With her eyes wide, Franny continued to talk, not hearing Alfie’s apology as she was consumed by her own thoughts and feelings. ‘Though what she does think – and it’s only a guess, but it’s the only kind of lead she’s got – she thinks Mia was taken by … well that guy.’

Puzzled, Alfie asked, ‘What guy?’

‘Charlie’s father. Barry Eton.’

Alfie couldn’t have looked more surprised if he tried. The minute he’d known the letters were from Franny he’d no doubt ruled that out. To him, Barry Eton was out of the picture when it came to Mia. ‘That’s impossible, Fran. Why would he do that? No way.’

Franny, knowing much more than Alfie, vehemently shook her head, terror painted across her face. ‘It’s not though. Listen, I’ve found something out. I think Mia’s been sold.’

Again, Alfie looked surprised. ‘Hold on, hold on, what are you talking about? All this is news to me. Why would you or your mate think Mia has been sold? What the hell’s going on?’

Feeling cornered and hating all the questions, Franny snapped, ‘I just do okay, I just do. It ain’t a coincidence that Barry has been released and Mia goes missing.’

Still in shock at the suggestion, Alfie took hold of Franny gently. ‘You’re grasping at straws, darlin’. I know you’re worried, but unless you have any reason to believe he took her, which you haven’t, then it’s madness to think that. You’ve got to try to calm down, babe. It really is crazy.’

Her frustration at not being able to tell him about Ma turned to anger. After all, she was privy to the fact that Barry Eton was also Ma’s father, and Shannon’s grandfather, so it wasn’t too unreasonable to think that Ma had sold Mia to Barry or at least one of Barry’s friends – she’d admitted she knew people in that kind of world – but Franny’s problem was trying to make Alfie understand without telling him the truth. She screamed at Alfie again, ‘Why is it? Why is it such an extreme thing to say? Go on, tell me, why? Charlie lives here, so Barry still has a connection to this area.’

‘Fran, sweetheart, stop. Just listen to me. Sshhhh, just calm down and listen … Charlie doesn’t have anything to do with him.’

Franny’s eyes flashed with anger. ‘You’d be surprised what people don’t tell you, Alf.’

Irritated himself now, and the discussion of Barry putting him on edge, Alfie yelled, ‘What the fuck is that supposed to mean? What is that supposed to fucking mean?’