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‘Don’t do this, boys,’ he said. ‘It’s really not a good idea.’

Davo twitched. ‘Now,’ he said.

The window cleaner held up his hands. ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

Five minutes later they were on their way back to the flat.

James’s throat was agony, but all in all he’d got off lightly. Davo was hobbling, his face green.

They were also penniless.

The window cleaner had turned out to be some kind of ex-soldier and, before he and Davo could move, he had kicked Davo hard in the balls – it had made a kind of crunching sound that James could still hear – and then elbowed James in the throat.

He stood, watching them writhe in agony.

Fucking idiots, he said. Get out of here before I decide to hurt you properly.

They did. They scuttled around the house and on to the street where Carl was waiting.

He asked if they had the cash. James had to give him the bad news; Davo was still groaning.

They stopped by a bench and sat down.

‘That went well,’ Davo said. ‘My fucking balls are killing me.’

‘What are we gonna do?’ Carl said. ‘We need some money.’

As he spoke, James’s phone rang. It was his dad. He rejected the call. He could speak to him later.

There was a buzz as a text message arrived.

Are you coming for dinner?

He hadn’t been. He wasn’t hungry.

At least, not for dinner.

‘I might have an idea,’ he said. ‘I can go to my folks’ place.’

He’d eat then get out of there as soon as he could. And his dad would give him some cash, or he could steal some.

He typed a reply.

Yes. On my way.

Four Years Earlier: July 2014

Maggie

1

Maggie woke up. She opened her eyes but the room was pitch-dark. Her mouth was dry; she tried to swallow but there was no saliva. Her nose ached. She lifted her hand and felt it gingerly. It was swollen and sore to the touch.

Where the man had grabbed her and suffocated her into unconsciousness.

Before he had taken Leo.

‘Leo!’ she shouted, her voice comically nasal. ‘Leo!’