‘Because I don’t ruddy well want to,’ Suzie butted in from the far side of the room. But Callum ignored her, waiting for Roz’s response.

‘She puts people off,’ Roz said quickly. ‘I’ll get even less if she comes with me.’

Callum continued to stare at her in a calculating fashion, certain that Roz was lying, but on the other hand … He nodded slowly. ‘I can see that.’ Ignoring Suzie’s protests, he continued, ‘But if you come back empty-handed again—’

Roz pointed at the soap. ‘I don’t call that empty-handed,’ she said defensively.

‘As good as!’ he said, shoving the soap into the pocket of his overcoat.

Roz was about to retort that he should be grateful he got anything at all and he was welcome to go out begging himself, when she thought better of it. He had agreed to let her go out the following day without Suzie accompanying her; if she gave him cheek now, he might revoke that and then Roz really would be stuck.

‘I’ll do better tomorrow,’ she muttered quietly.

‘You better had,’ said Callum. He turned the collar of his coat up and headed outside, closing the door behind him.

‘Where’ve you really been?’ asked Lilith, who wasn’t as easily fooled as her son.

Roz felt her heart drop. She had thought the conversation had ended when Callum had left, but obviously not. So she continued the pretence. ‘It’s not my fault people are getting fed up with handing stuff over for nothing,’ she said, although she was careful not to make eye contact with the older woman, who was a lot shrewder than her son. She walked to the kitchen area of the room.

‘I don’t buy it,’ said Lilith simply. ‘But it doesn’t matter what I think, it’s Callum you need to worry about.’

Roz gave a short, mocking laugh. ‘I’m not frightened of your son, Lilith, even if you are. He’s already taken everything I own; I’ve nothing left for him to take.’

Lilith arched her brow. ‘Then you underestimate him.’

Grasping the kettle from the stove, Roz made her way to the door. ‘I don’t think I do,’ she said evenly, ‘but he hasn’t a hold over me, not any more …’ As soon as the last words left her lips she rued saying them, fearing it would arouse suspicion.

She took the kettle to the communal water pump, filled it and returned to the room, where she was unsurprised to see the two women – who had instantly fallen silent upon her entry – staring at her suspiciously.

‘What did you mean by that?’ Lilith asked.

‘By what?’ Roz said, radiating false innocence.

‘You know full well what,’ said Lilith. ‘Where did you go today? Or more to the point, who did you see, ’cos there ain’t no way you’ve been on your own all this time.’