Good point. A ticking clock is needed. She doesn’t try to break free because that would sign a death warrant for her daughter (perhaps). Her daughter is her focus.

She must achieve his goals to achieve her own.

I was thinking of moving it to a hospital, but I am trying to keep it in a single location, as long as the story doesn’t suffer.

I think the premise can handle a single location.

“Cat and Mouse” is quiet where my mind is at, but it does need something. I’ll let it brew in the brain and see what happens. I’ll write it with a number of statis shifts. More of an arm wrestle. She will also come to gain some compassion or empathy for him. This is not to say she will protect him, but the hatred lessens. So when she finds she has been deceived she is not desperate to call the police.

Not an easy task to pull off, but I think I am up to it.