Seeing the rage in Franny, Sally, becoming frightened, began to stutter her words. ‘I … I … I don’t know. I’m telling the truth!’

Overcome with emotion, Franny’s voice cracked with hysteria, rage and hurt, panic and fury rushing through her. She pulled out her gun and pressed it under Sally’s chin. ‘Then where is she? Where’s Mia?’

Petrified, Sally shook her head. ‘I don’t know … I don’t know!’

A manic look came into Franny’s eyes. ‘That’s no good to me, Sally, because I have to find her. You hear me? I have to find her so scum like you, scum like Anthony, like Barry can never, never put their hands on her. Do you understand that?’

‘Yes … yes.’

Still with the gun underneath Sally’s chin, Franny leant down and hissed, ‘Then tell me where she is, Sally.’

Sally’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I can’t tell you, because I don’t know. I don’t. I promise I don’t.’

‘Save the tears and don’t fucking insult me. Don’t insult those kids you took in, don’t insult any of us with your crocodile tears, because I don’t care, and I have never hated anyone so much in my life as I hate you right now.’ Franny paused, images of Mia flashing through her mind. She took a deep breath before saying, ‘Carry on telling me about Barry.’

Trying to regain her composure, Sally’s tone was edgy. ‘Well, it’s only recently he’s got out of prison; he hasn’t been trading long, though I’m not sure if he’s really got the money to.’

‘What do you mean?’

Sally shrugged, sighing and sounding like a woman defeated. ‘Unless you’re the middle man, which he isn’t anymore, a lot of the contacts he did have, well, he would’ve lost touch with them. Then if that happens, you have to shell out for the products – the kids – yourself, before you can sell them on. Plus, sometimes you have to pay people like me if you don’t have a buyer straightaway.’

Franny glared at Sally. ‘I was under the impression Barry did filming, streaming, rather than just buying and selling.’

‘I dunno, but if he does, he won’t be the main player. He’ll be working for someone else just to earn a few bob.’

Hating the conversation, Franny said, ‘Why doesn’t he do it himself though?’

Glancing down at her husband, Sally said, ‘Because you really have to know what you’re doing to set yourself up on the net. Of course, if you’re computer savvy then it’s easy enough and you can make yourself a fortune, but otherwise, the police will be able to track you straightaway, and I don’t think Barry wants to end up inside again.’

‘So, what’s his game?’

‘From what I understand, he wants to be a dealer.’