‘How do you know? If your mum’s only taken up with him recently you don’t know what he’s done in the past. Kidnapping’s almost as serious as murder and we might all end up dead anyway.’ Danny thought that persuading this boy and his mother to help him was his only chance of escape. ‘Ask your mum, please,’ he begged.

Lewis got up slowly and still chewing the stale bread said, ‘Okay. Come down with me an’ we’ll ask her together.’

Danny almost ran to the door. If only he could persuade Lewis’s mother to help, he knew his parents would give them whatever they asked and his dad was a barrister – he could help them if there was trouble with the police.

If Danny thought Lewis’s face looked a mess, his mother’s was even worse. Her bottom lip was swollen and congealing blood held together a painful-looking cut. Her right cheek was red and grazed and her eye was turning black, like her son’s.

She frowned at the boys. ‘Lewis, what the hell do you think you’re doing? You know he’s not supposed to come down here – if they get back and find him we’ll be in even more trouble.’ Her voice held a distinct tremor.

‘He’s got something to ask you, Mum.’ Lewis turned to Danny.

‘I, um... I don’t know how much they’re giving you to look after me, but if you help me to escape, my parents will give you much more... and they’ll help you with any trouble from the police. My dad’s a barrister. He knows about such stuff.’ Danny didn’t know if he’d said enough. He wasn’t used to trying to persuade people to do things.

Lewis’s mum stared at him, her mouth open. ‘And do you know what Pete would do to me if I let you go?’

Danny could imagine. ‘But he’ll go to prison and you can have more money than Pete would give you. My dad will sort it all out – he’s good at that kind of thing.’

Lewis’s mum shook her head. ‘No, I can’t take the risk. You think the police will just let me get away after I’ve been helping Pete? Well it’s not that easy – it’s so much more complicated.’ She turned away but Danny wouldn’t give in, this could be his only chance. He moved to face her again – tears in his eyes from genuine fear.