‘No, straight up. I saw her and that little lad walk past the end of the road. In fact, I’m surprised you didn’t bump into her, you must have only just missed her.’

George shoved his pie into Roger’s hand. ‘Which way did she go?’ he asked.

Before Roger had a chance to answer, George spun around and ran to chase after Sarah, but he heard Roger shout, ‘Right, turn right.’

Sarah had been into the public toilets again, and now, with the silver watch cleaned up, she was hoping to find somewhere suitable to sell it. She didn’t want to go up town like George had suggested when she had the bracelet. She’d never been over the bridge before, but had heard the people on the other side of the Thames were right toffs. That’s probably where the watch came from, she thought.

George had told her the police walked along the market, so she decided it was probably better to stay away from there too. With Tommy alongside her, she searched the streets in the hope of finding a pawnshop. She’d never been in one before but remembered, when she was about Tommy’s age, she’d had to wait outside while her mother went in to sell a ring a man had given her. Sarah had been fascinated by the three brass balls hanging over the shop sign. When her mother had come out, she’d been delighted and had dragged Sarah to the pub, where, once again, she had been left to wait outside.

She didn’t miss those days, she thought, as she scanned the shops looking for the three brass balls. Then she unexpectedly heard George’s voice.

‘Hey, Sarah.’

As she stopped and turned, to her surprise, Tommy yanked his hand from hers and ran towards the man, clearly very pleased to see him.

‘Hello, little man,’ George said to Tommy.

‘We found more treasure!’ he squeaked.

‘Did you indeed? What did you find this time?’

‘We found a silver clock, didn’t we, Sarah? Show George our clock.’

Sarah suddenly felt very embarrassed. George would never believe she wasn’t a thief and had found the watch in the Thames. She could hardly believe it herself.

‘Let’s have a look at it then, Sarah,’ George said.

She fumbled in her pocket, then held out the watch on the flat of her palm.

‘Wow, this is a nice piece,’ George said, as he took the watch from her hand. ‘You say you found it? The same place where you found the bracelet?’

She knew George would question her and she looked for suspicion in his hazel eyes. As he stared back at her, she couldn’t see any doubt, but suddenly felt awkward and looked at the ground.

‘I reckon you’ve hit lucky twice. The watch ain’t working, but I bet this is solid silver. Where are you taking it?’