Without turning, her daughter held her middle finger high in the air and stormed off. Sasha felt her anger deflate like a balloon. Nelson was still standing on her doorstep – and she took great delight in slamming the door in his face.

In the hallway, her mother’s lips were pursed in disapproval.

‘What?’

‘You were too stern,’ said Ursula.

Sasha needed to get back to work. She was frustrated and angry about her confrontation with Angel, and didn’t like the way her mum was looking at her.

‘How would you feel if I’d done that when I was a kid?’ Sasha whipped her jacket off the banister. ‘Bully a girl, turn people against her, chase her home hurling threats and abuse. You would have gone ballistic. I hate bullies, Mum, I absolutely detest them. I meet them every day at work, weak dickheads who think it’s fine to use intimidation and violence, and to find out that my own daughter…’

She covered her face with a hand, exhausted.

‘All I’m saying,’ Ursula said quietly, ‘is that shouting is not going to help. She’s a good girl, she’s your daughter. What she needs is an arm around her shoulder.’

‘And she’ll get it. When she apologizes to that poor girl.’

‘Can I have a fiver?’ asked Denny, appearing at the top of the stairs.

‘No, you can’t.’ Denny was about to slope off when Sasha asked, ‘Did you know Angel was bullying Tilly?’

Denny thought very carefully about his answer. ‘Maybe.’

‘Then why on earth didn’t you tell me?’ she said.

‘I ain’t a snitch,’ he said.

‘Be nice to your sister,’ said Sasha wearily. ‘She’s going through a difficult time at the moment.’

‘Yeah.’ Denny favoured her with the full force of his sarcasm. ‘I’ll be sure to be as nice to her as you just were.’

When Ursula retreated to the kitchen, Sasha called Kev on his mobile. He needed to know about this, he needed to get his arse in gear and get involved. But, of course, it was switched off. So instead she found his work number – she hadn’t called it in months – and phoned that.

‘Hi, is Kevin Dawson there, please?’ she asked.

‘I’m sorry, who?’ said the woman on the switchboard.

‘Kevin Dawson, he’s your Shipping Administrator.’

‘I’ll put you through.’ After a few seconds she came back on again. ‘What did you say his name was again?’

‘He’s worked there for years, but never mind.’ The woman was obviously new. ‘Can you put me through to his assistant, Madeleine Morris?’

Madeleine came on the line moments later. Sasha had met the girl at a couple of Kev’s work functions and really liked her.

‘Maddy,’ she said, ‘it’s Sasha Dawson!’

‘Oh!’ There was genuine surprise in her reaction. ‘Mrs Dawson, how are you?’

‘I’m very well, Maddy,’ she said. ‘Is my husband there?’