‘I’m a nobody, whatever. I just can’t believe you told your dad.’

Silence, not for long, but any time not talking was a lot for Annie. ‘I wanted to help. I knew he’d know how.’

‘You told him me specifically or a friend?’

Another, sick-making pause. ‘I said a friend, but he assumed I meant me. I had to be more specific so he’d calm down. I’m sorry.’

Lena had never met Annie’s dad, didn’t know what kind of man to imagine. A rich man, sure. Expensive suit and haircut, clean, perfectly fitting shoes. A man who took time to listen to his daughter talk about a friend, to give advice. But then what? Did he put it all from his mind and return to his newspaper? Talk over the dangers of the smartphone age with his younger kids? Or did he lock his office door and type in her name? He might have. Get the goods before they disappear forever. Only fair.

‘Leen? He won’t tell anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about. He’s decent like that. And, listen, his advice is good. It’s a real solution, you know? I’m going to text you the details, okay?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Yeah? And if you want I can come with you to the appointment or whatever you need.’

‘Okay. Thanks.’

‘You’re okay? Really?’

‘’Course. Thanks. I’ll let you know how I go.’

On the main road, she walked until she reached a strip of four vacant shops. Under the awning, back pressed against the graffitied glass, she pressed call on the number Annie had sent. Pressed cancel right away. Was this how Will felt when he had to call Mum and tell her he’d been arrested? Ashamed and guilty but also furious at the fucking unfairness.

She called again and, before she could cancel, a woman answered with the name of the company. Lena fumbled her way through a version of her nightmare, speaking as quietly as she could in case any passers-by caught a hint and moved closer. The woman listened without interruption and then offered to set up a meeting with the company’s head of removals.

‘Removals? So he’ll get rid of the bloke who did this to me?’

‘He takes care of online removals. We don’t do real world ones.’ Her tone was flat; Lena couldn’t tell if she was continuing the joke or missing it. After confirming that there’d be no fee for the consultation, she made an appointment for that afternoon, started the long walk to Central. There wasn’t enough on her travel card for a bus and a train and, besides, she had nothing else to do, nowhere else to go.