They had walked a good way from the market, and the streets were quieter here. Sarah looked down at Tommy, took a handkerchief from her bag and lightly spat on it before crouching down to wipe his face. ‘Don’t thank me. George paid for it. Now look at the state of you! I reckon you must have more ice-cream on your face than in your belly.’

‘Ew, get off,’ Tommy moaned, as he tried to push away Sarah’s hand with the moistened handkerchief.

Sarah stood up then gasped as she found a tall man blocking her path. She’d never seen Godfrey, but judging by the way he was dressed and the photograph, she instantly knew it was him.

‘You must be Sarah Jepson. I’ve been looking for you,’ Godfrey said with a sneer.

‘No, I think you’re mistaken. Excuse me, please,’ Sarah answered. Her heart pounded as she looked into his threatening eyes. She went to walk around him, but he stepped sideways, again blocking her.

‘I’m not mistaken. You weren’t that hard to find. You told my mother you live in Battersea, and I’ve been asking around. It didn’t take me long or cost much to find out that you often use that market. It seems people around here will quite happily open their rotten mouths for a cheap price.’

Sarah looked around her. She didn’t recognise anyone, but that didn’t mean people wouldn’t know who she was. Gossip was rife in the area, but George had said no one would say anything. He’d obviously been mistaken.

Tommy was standing by her side looking suspiciously at Godfrey. She hoped the man wouldn’t make a scene and scare her brother. ‘Yes, I’m Sarah Jepson. What of it?’ she said, trying to make herself sound more brazen than she felt.

Godfrey didn’t answer, but she suddenly felt his tight grip on her arm, then he began to pull her off the street and down a narrow deserted alley. She tried to yank herself free, but his clutch was too strong. She couldn’t allow him to drag her into the alley. He could do anything to her and no one would see.

Her mind raced. Tommy was standing as though transfixed, looking terrified so she daren’t scream or it would frighten him even more. ‘Get George,’ she called before Godfrey managed to overpower her.

Sarah didn’t see if Tommy had run off, but then she was aware of a pain shooting across her shoulders as Godfrey slammed her against a brick wall. She gasped for breath, feeling winded, then felt the weight of Godfrey’s body as he pushed against her.

‘There’s no one to help you, and nobody will see us in here,’ he ground out, dragging her deeper into the gloom and behind a pile of rubbish.

‘Get off me,’ Sarah gasped.