Callum stood on the crowded platform. Since leaving Crooked Lane he had been living rough, but other than that nothing had changed. He still headed into the city when the sirens sounded, ready to loot houses abandoned for fear of the bombs, then flogged his wares down the Pig and Whistle. He had, however, diversified his talents, and was now pickpocketing as well. Train stations were particularly good for this; with people concentrating on when the train would arrive, they rarely paid attention to who was standing behind them.

He had been just about to slip his hand into the blazer pocket of the man in front of him when someone placed their hand over his. He turned to tell them to bugger off and mind their own business then stopped, his jaw dropping as he found himself staring at his daughter.

‘Suzie!’

Nodding, Suzie tapped the man in front of her father. ‘Keep your hands on your valuables, there are pickpockets on this platform.’

Hastily the man plunged his hands into his pockets, smiling gratefully at her. ‘Thanks for the tip.’

Suzie turned her attention back to her father, who was scowling. ‘What do you think you’re playing at?’ he hissed angrily.

‘That man probably works hard for his money, which is more than what you do!’ She gave him a scathing look as she eyed him from head to toe. ‘When was the last time you had a bath?’

He adjusted his shabby clothing, looking past her. ‘Some of us don’t have them luxuries …’ He cast an eye over her appearance. ‘I see you’ve persuaded some mug to take you in … Seeing as you’ve landed on your feet, how about you persuade them to take me in too? It could be just like the old days, you going down the market, me …’

Stunned that her father thought they could carry on as before without so much as mentioning her grandmother, Suzie spoke through pursed lips. ‘You seriously think I’d ask someone to take you in when you left your own mother to die?’ Her voice cut through the air like a knife as she continued, ‘And do you really think I’d want to go begging again, whilst you run riot robbing bomb victims of anything they have left?’ Her voice rose higher, causing several people to glance over their shoulders, but Suzie didn’t care. ‘You’re a thief, a liar, and a rotten father.’

‘At least I never beggared off like your mam did!’ snapped Callum. ‘Because despite what you think, I never done her in. If you ask me, she left because she couldn’t stand the sight of you no more and I can’t say as I blame her.’