‘It’s all about what’s in your hand. You could have a straight flush, a full house, four of a kind...’ Lewis droned on about poker but Danny couldn’t concentrate. How could they play cards, especially a game which sounded so complicated, when they might both die tomorrow?

‘I don’t want to play cards,’ Danny admitted. ‘I can’t think properly anymore.’

Lewis looked at the boy sitting next to him. Danny’s narrow shoulders were hunched and there was a dejected look on his face. ‘Aw come on, Dan. What about snap – you don’t have to think much about that.’

When Danny didn’t answer, Lewis asked, ‘What d’you wanna do then?’ Danny shook his head as a fat tear rolled down his cheek. Both boys were silent until Lewis spoke again.

‘Do you want me to go downstairs?’

‘No, stay please. I’m scared, Lewis – what if my parents haven’t got the money – or if something goes wrong when they hand it over to Pete?’

‘Nothing’ll go wrong, don’t be so soppy. You’ll go back to your rich parents and I’ll have a bit of cash... for a while anyway.’ Lewis’s words were of no comfort to Danny and there was little conviction in his tone.

‘Could you just forget to bolt the door when you go out so I can at least try to escape?’ Danny ventured to ask.

‘But the downstairs doors are locked too, remember? If Mum has a key, she’s not letting on and can you imagine what Pete would do if he found you’d got away?’ Lewis looked scared – the bruising on his face was a testament to the kind of pain the man could inflict.

‘Sorry, you’re right. The best way’s still to convince your mum to come with us. Could you have another go at persuading her? She seems to listen to what you say?’

‘I’ll try again, but she’s terrified of Pete. He’s knocked her about so many times...’

‘Then isn’t this a chance to escape from him? Please, Lewis, try again.’

With a sigh, Lewis went back downstairs to talk to his mother. Danny expected to hear the bolts slide into place, but there was nothing. Had Lewis forgotten, or was he doing as Danny had asked?

19

DAY 3

Danny lost track of time. His head was pounding and his stomach growled. He longed for a drink of water; his mother always drank water when she had a headache. She said it was caused by dehydration.

Lewis hadn’t bolted the door and hadn’t returned with any good news for Danny either. He knew this could be his last chance of escape and he had to think it through carefully – use the opportunity wisely.