Kevin laughed and got to his feet. ‘Do you really think the justice system bothers me? I’ve done more time in jail, love, than you’ve had hot dinners. I’ll do what I have to to protect my son. Second Chance, my arse. It’s like a young offenders’ school this is and not somewhere I want my lad to come.’

Tina had heard enough and couldn’t wait to see the back of him. As Kevin made his way to the door she stood up and walked slowly behind him.

‘Goodbye then,’ Kevin muttered.

Tina didn’t waste her breath replying, just stood watching him walk down the corridor towards the exit. ‘Fucking tosser,’ she muttered to herself. ‘And he has the cheek to call this school a waste of a space; he needs to look closer at himself that one does.’

Chapter Thirty

Tina stood waiting, stressed. The rain was pounding the pavements and dark grey clouds hung low from the sky like a dull blanket of despair. Rita should have been here ten minutes ago. Where the hell was she? Tina checked her watch again. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and was just about to make a call when she spotted the large figure trudging towards her. She backed into the shadows of the night and waited anxiously. The park was quiet tonight and there wasn’t a soul about. An eerie silence broken only by the sound of footsteps. She stepped out from the darkness. Rita smiled expectantly, standing with one hand on her hip. Her hood was pulled over her head, and a woolly scarf that had seen better days was wound round her neck so that only her eyes were clearly visible.

‘Bleeding hell, it’s chucking it down. I don’t know why we had to meet here, we could have just met near school, instead of me getting piss-wet through. Anyway, just give me the money and I’ll be off.’

Tina’s eyes seemed different, vacant. She stepped closer to Rita. ‘Why are you such a nasty bitch? Amelia is in trouble and all you are thinking about is filling your pockets. How on earth do you sleep at night?’

Rita backed off. ‘I don’t sleep because I have no home. I lie awake every night wondering where my next meal is coming from. I’ve not got the cushy desk job, nice house and husband to run back to like you. I’ve had to work my arse off all my life and still I’ve got nothing, I’ve lost it all. Do you know how it feels to have nothing?’