Outside, Gabe ploughed through a deep rain puddle. He said his new shoes looked suspiciously clean, but Julius knew it was just for the hell of it.

‘Where are we headed?’ Gabe asked as his pumps squelched.

‘Where do you think?’ Julius asked. ‘You’re the one always telling me I’ve only got one friend.’

Gabe had suspected, but still wore a look of concern and dropped off the pace.

Julius marched ahead. ‘Tell Mum whatever you like,’ he snapped. ‘Tell her I took you to see my homo friend. Snitch on my secret phone. She doesn’t scare me any more.’

Gabe jogged a few steps to catch up.

‘I don’t want Mum to send you away,’ Gabe said pleadingly.

Julius smiled as Gabe looked embarrassed.

‘Mum’s never got time,’ Gabe admitted. ‘The twins are mean. I’d miss your stupid face.’

Julius was touched and put an arm round Gabe’s back.

‘Who knows what’ll happen?’ Julius said softly.

‘I wonder what they’re doing to that lady who got beat up …’ Gabe said, suddenly anxious. ‘Was Taiwo dead? And where did Kehinde go? He vanished while we hid in the back seats.’

Julius had no answers and let Gabe talk himself out.

They passed dozens of smashed and burned-out cars. A fearsome group of area boys stared them down but saw two scruffy kids who didn’t look worth robbing.

It felt less tense as they neared Duke’s building, north of the city. Shops were open, though most only raised a single shutter, enabling them to close in seconds if trouble arrived. Kids even took advantage of school closures and thin traffic by kicking a ball around in the street.

Julius worried about finding his mother’s goons in the lobby. They’d offer protection and a ride home, but he was desperate to see Duke. Julius only saw a doorman as he walked briskly past the entrance. Perhaps the chaos meant his mother couldn’t spare three men to intimidate a journalist, but rather than chance it Julius went round the side and hit the buzzer.

‘Delivery for Lapido, fourth floor,’ he said, standing close and going on tiptoes so the camera above the button only caught the logo on his stolen football shirt.

‘Push,’ the doorman crackled, as the door buzzed.

‘Don’t say anything rude or weird to Duke,’ Julius warned, breathless, as they rounded the last balcony before the sixth floor.

Gabe looked fearful as Julius rang the bell.

‘Who’s calling?’ Remi asked suspiciously.

He opened all the bolts when he recognised Julius’s voice.

‘Shit!’ Duke croaked from behind his screen. ‘Get over here. Let me see you!’

Remi had tidied the apartment. Apart from the missing fridge door, it looked better than before the goons had trashed it. Duke was tough to look at. His face was so swollen that he was barely recognisable, his fists clenching with pain when he tried to move.