Danny would have liked them to become friends, but he knew realistically there was no chance of that ever happening. They lived in two such different worlds. Lewis stood up and reached down to pull Danny to his feet and the two boys went back to the other room. As they passed Sally, Danny looked into her eyes, pleading silently to this woman he felt was his last hope of escape. She turned away, unable to meet his eyes and went back downstairs where she didn’t have to look at Danny or her son.

The boys sat side by side on the mattress. Danny sniffed and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. ‘So – do you know what’s happening tomorrow?’

‘Only that Pete and Neil are meeting with your dad to get the money. They said it’d be early and they’d come straight back here.’

‘And are you sure they’ll let me go?’ Danny’s voice wavered.

‘Course they will. What else would they do with you?’

‘They might kill me. You said they had a gun.’

‘Why would they kill you once they have the money? You haven’t seen them so can’t tell the police anything – and you won’t tell ’em about me and Mum either, will you?’

‘No, of course not, I don’t want you to get into trouble.’ Danny meant it. Lewis was his friend – he wouldn’t grass on him.

‘Look, I’m going downstairs to get something to eat. I’ll bring you something up soon, okay?’

Danny nodded and watched his friend go out of the room. He didn’t bolt the door again but Danny knew there was nowhere to run.

About half an hour later, Lewis returned and Danny realised just how hungry he was. The food was another slice of the pie they’d had previously and it wasn’t any better for keeping. Danny ate quickly and then gulped down the milky tea.

‘Hungry, are you?’ Lewis was laughing at him.

‘Yes, aren’t you? You never seem to eat much.’

‘Nah, I never eat much. Some days we have nothing at all unless I “borrow” something from the nearest shop.’ Lewis grinned. ‘Mum prefers a smoke and a can to eating. Says it helps her to keep her figure.’

Danny couldn’t understand this boy who’d become his friend. He lived a strange life and wasn’t afraid to steal when necessary. He did his best to look after his mother and he’d looked after him too. Lewis seemed to genuinely care about people and Danny knew his ordeal would have been much worse had Lewis not been there to help him through it.