‘I think we may safely assume that the items Gina sold were sent to her by James Stellion and that the parcel the police said they had found addressed to Gina in his lodgings was far from the first he was to send to her. If Gina has behaved badly, then James Stellion is a disgrace, using her to sell on stolen goods. She’s just a lass and knows nowt of the world, whereas he’s older and has the benefit of education and opportunity.’

‘But Gina’s been that stupid I could shake her,’ snapped Ellen. ‘She knows right from wrong – or was brought up to. Now I don’t know what she believes.’

‘If James Stellion walked in here now, I’d knock him down,’ Tom said fiercely, then added: ‘But we need to keep clear heads and think if there’s owt we can do with what we’ve learned.’

‘The right thing to do would be to give this exercise book to the police, wouldn’t it?’ said Ellen. ‘They will want to trace the jewellery and give it back to its proper owners, if they can. But I don’t think they’d be interested in the book of spells.’

‘Me neither. It was right there on the shelf if they wanted to look at it when they were here. I’ll take the exercise book to the police station this afternoon.’

‘Uncle Tom, I’d really like to find Gina, if I can, before the police do, and try to understand why she’s been up to no good – what with trying out spells and selling stolen stuff. I’m worried that she’ll put herself in some terrible danger with all her wrong-thinking, but if she’d just listen to me and see sense I can mebbe help her.’

‘But this might be evidence, and it could lead to the stolen things being recovered, love. I have to hand it over, though I think those two policemen are pretty useless that they didn’t find it themselves.’

Ellen sighed. ‘You’re right, of course. But I’ll just copy down a few of the entries and try to follow them up, just to see if this is really what we think it is. These fellas may remember summat Gina said that could help us find her.’

Tom thought hard for a few moments. ‘Yes, Nell. We’re only guessing so far, though I reckon we’re right. You do that, but don’t go by yourself.’

‘No fear, Uncle Tom. I’d be terrified in case they were ruthless criminals.’

‘I’ll go with you.’

‘No, I’ll copy out a few entries and you take the notebook to the police straight away then. I’ll ask Ed if he’ll go with me this afternoon, but I promise I won’t go alone.’