It was as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘Go on, Kitty, get in, and then we can catch up on what we’ve been up to these past few years,’ Alfie urged. ‘You can tell me all about this new job everyone’s talking about. Mam says you’re doing well. And how’s your Tommy? You know I’m getting him a bike, don’t you?’

Kitty tried hard not to be flustered by that comment. He was just trying to make her feel like she owed him a favour, she could see that. ‘He’s very well,’ she said, ‘but he’s already got a bike, so don’t go putting yourself out, Alfie. I’d hate you to go to extra trouble.’

‘Very kind of you, Kitty,’ Alfie said, edging nearer, ‘but then you were always the generous sort. Never hurt anyone, would you, Kitty?’ His hand came forward and took hold of her arm. ‘Why don’t you get in the car and we can have a nice ride home, eh? You’d like that. I can tell.’ His grip grew tighter.

Kitty knew she mustn’t panic, but inside she was squirming at his horrible touch. What a disgusting man he was. If anything he’d got worse in the years since she’d last seen him, and she’d never liked him much before. You couldn’t trust him as far as you could throw him. There was no question of her getting in the car with him.

‘Like I said, Alfie, I’m not on my way home, so I shan’t be needing a lift,’ she said in what she hoped was a steady voice.

‘Is that really true, Kitty?’ His shifty eyes stared into hers. ‘You wouldn’t lie to me, would you? You wouldn’t be trying to get rid of me?’

She tried to twist away but his grip was too strong. ‘Alfie, let go of my arm,’ she hissed. ‘I have to go.’

He didn’t, but pulled her closer to him. ‘I thought we could go for a drive,’ he said. ‘Bet you don’t get the chance of that very often. None of you lot down Empire Street have got a car, have you? Still relying on old man Feeny and his horse and cart, that’s what I heard.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with Pop’s horse and cart,’ snapped Kitty, stung at the insult to the man who had protected her like one of his own ever since she was eleven. She glanced around to see how many people were nearby. Though the light had faded, surely Alfie wouldn’t try anything serious. She couldn’t really believe that he wouldn’t let her go, that he might try to force her into the car. All the same, a little shiver of fear wormed its way through her.