‘Quick – hide behind the door. If I can keep them out of the kitchen, they won’t find you.’ Lewis sounded scared, but bravely went into the room where Pete tried to rouse his mother.

‘Does she ever do anything other than sleep?’ Neil asked Pete.

‘Wake up, Sally; we need a drink, something strong!’ Pete shouted.

‘Don’t push her. She had a bad night.’ Lewis tried to protect his mother but Pete laughed and dragged Sally off the couch onto the hard bare floor. She woke up with a puzzled expression on her face. Her son helped pull her to her feet and she turned to Pete.

‘Have you got the money?’ she asked.

‘Some of it, but the bastard tried to get away with short-changing us. I’ve given him two more days and added another ten grand as a little sweetener for us.’ His last phrase made Pete smile; he appeared proud to have increased the amount. ‘You’ll have to look after the brat for a while longer, Sal. Now get me a drink, a proper one too.’

‘I’ll get it.’ Lewis jumped in front of his mother to stop her from going into the kitchen.

‘Get out of the way,’ Pete yelled, ‘and let the woman do her job.’

Sally obediently went into the kitchen where she came face to face with Danny who was trying to hide in an impossibly small corner.

‘What the...’ Her reaction brought Pete dashing into the kitchen.

He saw Danny crouching behind the door. ‘Who the hell let him out?’ He was furious and raised his arm to strike Sally.

Lewis dashed in front of his mother. ‘No, don’t. I let him out; it’s my fault.’ The blow aimed at Sally was swiftly redirected to him. He fell to the floor, banging his head on the corner of the table. As Lewis struggled to his feet, a trickle of blood ran down the side of his face. There was a stunned silence for a moment then Sally pulled her son towards her, holding him protectively.

Pete turned and glared at Danny. ‘Get back upstairs. Now!’ He took a swipe at Danny which missed its target as the terrified boy sprinted back upstairs. He dropped onto the mattress and sobbed, trembling and blinking rapidly to clear the tears that streamed down his cheeks.