Tony turns to Penny. Moves fast like a bantamweight boxer, light on his toes. And, for a moment, his grin twists into a nasty sneer and he pushes his forehead far too close to Penny’s now fearful face. As their noses almost touch, his hands fist, briefly, before he dances away and offers a high-five to Izzy. ‘Come on, kiddo. Let’s get some tea. Then we can pick up your mum. She’ll be all like, no, no, early night! Cus we been out looking at flats and new schools and God knows what.’

Now mute with fear, Penny backs away. And as Tony saunters off with Izzy holding his hand, she scrabbles inside her bag, looped from the pushchair’s handles.

‘So what’s this new place like, Izz?’ Tony asks.

‘It’s amazing! There’s a park!’

33

Shaking from shock after the attack, amidst the cacophony of the bird cries, Jess manoeuvres the wheelchair inside the living room, then swipes open the incoming call on her phone.

‘Jess! He took Izzy! Jess, you there?’

Seeking better reception, Jess flits to the hall. ‘What you mean, he took Izzy?’ Trying to catch her breath, she drifts into the kitchen only to slump against the cupboards.

‘Just now. He was up her school. Waiting. He took her.’

Jess closes her eyes to stem the tears that want to break and roll. ‘He can’t!’ Sharpened by anxiety and fear for her daughter, Jess’s shrill tone penetrates the living room. Flo sits up straight and turns her head towards the door. Now out of her carer’s sight, she wriggles and rocks backwards and forwards like an escapologist freeing herself from ropes or chains.

Penny too is on the verge of tears. ‘I know, Jess. But I could hardly stop him. I tried, Jess. But he wouldn’t have it. He’s a fuck… Bully. And he knows, Jess. About your new place. Izz give him the address and everything.’

Jess inhales sharply and drops the phone. She bends over and places her hands upon her thighs, her arms shaking.

She raises the hand she nearly used to strike Flo and stares at it in disbelief. Absentmindedly, she moves the hand to touch the scar on her mouth.

Jess’s SOS handset beeps. Her client is on the move again.

Jess retrieves the device from her pocket. The screen indicates that Flo is nearly off the screen.

From her phone, Penny’s tiny voice blurts, ‘Jess? Jess? Can’t hear ya.’

Confused but still alert to crisis, Jess dashes to the hallway so she can peer into the living room. Her vision locks onto Flo’s empty wheelchair.