‘Lucky I know someone who might do it pro bono, then. Good bloke; I’ve done some work with him. I’ll set up a meeting, but one of you is going to have to do the heavy lifting because this baby is my priority, not some mucky revenge plan. But here, let me tell you this – none of you are going to fuck this up, OK? I’m not having you putting me under any more stress. I want you all to remember who he hurt the most with all of this, and who you could hurt the most if you start acting the goat. Me, and my little girl. His daughter. Debbie is thirteen years old and she’s the one with the most at stake here. I don’t want anybody disclosing our identity. I don’t want any of you getting loose-lipped one stoned night and spilling out any information. I am going to need assurance from every single one of you that you are going to act properly and responsibly, hear me? Smallest sign of mucking about and I’m walking and taking your case with you. This is life or death. Take it more seriously than anything you ever have in your life. All right? All right.’

They nodded at her, silent and huge-eyed, like her problem-kids group did when she’d had to lose it at them. Even though Clio opened her mouth, she closed it again.

That night, in bed, she wept into the pillow until Dale woke up, rolled round and curled into her.

‘Hey. Come on now, Sam. Hey.’

‘The fuck am I doing, baby? Am I putting my own need to see that bastard punished before my daughter’s welfare? I mean, what the hell is Debbie going to get out of all this?’

‘Do you want to stop it? Cos we can stop it, love. You just walk away right now and it ends here.’

She thought about that.

‘I can’t. It doesn’t. It won’t, though, will it? It’s not going to let me go now.’

From then on the days bore into her; she felt each one physically. She grew hefty, her hips and feet forced outwards, duck-like, as she walked the pavement, the weight of everything almost too much if she thought about it.