Franny ran frantically through the rain and wind, heading towards Ma’s mobile home, knowing that she had to get to her before Alfie did. She remembered her way from when she’d come before, and she hoped for her sake that Alfie was still well behind.

Seeing the pink door of Ma’s caravan coming into sight, Franny ran faster, charging through the mud, fear and dread crushing her.

At the door she gave a quick check over her shoulder, making sure Alfie wasn’t in sight before she began to hammer on the door and on the sides of the caravan.

‘Ma! Ma! Open up! For fuck’s sake, open up!’ Hearing nothing coming from inside, Franny kicked the lock, raising her foot and smashing it down, trying to force the door open. But it didn’t budge and, desperate, she tried again to open it, this time slamming her shoulder against the door. ‘Ma, it’s Franny! Ma, if you’re in there, open up! Please!’

As she raised her foot to kick the door again, it suddenly swung open, and there standing in front of her wearing a flowered blue dressing gown, holding a metal baseball bat, was Ma Dwyer.

Without hesitating, Franny pushed inside, shutting and locking the door quickly behind her. ‘Ma, you’ve got to help me.’

Ma’s bemusement turned into a cackle. ‘Help you? You must’ve lost the fucking plot.’

Franny’s eyes were wide open with fear. She spoke quickly and breathlessly. ‘Please, because any minute now, Alfie will be at that door looking for you. He wants to know about Mia.’

Ma raised her eyebrows. She sniffed and sounded amused. ‘Well that will be an interesting conversation, won’t it? Shall I go and put the kettle on?’

Franny grabbed Ma by her dressing gown. ‘This isn’t funny!’

Ma glared at her, full of hostility. ‘If I were you, I’d let go, especially if you want me to listen to what you have to say.’

Franny dropped her hold and began to pace, talking in an agitated manner. ‘You’ve got to help me. You’ve just got to, and you owe me. You hear me, Ma? You owe me.’

Ma roared with laughter. ‘And how do you make that one out?’

Red with fury, Franny spun on Ma. ‘Because you knew that I was coming for Mia that day. None of this would be happening if it wasn’t for you. I could’ve been gone, I could’ve been out of here, but no, you wanted to play games, even though you knew I was good for the money, you let her go.’

‘You were late!’

Franny’s face curled up in a snarl as she held herself back from attacking Ma. ‘I got here as quick as I could.’

‘Not quick enough though!’