Fred and Tom passed him on the stairs. ‘Which room?’ Tom said.

‘The one with the “No Junkies” sign on it.’

The men disappeared, leaving Maisie frozen at the bottom of the stairs with the shell of a man she’d once respected crouched on a step facing her. He was sniffing and itching. ‘It’s been hard without his ma,’ Sid said, in an attempt, she guessed, to explain away the state in which she had found him and his child’s home.

‘She’s been gone a long time, Sid. It’s no excuse.’

‘I know, Maisie, I know. I’m sorry. I tried. I really did.’

She couldn’t deal with his self-pity. You did this to yourself. How could you, Sid? You’re all he has.

‘Any sign?’ she shouted up the stairs.

Fred leaned over the banister and shook his head. ‘No, Maisie, they’re not here.’ He disappeared back into Rave’s bedroom.

‘The kids are missing, Sid,’ Maisie said. ‘Do you understand?’

‘They’ll be grand. They’re big boys now. They can take care of themselves.’

‘When did you see Rave last? Please think.’

‘I dunno … Last week sometime.’

‘Last week!’

‘In case you haven’t noticed I’m outta me fuckin’ mind here, Maisie.’ He rubbed his head and a scab flew into the air.

Maisie’s stomach lurched. ‘This is no good, Sid.’

‘Don’t judge me, Maisie.’

‘Can’t help it, Sid. I’m sorry, but there’s no excuse. You’re a grown man. You knew what heroin does to a body. You knew what you were doing.’

He sniffed and rubbed his nose. ‘You never did beat around the bush, did ya, Maisie?’

‘No, Sid.’

‘Is that why he hit you?’ He looked up at her for her reaction.

‘You were always a loser, Sid, but you were kind once so I’m going to put that piece of nastiness down to drugs and let it go.’ His words had struck a chord and, for just a second, she’d let her temper get the better of her.

His eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m sorry. I’m very sorry.’ He buried his head in his hands. ‘I could do with a few quid, Maisie.’

She couldn’t spend another second in his company. ‘You’re getting nothing from me,’ she said, stepping by him and heading up the stairs.