‘You can’t go back inside. I’ve signed you out for good. Just come and see the care home. I’m sure you’ll change your mind.’

‘I do not – want to go – into a care home!’ she yelled at the top of her voice. ‘I have a home of my own!’

The taxi driver turned to stare at them in shock but she didn’t care. She tried to open the car door and get out, but Mary prevented her, holding her hands away from it as easily as if she were a naughty child.

‘Carry on, driver,’ Mary called.

‘Stay here, driver!’ Elise shouted.

‘The old lady don’t want to go.’

‘She’s a bit under the weather, not thinking straight. Carry on.’

‘I’m not under the weather, or under anything else,’ Elise cried. ‘She’s tricked me into this taxi, but you’ll have to drag me screaming into the place at the other end, I promise you, Ali.’

After another moment’s hesitation, he set off, but she saw his eyes reflected in the extra-big rear-view mirror. He was watching her carefully and looking worried. Was there any chance of getting him on her side? She forced herself to speak slowly and calmly, pleading with Mary not to do this to her but take her home.

‘I’ll call the police,’ she threatened in the end.

‘And tell them what? That I’m looking after you? Anyhow, I’ve got your enduring power of attorney, so I have a right to make suitable arrangements and they won’t even try to stop me.’

‘What? But we only set that up during the recent emergency.’

‘It’s not called a lasting power of attorney for nothing. “Enduring” means lasting, Auntie. You gave that power to me and my sister for emergencies and I consider this to be one, so I’m afraid we’ll have to override you, for your own good. You’ll be glad we did this once you’ve settled in and made a few friends.’

‘I’ll never be glad and I’ll find a way to escape from that horrible place, see if I don’t.’

‘And go where?’ Mary smiled triumphantly. ‘That big old house is simply not suitable for an elderly woman, as your fall down the stairs proved. We’ve already started sorting things out and called in an estate agent to value it. He thinks it’ll sell quickly. Once you’re in the care home, we’ll go ahead and put it on the market. You won’t have anywhere else to go.’

Elise heard the taxi driver’s breath hiss into his mouth at this and a quick glance showed him to be shaking his head disapprovingly. She forced herself to start crying, something she normally despised.

Her niece ignored her, exuding triumph and righteousness.

But the driver continued to watch them.

Elise had never felt so helpless and afraid. The more she thought about it, the more real the sobbing became. What was she going to do? They were going to lock her away and would probably forget about her once she was inside.