After a few minutes Daniel returned. 'I got a little firm ten miles away from Gretna,' he said. 'Someone's going along to check. I've given him the number of my earphone. Let's go. What's the matter?'
'I'll tell you on the way.'
They dropped Sonya off at Katie's house. She hugged them both in farewell, and something fell out of her bag.
'You're a bit old for plasticine, aren't you?' Lee asked as Sonya hurriedly retrieved the object.
'It's for a very serious purpose,' Sonya said, stuffing it back into the bag.
'What serious purpose?'
'I'm going to make an effigy of Mark and stick pins into it.'
'Stick one in for me,' Daniel said grimly.
'Bye, you two,' Sonya said, and waved as they drove off.
When they'd turned the corner Lee let out her breath. In the flurry of departure she'd had little time to realise that she was going to be alone with Daniel.
Neither of them spoke at first. He was following the route she'd taken fourteen years ago, out of London to Birmingham and then Carlisle, but she felt it was too soon to be troubled. She'd driven this way herself several times to do location work. It was only after Birmingham that the past would start to trouble her.
'What were you going to tell me?' he asked as they swung onto the motorway and left London behind.
'Brenda called, looking for Phoebe. The Linnon Corporation have offered her a contract. I told her Phoebe was having a short break, "away from it all"
I hope we find her quickly. If she doesn't call Brenda back soon it'll look bad.'
"What difference does it make? You don't think I'm going to let her accept, do you? It's time this whole business was brought to an end.'
Lee remained silent. It was useless pointing out to Daniel that Phoebe's career was way beyond his control. In his heart he knew it. His words were cries in the dark from a man who hadn't come to terms with the situation. She took out Woman Of The World and studied the cover again, feeling a deep professional satisfaction in having discovered this perfect material and having brought out the best in her.
And there was more inside. Lindsay Elwes had been so stunned by Phoebe that she'd included a short feature about 'the face of the future'. Every word was designed to send Phoebe further up the ladder of success and to break Daniel's heart.
The earphone rang and Daniel snatched it up. He listened, his face dark, and grunted his thanks before he hung up.
'Well?' Lee asked.
'About as bad as it can be. They're the first wedding tomorrow morning.'
'Oh, heavens!'
'I'm running low on petrol. I'll stop at the next service station and fill up.'
At the services they stretched their legs and had coffee. They sat in virtual silence. Lee's heart was heavy as she realised they were like strangers. Once she met his eyes and looked away quickly, but not before she saw him do the same.
When they resumed travelling her memories grew sharper. She couldn't recall the scenery. It was the distances that counted. Fifty miles out of London, then sixty. At this stage she'd been spending the journey twisted around in her seat, anxiously watching the road behind for any sign of her parents' car, until Jimmy had told her to stop being daft.
A hundred miles. They'd stopped for something to eat. She'd brought some money with her, but not as much as Jimmy had expected. He'd been snappy and irritable, which she'd ascribed to nerves. Later she was to learn that Jimmy was always irritable when he didn't get exactly what he wanted.
After their next stop Lee suggested to Daniel that she should take a turn at driving. He agreed, but it wasn't a success. His state of the art, computerised vehicle needed practice. Lee fumbled uneasily and finally settled into the slow lane until the next exit, when she gladly returned it to him.
'Sorry,' she said, cross with herself.
'Don't be. It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have agreed.'
'You're going to be so tired if you have to do it all yourself.'
'Don't worry about me. We're making good time.'
It was a fatal thing to say. Almost at once the traffic slowed and in a few minutes they'd come to a standstill. Lee groaned at the sight of a jam stretching as far as her eyes could see.
After that they moved at a crawl for the next three hours. Now was another chance to talk. Lee waited, longing for Daniel to begin, but he only switched the radio on. After all, she thought, what was there to say?
At last they could move freely again, but they'd lost precious hours and the light was fading fast. As they went further north the rain started to fall, softly at first but then harder, until they were driving through a downpour.
'We've got to stop somewhere,' Lee said. 'You've driven nearly three hundred miles and you're exhausted. If we keep on through this we're going to have an accident.'
'I want to get there tonight,' Daniel said stubbornly. 'We might find out where they're staying.'
'They may not be in Gretna Green at all,' Lee protested. 'They might go straight to Gretna, which is next door. The register office is there. Let's spend the night in Carlisle. That's what Jimmy and I did. It's only nine miles away, and if we put up at a hotel there we can still get to Gretna before the register office opens. Don't pull out!'
Daniel swore and drew back just in time as a juggernaut thundered past him.
'I didn't see him,' he admitted. 'All right. We'll stay overnight in Carlisle.'
They stopped at the first hotel they came to. It was a small place, slightly shabby but cosy and friendly. While Daniel brought in the bags Lee booked two single rooms. She knew she'd been right to insist on stopping. Daniel's face was grey with strain and weariness.
'I'll call Room Service for a snack and then turn in,' he said.
'I'm afraid this hotel doesn't have Room Service,' Lee told him. 'We'll have to go downstairs.'
'I'll fall asleep over the soup.'
'I won't let you,' she promised. 'Come on.'
They secured the last table in the restaurant and ate without speaking until the main course was over. Once Daniel glanced up, smiled briefly and looked away again.
'I feel more human now,' he admitted. 'I've booked an early call tomorrow, so we'll have time to get there.'
'Daniel, what are you going to do when we meet them?'
'Don't worry, I'm not going to make a scene. I'll just tell Phoebe very calmly that I've come to take her home.'
'And suppose she won't go with you?'
'She'll have to. She's got to see sense about this.'
'But if she won't? What are you going to do? Drag her to the car?'
'It won't come to that.'
'But if it does?'
'Lee, please, don't push me now. I'm not in complete control of my temper.'
And not to be in control was something he hated. Lee gave up the attempt. Tomorrow would bring whatever it brought. She could only hope Daniel showed more wisdom in handling his daughter than he had so far.
As they were getting ready to leave the table a hesitant voice halted them. 'Forgive me, but-you are Daniel Raife, aren't you?'
He raised his head with a look of impatience, which faded as he saw an elderly lady, her hands clutched tightly together. Her face was a mixture of nervousness and determination, as though she'd had to force herself to speak.
'Yes, I am,' Daniel admitted with a tired smile.
'Do forgive me for- That is, I know you must hate people forcing themselves on you-but you're the only person who could help me. I don't know where else to turn.'
Without hesitation Daniel pulled over a free chair and waved the old woman into it with his most delightful smile. Lee, who knew the state he was in, marvelled at the self-control that enabled him to brush his own feelings aside.
'Tell me about it,' he said.
The story came out haltingly. Her name was Mrs Myra Hallam and just over a year ago her husband had been knocked down and killed by a drunk driver. The driver had subsequently been fined two hundred and fifty pounds.
'It was like saying all Freddy was worth was two hundred and fifty pounds,' Mrs Hallam said, in tears. 'If the man had been properly punished-it wouldn't have brought Freddy back, but it would have done him justice. But this-' She buried her face in her hands for a moment, then made an effort to recover herself.