In these past weeks, when Molly had at first been too ill to leave the house, then later, when she had hesitantly ventured out, she had been most careful to stay well away from the wharf. Her reasons were twofold – firstly, knowing that Mick had left the area some time back, she felt it would be a sad, lonely place without him there; secondly, she had to be most careful not to show her face in places where she might be seen and recognized. Certainly she had to avoid the wharf, if only because of the fact that Marlow Tanner was a regular figure there; Marlow Tanner meant Emma Tanner, and Emma Tanner meant the Justice Crowther! Her blood ran cold at the very thought of him. Especially now, since she had been forced to flee Liverpool. She had not forgotten (how could she?) that man in the café left for dead. And she had killed him! She was more of a fugitive now than ever. There could never again be a moment’s peace.

Molly was not so much concerned with her own safety as with that of the children. So now, when Tilly made a suggestion, she was instantly tempted to reject it out of hand, but then felt compelled to consider it more carefully. ‘Oh, but Tilly… how could I leave my children behind? It’s unthinkable!’ The very idea shrank the heart inside her.

‘If you ask me, my girl, it’s the most sensible thing you can do!’ Once Tilly had made her mind up, there was little shifting her. ‘You go to London and find that job you were talking about. Get yourself a place where you can all stay together. Then come back and collect the young ’uns. They’ll be content enough here, I promise… no harm will come to them.’

Molly was mortified at the thought of what little Sal would have to say to such a suggestion. ‘Oh, I don’t know that I could leave them behind, I really don’t.’

‘Then don’t go to London… or anywhere else. Look for sommat round these parts… and I’ll help you.’ She was curious as to why Molly would even think of going to such a fearful place as London, so far away, and full o’ strangers.

‘I can’t stay round these parts, Tilly… I must get away.’ Molly’s desperation and fear betrayed itself in her voice.

‘What is it, Molly?’ Tilly had suspected for some time that Molly was hiding something, afraid, maybe even running from someone. Certainly, when she arrived here at this door some four weeks since, she had the look of a haunted soul.