by Hannah Macfarlane

Created on: August 15, 2009

A hope and a prayer.

Dusk. A woman stands beside her car, mobile phone in hand. The back wheel of the car is sunk into thick mud. The engine is still running.

She peers at the screen of her phone, walks to the front of the car and peers again. She sighs in frustration. She walks to the back of the car, looks at the screen, holds it higher.

Woman: Oh, come on!

She kicks the wheel in frustration, then sits down on the bumper to think. She looks around for inspiration. She notices a rickety fence and gives it some thought before jumping down and striding over to it. She tests it first, giving it a shove then tentatively climbs up one rung at a time, checking her phone at each stage. She places one foot on the top, then the other. She gradually lets go with her free hand, pushes herself up to standing and balances cautiously. She looks at her screen and smiles.

Woman: (sighing with relief) thank you, thank you, thank you! (She kisses her phone and dials a number) Hello? Yes, hi. I'm stuck. Literally. I think I made a wrong turn, so I just pulled off the road to turn round and my wheel is stuck in this muddy... yes, I've tried that. Mmm. Yep. (there's a pause) No, I'm not sure exactly. Somewhere near Cambridge. I would know, except, like I said, I made a wrong turn and... ok.

She wobbles and puts a hand down on the fence to steady herself. She carefully stands up again and puts the phone back to her ear.

Woman: Are you still there? Hello... Oh good. So, what do I... can you track where I am? Right. (she listens for a few moments.) No, I haven't been listening to the radio. I had a CD... well, I can't right now, there's no signal in the car and you wanted me to stay on the line. (Getting frustrated) Can you just tell me what... fine. I'll wait.

She looks around. It's getting darker. She looks more nervous now.

Woman: You have? Great! Yes, I'll get back in the car. Two hours! Can't you...? Yes, I understand. Lock them? Why would... ok, I will. Thanks (she hangs up and then in a mimicking voice). Don't worry.

She climbs down from the fence, looks nervously around and walks towards the car. She climbs in, shuts the door and switches the radio on. It hisses a bit as she fiddles with the tuning.

Voice on radio: a third body has been found this evening in a river close to the previous two crime scenes. While it is not yet clear if there is a link, the police are treating the death as suspicious. A source has reported that

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