Phyllis beamed at Roz, then, seeing Suzie taking an interest in the two of them, she quickly leaned forward and spoke in a conspiratorial fashion. ‘I’d best be quick before she comes nosing. Word has it that Callum has a quick temper when he’s had a drink, so if you take my advice you’ll keep out of his way if he’s been down the pub.’

Roz nodded, then asked the question that had been preying on her mind since her first night at the Haggartys’. ‘What happened to Suzie’s mother?’

The woman’s eyes grew wide and a haunted look came over her. Looking around to make sure they weren’t being overheard, she lowered her voice. ‘Don’t know, no one does. She was there one minute, gone the next …’ Standing up, she nodded at Suzie who was finally ambling over, before hissing, ‘Like I say, he’s got a mean temper.’ Her eyes swivelled to meet Roz’s. ‘And they do live by the docks.’ She raised her eyebrows meaningfully, before breaking her gaze and addressing Suzie. ‘I’ve given your pal all I have to spare, so you can push off.’

Ignoring Mrs McGregor, Suzie addressed Roz directly. ‘Come on, I reckon that’ll do us.’ She held up some cheese which looked more like rubber, and a couple of bruised apples.

As they walked back to Crooked Lane, Suzie took the bag which Phyllis had given to Roz and peered inside. ‘Blimey!’ she breathed. ‘What did you say to get all this?’

Roz shrugged. ‘Nothing.’

Taking two of the buns, Suzie hesitated before holding one out to Roz. ‘You can have one, but only if you promise not to tell the others.’

Roz frowned. ‘She gave us four, that’s one each. Shouldn’t we wait and give them their share?’

Suzie withdrew her hand as Roz attempted to take the bun. ‘No, we damned well shouldn’t. They never give me owt if they have anything nice, so I don’t see why I should give them owt.’ She arched an eyebrow. ‘Promise?’

Roz nodded. ‘Promise.’

Satisfied, Suzie handed the bun to Roz, before taking a large bite out of the other she’d removed from the paper bag.

Roz ate the iced bun, although in truth, she’d rather have waited until she had eaten something savoury first, as eating two cakes, one after the other, was beginning to make her feel quite nauseous, not that she was about to admit that to Suzie.

When they arrived back at the docks, Callum was impressed with Roz’s efforts. ‘They obviously like a pretty young Jew,’ he said to his mother, before turning back to Roz. ‘From now on you’ll do all the askin’.’ He glanced at his daughter. ‘You still have to go along to keep an eye. She might be popular with them lot down the market, but that don’t mean we can trust her.’