‘It’s the only explanation. So, as you can see, we’ve got no choice. If we go back upstairs, there’s no telling what might happen. We know the Governor’s set the gang on us. And it’s only a matter of time before Terry manages to raise the alarm. I’m fairly certain we’ll both be killed. We don’t have much time.’

‘Terry I can accept. I always thought there was something dodgy about him. But the Governor as well?’ Amber screwed up her face and shook her head.

Bailey sighed in frustration. ‘It’s true. I swear.’

‘I’m sorry, but this all just sounds a bit too far-fetched.’

‘She’s telling the truth,’ said Poppy.

‘A ringing endorsement,’ remarked Amber, drily.

‘Please give me a chance,’ said Bailey. ‘You’re not like the others. You’re better than them. That’s why I trust you. Just give me this one chance.’

‘As I recall, you were locked up for committing fraud, which means, basically, that you’re very good at deceiving people. How do I know you’re not deceiving me right now?’

‘That was just my cover story!’ blurted Bailey, feeling like she was floundering. She reflected how ironic it was that she’d conned them for so long, and yet now she was telling the truth they didn’t believe her.

‘It was pretty convincing,’ murmured Poppy, shooting her a faint sideways smile.

‘Look at it from my perspective,’ said Amber slowly. ‘If I go along with you, I could get into big trouble.’

‘I understand that,’ replied Bailey. ‘But if we don’t do something tonight, someone will die tomorrow. The killer is due to strike tomorrow. We have to get out of here through the well and inform the police so they can stop him.’

‘Look, why don’t the three of us go upstairs and sort it out up there? It’ll be fine. Even if what you say is true, they won’t dare to do anything to me.’

Bailey raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you willing to take that chance? Haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve been saying? The Governor knows I’m onto him. He can’t afford to let me live. Neither can Terry. Neither can the gang. And if they know that you know as well, who knows what they’ll do to you?’

Bailey held her breath as she waited on Amber’s judgement. She could see the cogs turning as Amber anxiously clenched her jaw trying to weigh up the ramifications of believing Bailey versus not believing her. She felt terrible for putting her in such a quandary.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Poppy give her an ever-so-subtle look as if to imply that maybe they should both jump on Amber and subdue her in much the same way they had done with Terry. Bailey gave an infinitesimal shake of the head. Not just yet…

Amber sighed in frustration.

‘On the job advert they said this job would be challenging and they were certainly right about that.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Okay, you’re sure this well is in the laundry?’