and warmer too.'

'As long as I haven't lost my lockpicks...' Boyd felt in his coat pocket, finding the familiar shapes, then continued, 'I'll have them open in a few minutes.'

Boyd moved over to the filing cabinets and began picking their locks.

Spence looked over at Eve, making no attempt to hide his anxiety,

'You haven't heard from them all afternoon either?'

'No,' replied Eve, 'I've tried them both several times and their phones ring then go to voicemail.'

'Can you trace their phones?' asked Spence.

'Is it really necessary?' said Kat.

Spence scowled at Kat, who continued,

'It's a major invasion of their privacy.'

Spence glared but nodded. Turning to Eve, he said,

'What do you think?'

'I'm worried too. Have you spoken to the person they were going to see?'

'Jason Evans? No, I'll call him now. What's his number?'

Kat handed him Jason Evans' number and Spence dialled. It was answered quickly and Kat and Eve waited impatiently as Spence said,

'Mr Evans? Detective Inspector Jordan here... Yes, I'm from the Cold Case Unit too...I wondered if they were still with you?...When did they leave?...I see...Thank you, Sir...Yes, we'll keep you updated on our progress with the case, Sir...Goodbye.'

Spence hung up and turned to Eve and Kat, saying grimly,

'Evans thinks they left him at about three.'

'That's over an hour and a half ago,' said Eve, equally grim, 'They should have been back an hour ago.'

'Could they be caught in traffic?' asked Kat.

'Unlikely, Boyd knows all the back routes, but I'll check with Traffic,' said Spence, 'Kat see if you can trace their phones.'

'Sir.'

'And me?' asked Eve.

'I'm sorry, Eve, but I need you to get back to the lab. If something has happened to Grace and Boyd, we'll need any information you can give us.'

Eve nodded unhappily,

'Understood. Keep me updated.'

'I will,' promised Spence.

Eve left and Spence picked up his phone again.

Boyd was picking the last lock when he heard Grace's voice saying exultantly,

'Boyd, over here. Look!'

Boyd walked over to where Grace was standing and saw tucked into the corner, almost concealed by mops and buckets, a large sink. Grace looked at the taps covetously and said,

'Do you think the water's on?'

'No but there might be some water left in the pipes.'

'I'll find something to put it in.'

Grace darted back to the shelves and began to rummage, returning triumphantly with a pack of paper cups. She took out a cup, held it under the tap and turned the tap on. Water came out and Grace filled the cup, smiling exultantly. She handed the full cup to Boyd and filled another for herself, making sure to turn the tap off tightly afterwards. They drank their water then Grace returned to the shelves and Boyd to the filing cabinets. Boyd unlocked the last of the locks then said,

'So where do you want this bed then?'

Spence put down his phone and said,

'Get Eve in here.'

'Yes, Sir,' said Kat.

When she returned with Eve, Spence said,

'Traffic have just had a complaint from a member of the public about a woman driving erratically and dangerously. When they ran the plates, it was Boyd's car. They're sending CCTV footage over now.'

Five minutes later, they were watching as Boyd's car wandered across lanes, cut people up and jumped traffic lights.

'Boyd's not driving that,' said Spence, 'No way. Can we see into the car?'

'I'll try the camera on that corner,' said Kat, selecting a different CCTV camera and scrolling through the footage. When she pressed play they saw Grace in the driver's seat with Boyd nowhere to be seen.

'That doesn't make sense, Grace is a good driver and where's Boyd?' said Eve, 'Slow it down and play it again.'

Eve peered intently at footage and suddenly said,

'Stop it right there. Enlarge it.'

Enlarged they could clearly see that there was someone sat behind Grace, one hand reaching round the seat.

'Enlarge just that section there,' said Spence.

Ten seconds later they were looking at the gun pressed into Grace's side.