Mum’s clipped tone and carefully enunciated words are usually enough to send me running, but not this time. I step forwards, getting right in her face, when a hand snatches my arm and pulls me back.

‘Okay, Aunt, I’ll stay and help,’ Rhi says, taking hold of my other arm and dragging me backwards.

I feel tears of frustration beating at me and, for the first time in my life, I want to take a swing at my mother. Pain rises up inside, demanding I hit something, even the much-loved cousin-sister saving me from certain doom.

Rhi’s mouth is at my ear whispering. The buzz in my brain makes it hard to hear, but she keeps repeating the same phrase so eventually I catch it. ‘Not this way, cuz. Pick ya battles.’

I relax back into her and she wraps her arms around me, holding tight. It doesn’t stop the evil glare I give my mother, but the woman unwisely ignores it and gets into the car. Pop is already settled in the front seat, eyeing us with suspicion. Mum is so used to me being the good one, the one she doesn’t have to worry about, that she never even questions my sudden calm.

All the mob drive past casting me sorry looks and I stay put, making sure they all see me and know how unfair she’s being.

The silence in the house is even more depressing somehow. Mum has been back hours. She walked in and went straight to bed, letting me know how successful the trip had been. Everyone else gave us a full run-down of what happened, then went off to their places or where they’re crashing for the night. Aunty Mel went to take care of her other kids, leaving Rhi and me sitting at the back, staring at the sky. The moon is weak and the stars are out. It seems wrong that they’re so beautiful when everything else feels so dark.

‘I got a idea,’ Rhi offers.

‘Oh no,’ I moan.

‘You don’t even know what it is yet.’

‘Yeah, but I’m not gonna like it or you’d have said it before.’

Rhi giggles. ‘Yer ay.’

‘Gorn then, out with it.’

She takes a deep breath. ‘Troy knows somethin, but he’s not sayin.’

‘Yeah and?’

‘Maybe if he’s lookin straight at his guilt he’ll admit what he’s done.’

‘What the fuck does that mean? Just spit it out already.’

‘God, you’re a cranky bitch! Fine. I think if we dress you up like Laney, sneak you into his room and tell a few lies, he’ll squeal.’

The stars lose my interest as I look at her, tilting my head and frowning hard.

‘What?’ she demands.

‘Just tryin ta figure out if you’re a genius or mad as a cut snake.’

Rhi grins. ‘Definitely a genius.’