Another person up with the larks was Frankie’s cellmate, Babs. They had had a heart to heart the previous night and Frankie had begged her to see sense.

‘Look, if I can tell the truth about what Jed did to my grandad, then you can do the same, Babs. Let me have a word with DI Blyth for you, she’s a nice lady and I know she’ll try and help you. My dad will get you a good brief. He’ll be so glad to be back in my good books after what he’s done, he’ll do anything I ask him to. Do it for your children. Matilda will get over all that shit being brought up in court and I’m sure she’d rather tell the truth than not be able to live with her mum for years to come. Also I’m a selfish cow and when I get out of this shit-hole, I need you to be out in the real world with me. We can even get a flat or house together if you want, mate?’

Babs had spent the whole night mulling Frankie’s words over in her mind. She hated the thought of making Matilda relive what that paedophile Peter had done to her, but was that any worse than missing seeing her daughter growing up into a young woman? She missed her children dreadfully and every time Matty and Jordan visited her, it broke her heart when they left. Babs got up, walked over to Frankie’s bed and shook her.

‘What time is it?’ Frankie asked dazed.

‘It’s time I told the truth, sweet child.’

Georgie O’Hara was having one of her little tantrums. Two things had already upset her this morning. Her dad hadn’t come home last night and he had promised to take her and Harry out for the day, and now her nan had just informed her that she was starting a new school the following week.

‘I hate school. Don’t wanna go!’ Georgie screamed. She had originally started school in September the previous year, when she had been living in Wickford with her mum and dad, and she had despised every minute of it. Georgie loved outdoor life and being stuck in a classroom day in, day out, did not suit her adventurous nature one little bit.

Alice put Georgie’s breakfast in front of her and crouched down next to her granddaughter. ‘You have to go, Georgie girl. Daddy’s solicitor promised that judge you saw in court that you would go back to school. If you don’t, Daddy will get into trouble and you and Harry might be taken away from us and forced to live elsewhere.’

‘Can I go to school, Nanny?’ Harry asked innocently.

‘Yes, when you’re older. Now eat your breakfast, Georgie,’ Alice ordered, as she stood up.