I watch, fascinated, as tears leak out and over her cheeks. She doesn’t even seem to notice. A Miller crying for a Thomson, and they call her the crazy one.

‘Never got a chance to help er then, so I’ll help er granddaughters now, cos she’d ave helped me if she could.’ May eyes Rhi. ‘Spittin image ya are, girl, hurts and heals to look atcha.’

Rhi’s face crumples and she ducks her head. I kneel and wrap an arm around her shoulders. Everyone says Rhi is as lovely as Nan. For months after the funeral Pop wouldn’t look at Rhi and it did something inside her. Seeing my strong cousin cry makes me defensive.

‘We went to Potters’ like you said. Bruises was all we got out of the trip.’

She snorts. ‘Cos you weren’t lookin properly, stupid girl. Used your head, didn’t ya? Used ya logic and education and all that white man stuff.’ She turns and spits in the fire. ‘Never thought I’d see the day that Tandy’s girls would turn from their own ways.’

‘But, all the old fullas say not to go near that mountain. Ya want us to do things proper way, so shouldn’t ya be goin off at us?’ Rhi is as confused as me, but at least she isn’t hurting anymore.

‘Bah, old bastards thought that would keep the kids safe after what appened to me. Read it all wrong they did but wouldn’t listen to me. Oh no, I’m Mad May, you know.’

The bitterness is so heavy it silences us all for a moment.

‘So … you’re sayin that I can go there. That Laney is there?’ Laney’s the only reason I’m here, I can’t get distracted from that, even if it is fascinating. I can’t help any of that, but I can help my twin.

Her sharp eyes collide with mine and I feel the threat in them.

‘You can and she is. But so are they.’

‘Who? The Potters? I’ll risk it for Laney.’ I stand and hold my hand down to Rhi. ‘Come on, we gotta get to her.’

‘You can’t be serious?’ Sam is up facing me over the fire. ‘Ya know what they’re capable of and you’re still gonna go? Ya can’t be that fuckin stupid!’

‘What choice do I ave? The cops are takin too long, the adults won’t do it without them. My sister is dyin!’

The words burst out and I admit aloud what I’ve been trying not to say to myself. That last dream cinched it. Laney is fading and I am desperate.

Rhi takes my hand and stands. ‘You’re the one said ya didn’t believe in this anymore. Why now?’

‘I don’t know, Rhi, cos what came to the back door last night?’