“The polis? No way. They hate the Pakis. They’re just scared of being called racists.”

“So you never had anything to do with policemen on the Strip?”

“No way.”

“Nobody ever asked you to have sex with them, or anything?”

“Like, yuk, no.”

“OK. So you think Sunny or his mates followed their cousins towards Dewsbury and when Mimsy got kicked out, they killed her?”

“It must’ve been like that.”

“Maybe,” said Gerry. “But how did they know the men were going to throw Mimsy out of the van? How did they know she was going to give them so much aggro they’d want to do that?”

“I don’t know,” said Jade. “Maybe they’d arranged it all in advance with Sunny? The route, throwing Mimsy out. I don’t know. I’ve told you what I know. You’re the copper, you work it out.”

“Jade, will you come back to Eastvale with me and tell my boss what you’ve just told me?”

But Gerry could sense Jade stiffening and withdrawing into herself. “No way,” she said. “No. It’s not safe.”

“But surely it’s safer than staying around here? We can help you.”

“As long as they don’t know about this I’ll be fine. Like I said, they’ve shut down shop for now, and I know how to keep my head down. I told you, I’m leaving Wytherton for good. Don’t worry. It might not seem like it, but I can take care of myself.”

“Where will you go?”

“I’ve been thinking. I’ve got a brother fostered out down in Leicester. I don’t hardly know him, but it’s flesh and blood, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Gerry said. “You’re right about that. It’s flesh and blood.”

“Look,” said Jade, “I’m sorry to ask and all, but I’m in a jam and I don’t have any money. Do you think you could let us have a few quid, like for food and the train and stuff?”

Gerry didn’t have much, but she examined the contents of her purse with the light from her phone and pulled out three twenty-pound notes. “Will that do? Is that OK?” She turned off the light again.

“Thanks,” said Jade, and shoved the notes in her jeans pocket. “You’ve got to go now.”

“Aren’t you coming out with me?”

“I can’t risk being seen with you. I’ll wait here till you’re gone and leave through one of the other houses. I’ll be fine. Now go.”

“You’ve got my number?”