Still feeling disorientated and stunned, Jenny gazed up at Stan and nodded. It was only then she took in the scene. The two men were pushed against the wall, hands tied behind their backs with belts and surrounded by her friends and neighbours. And Matt? Oh, dear God! He was being supported by Fred, blood spreading in a dark stain down his sleeve and across his chest. He was a terrible grey colour.

‘Oh, you shouldn’t have tried to rescue me on your own.’ She stumbled over to him, but he didn’t seem to know what was going on. ‘Please get him to a hospital!’

‘We’ll take him to St Thomas’s.’ Stan got in the front of Matt’s car and Fred in the back with the badly injured man.

Jenny tried to get in the car as well, but Fred shook his head. ‘No, Jen, you stay here. The coppers might want to talk to you.’

Glad appeared and put her arm around Jenny. ‘Ma’s asking for you. She’s heard the commotion.’

Jenny was torn between Ma and Matthew. Who should she be with? Both, but that wasn’t possible. She turned in circles, agitated because she didn’t know what to do. The decision was made for her as Stan drove away.

She watched them disappear up the street, relieved that they had been around to help Matthew. ‘Why aren’t Fred and Stan at the market?’ she asked Glad.

‘Business was slow this morning, so they popped home for a bite to eat. And a good job they did.’ Glad put her arm around Jenny, who was now shaking.

Jimmy arrived back, gasping for breath after running. ‘The coppers are on their way, and I’ve told Mrs Stannard.’

Before the police arrived, Jenny wanted some answers. She walked over and faced her attackers, anger out of control. The two men had taken a beating, she saw, and that was no more than they deserved. They had stabbed Matt. He might die. There wasn’t an ounce of compassion in her for these villains. ‘What did you want with me?’ When they didn’t answer she raised her fist and the man who had spoken flinched. The last thing he obviously wanted was another punch in the face. His lip was cut, one eye was closed, and it looked as if his nose was broken. Even a woman could add to his pain now. ‘Tell me!’

‘A bloke called Greaves gave us twenty quid to take you to him.’

Greaves? Her hand dropped to her side in surprise. ‘What on earth for?’

‘Dunno.’

A car pulled up with Luke driving and Mrs Stannard sitting beside him, deathly pale. ‘Where have they taken Matt?’ she asked, her voice trembling.

‘St Thomas’s.’ Ron leant on the window and explained briefly, then stepped back as the car sped off.

‘Jen.’ Glad touched her arm. ‘Come on, Ma’s worried.’