Tom finished moving the bales and then helped take the table back to the library. He went to sort out the placards while Maggie had a final chat to Christine. She was walking back down the alleyway when she saw two figures jostling halfway down. One of them was Tom. She quickened her pace but made sure she was light on her feet so as not to alert them.

‘I’m sick of telling you to keep away, Harris,’ said the one on the right as he shoved Tom in the chest. She knew now how Colin felt when the rage consumed him. Within seconds she was between the two of them.

‘Leave him alone,’ she shouted.

The aggressor started to laugh. ‘Shitting hell. Who’s this? Super gran?’

‘Leave her out of it, Kemp,’ said Tom, before leaning into Maggie’s ear. ‘He’s not worth it.’

‘Oh, I know he’s not,’ she said. ‘Get your phone out,’ she added in a whisper. ‘I know who you are,’ she said to Kemp.

‘Who’s that then?’ Kemp was still looking entertained.

‘You’re the scum who stole my bag.’

‘What?’ said Tom.

‘Prove it, old woman,’ said Kemp, no longer looking amused.

‘I recognise your voice,’ she said. ‘I just need to call the police and—’

Kemp reared up over Maggie. ‘You don’t want to do that,’ he said his voice almost a snarl.

‘Why ever not?’ asked Maggie, standing her ground, her shoulders back and her chin held high.

‘Seriously. Leave it. You’ll get hurt,’ said Tom, fiddling with his phone.

‘You should listen to Harris.’

‘I was talking to you, Kemp,’ said Tom.

‘You’ve had fair warning,’ said Maggie, raising a fist.

Kemp snorted a laugh. ‘It will literally be the last thing you do,’ he said reaching out and grabbing Maggie around the throat.

What happened next happened like it was on fast forward. Within seconds Kemp was lying on the ground clutching his ribs while blood poured from his nose.

Maggie leaned over Kemp’s crumpled figure. ‘And we got that on videotape. So unless you want the police to see you assaulting me or even better your cronies seeing me kick your backside, you need to straighten yourself out. Got it?’

‘Harris! I want that deleted!’ yelled Kemp.

‘Don’t you dare go after him,’ snapped Maggie. ‘Because if you do the rest of my family will beat you to a pulp. Got it?’ Maggie’s voice had an edge to it and her lie was convincing. Kemp swallowed hard. ‘All we want is the muggings to stop. As long as there’s no more, this video will never be released. One more mugging and…’

‘Okay. I get it,’ said Kemp, shuffling himself upright and inspecting the blood dripping down his clothes.