Danny thought Lewis’s mum wasn’t an unattractive woman but would look much better if she did something with her hair and perhaps wore a little make-up like his mother did. This woman’s clothes were worn and shabby and needed a good wash, as did Lewis’s, signs that the two of them lived such a vastly different life to Danny’s own; he’d never met anyone quite like them before. It wouldn’t be easy but Danny had to try once more to persuade her to help him escape.

Lewis’s mother was clearly annoyed that her son was again allowing the captive downstairs and she shot her son an angry look.

‘Dan wants to talk to you. Please, Mum, just listen?’

Danny took a deep breath, he could only repeat what he’d said before. ‘I know you’re scared of Pete, but if you let me go, you and Lewis can come with me. My parents will pay you well and you’ll be able to go away somewhere to make a new start. Please, let me go. I’m scared Pete might kill me.’ Danny’s eyes filled with tears, there was little else he could say to make her change her mind. Lewis looked expectantly at his mother while she turned her face away, chewing on a fingernail, a deep frown set in her forehead.

‘Yeah, and the police will let me off with just a slap on the wrist? No way. Pete says I’m as involved as he is – and so is Lewis.’

‘But I’ll tell them you didn’t do anything and you were both prisoners here too. It’s true – if you can’t get out – if you don’t have a key you’re as trapped as me.’

Sally glanced at her son as if seeking advice; her eyes wouldn’t meet Danny’s gaze.

‘Do you have a key, Mum? Can we get out if we want to?’ Lewis asked. His mother remained silent. She moved over to the window but there was nothing to see except darkness.

‘Best if we don’t let him go, son. Pete’ll find us if we cross him, and then heaven help us. It’ll be all over tomorrow so just go back upstairs, and Lewis, bolt the door.’

Once back upstairs, Lewis entered the room with Danny and became all bluster again.

‘Just one more night then. Tell you what, I’ve got a pack of cards in me pocket, wanna play poker?’

‘I don’t know how. I’ve never played poker before.’

‘You’re kidding. It’s about time you learned then.’ As Lewis shuffled the cards, and rather expertly too, Danny thought, he started to outline the rules.