Having learned from Lottie that her mother was in Blackburn Infirmary, Jack lost no time in rushing to be with her.

Anxious for her money, Lottie had followed him. ‘I’ve taken you right to where she is, and now I want my dues,’ she whined. Nothing he could say would shake her off his trail.

‘Keep on the way you are,’ he said, ‘and you may well live to regret it.’

‘Oh, and what’s that supposed to mean. Gonna murder me, are yer?’ She took an involuntary step backwards.

Amazed, Jack laughed out loud. ‘Good God! I might be guilty of some shady deals in my time, but murder isn’t one of them. All I’m trying to say is this: you seem to have no sense of shame. What you’re doing now is tantamount to blackmail but, worse than that, you’ve betrayed your own two parents. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’ve no qualms where your dad is concerned, but I think your mother deserves better consideration than you’ve shown her.’

‘Huh! I suppose you think I’ve sold her out?’ In fact, that was exactly what she had done, and she knew it.

‘Your words, not mine,’ he answered wryly.

Lottie was not easily shamed. ‘Give me the money an’ I’ll be on my way.’

‘You’re going down a hard road,’ he warned sombrely.

His words were wasted. ‘What I do is none of your business, mister! As for betraying my dad, he’s just rubbish. I don’t want advice from you or anybody else. All I want is my money. I’ve kept my side of the bargain. Now it’s your turn!’

Shaking his head, Jack felt in the back pocket of his trousers and drew out a handful of half-crowns. ‘That should do it.’ Planting the cash into her open palm, he began to walk up the infirmary steps.

Dogmatic as ever, Lottie followed him. ‘Hey, mister, you’re a liar! You said you didn’t have no more money on yer.’

Turning, he smiled. ‘Lies,’ he answered, ‘from one rogue to another. Now clear off. And you’d better not be leading me a dance!’

‘I’m not. Me mam’s in there all right, just like I told yer.’ With that she went off, quietly singing and counting her money.

Taking the steps two at a time, Jack strode into the reception area, where he made straight for the nurse at the desk. ‘Amy Tattersall,’ he said. ‘Can you tell me which ward she’s in?’

Regarding him with some surprise, the nurse answered warily, ‘She is in the Martha Grant Ward. But it’s too early for visiting, I’m afraid. Are you a relative?’

Playing it safe, Jack decided not to answer. ‘She was brought in earlier today.’ Fearful he might be sent away, his heart sank to his boots. ‘I must see her. I have to be sure she’s all right.’

‘Well, I dare say I could turn a blind eye for five minutes, but no more.’

‘Thank you, nurse.’ He turned to find the ward, but was stopped in his tracks.