‘I’m worried that you might blow it. For all you know he might be in there with someone else, and well, if you can’t just get in and out of there without having a conversation, then I’ll do it. Think of Taylor, Alf. See sense.’

Nodding, Alfie contemplated what Franny was saying. ‘I get that, but I have to do this.’

With tension in the air, Franny grabbed hold of Alfie’s arm, her eyes imploring him. ‘But you don’t – you really, really don’t.’

Alfie stared at her. ‘What is it you’re afraid of, Fran?’

‘I’m afraid … I’m afraid you’re going to muck this up, let your emotions get the better of you.’

‘I won’t, I promise. I’ll get Taylor, and that’s all. I’ll just go in and go out, I swear, and I can deal with Barry another time. How about that?’

Knowing there was no way she was going to persuade him not to go, Franny spoke quietly. ‘Okay, okay, but no conversations, Alf, because that’s when, well that’s when it’ll all go wrong.’

‘No conversations, you have my word.’

Franny sighed as she handed Alfie the bag of the remaining money along with a small handgun. ‘Make sure you bring Taylor back safely. Nothing else.’

‘I will do, make no mistake about that. I’ll see you soon.’

Alfie walked through the long grass, using his phone as his torch. He waded through the mud and thick grass, feeling the water go into his shoes as he headed towards the abandoned air shelters and buildings of the World War II airfield.

Standing by the crumbling watchtower, and with his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Alfie looked up the field and saw a light coming from underneath one of the rusted corrugated-iron-roofed air raid shelters. Immediately he knew that was where Barry was.

He closed his eyes, lifting his face to the sky, feeling the rain fall on him as he realised not only was this a chance to get Taylor back, but it was also a chance to face up to his own nightmares. And with that thought, Alfie Jennings began to walk towards the shelter.

Coming up close to the air raid shelter, he could see there was no door, just a thick covering of hanging ivy and evergreen. He pushed the plants to one side, dipping down his body to get in as he forced himself through the knotty and twisted ivy stems.

Inside it seemed colder than out, and the roof leaked, rain dripping down from the rotting ceiling, making puddles on the concrete, which was strewn with weeds.

Alfie raised his eyes to the end and there, looking terrified, shivering as he sat on a plastic crate next to a small, portable spotlight was Taylor and by his side stood Barry Eton.