She smiled at him then and nodded. Her curiosity and interest piqued at the offer of refreshments and by seeing people of her own age.

Arty peered at Ricky and raised his brow. Ricky saw the wink and chuckled again quietly.

Liam was giggling like a kid as he pushed Arty back out of the door so Ricky could have some privacy.

‘I’m Ricky, and you are?’

The girl sighed. ‘I’m Poppy but . . . er . . . please, don’t tell anyone, will you? They don’t know my name. They think I’m still concussed. And that’s what I want them to think. But why they’ve stuck me in front of a bloody telly, if that’s the case, is beyond me.’

Now curious, Ricky leaned closer and looked around. ‘Why are ya pretending you’re concussed? Is someone after ya, babe? Is it ya ol’ man?’

Her eyes clouded over. ‘No, a lot worse. Anyway, please . . . ’

Ricky shook his head as he studied her worried expression. ‘My lips are sealed, so don’t worry yaself. Are you okay, though? Was it just concussion?’

‘Yeah, I believe so,’ said Poppy, her eyes having a vacant look, now lost in some memory.

‘How did you get hurt?’

She snapped back to reality. ‘I got run over. I’ve broken my ankle, but apart from this bloody great lump on my cheek, I’m all right, really.’

Ricky was bemused by her posh voice and hard attitude. He loved the way she spoke, though, and even with the swelling, it didn’t detract from her very pretty bluebell-blue eyes and her dinky nose. She reminded him of a pixie or a fairy.

‘And you, Ricky? Why are you in here?’

He gave her a wry smile. ‘I was attacked, so I don’t remember much. Anyway, hey, I’m alive . . . ’ His eyes darkened. It was hard not to reflect on how he came to have his injuries when any mention of them was made.

Suddenly, Poppy blinked in surprise and her skin began to tingle in anticipation. ‘Oh my God, are you Ricky Regan?’

He nodded. ‘Yeah, I am, but how would you know me?’

Quickly, Poppy glanced over her shoulder to check the doorway. Quietly, she whispered, ‘Listen, this is really important. Please, you mustn’t tell anyone, but I’m Kendall’s sister.’

Ricky had heard of all kinds of coincidences, but this one beat them by a mile. He then studied the worried expression on Poppy’s face. ‘It’s okay, I’m not going to say anything. Listen, I’m so sorry about your sister. She was lovely. I really did like her. We only just started . . . ’

‘Yeah, yeah, I know. Maybe we’ll have time later to be sentimental. However, there’s something far more urgent and serious that concerns me right now. I need to ask you something. The man who attacked you. Did he really put a hessian sack over your head?’