Jade had no idea why she hadn’t got rid of the girl sooner. She’d felt sorry for her, initially. How could she not, with her mother seething and raging, embarrassing her in the middle of the supermarket? The woman had been a complete witch, dressed like a trollop: short skirt, tits on show, blood-red lipstick, like an angry red slash for a mouth. Watching from across the aisle, seeing the woman’s rubbery lips exaggeratedly moving as she’d cursed and berated the child for accidentally knocking over a display stand – ‘You stupid girl! Look what you’ve done!’ – Jade had felt goosebumps prickle her skin. She recognised the child’s fear. The same fear she’d felt when her own bitch mother had snarled and scorned and walked away, leaving her with him. She felt again the ice-cold dread pooling in the pit of her stomach, the repulsion, the pain; the powerlessness as he’d pushed into her, groaning and thrusting and grunting. The hopelessness, trying to make her mother understand. It wasn’t her fault!

Daisy had said the same thing. ‘It wasn’t my fault, Mummy,’ she’d cried, huge, salty tears sliding down her cheeks as she’d looked beseechingly up at the spiteful, self-centred cow. Looking for comfort, where there was none.

It could have been her.

Irresistibly drawn, Jade had followed them, cruising past the house in the car she’d since disposed of – a car of her own being superfluous to requirements once she’d secured employment with the Cain family. Approaching on foot on her subsequent vigils, she’d watched and she’d waited. She’d seen the hysterical mother hurling accusations at the father, so drunk after a boozy party she couldn’t stand up straight. ‘You’re disgusting,’ she’d screamed, lashing out at him, her face twisted, her eyes full of hatred. ‘A fucking disgusting paedophile!’

Jade had made her decision then. They didn’t deserve to be parents. They didn’t deserve Daisy. They deserved to burn in hell. First, though, they needed to learn, to realise what they’d done. They needed to lose the child, whose innocence they were stealing, whose childhood they were breaking, whose love and trust they were abusing.

Obviously frightened of them, Daisy had come willingly when Jade had told her she was going to keep her safe – which she’d every intention of doing then. The girl had reminded her of her little sister. Annoyingly, just like her little sister, she was becoming a nuisance. Poppy had, too. But Poppy, of course, had also turned out to be spoiled beyond belief and far too demanding of Mark. Jade still hadn’t come to a decision about her. She’d so hoped Poppy would have some redeeming features. She didn’t want Mark to go through the unbearable grieving process of losing another child unless he absolutely had to.

This one, though… It was hard work, keeping the girl occupied and fed with Dylan constantly fretting and ringing her. And now things were moving on with Mark, she’d become a liability Jade didn’t need.

Jade sighed as Dylan fussed and twitched behind her, scared to death his mummy would discover his secret and realise what kind of a pathetic idiot he really was. She peered down at the girl, who was sleeping contentedly enough, thanks to a large dose of Calpol. ‘She’s fine,’ she told him, turning from the bed. ‘It’s just a cold. She’ll feel better after a nap.’

Dylan stared at her stupidly for a second and then, wiping his shirtsleeve under his nose, he followed her to the bedroom door. ‘You sure?’ he asked, once on the landing. ‘It’s just, she didn’t seem to be breathing right when I looked in on her last night. Chesty-like, you know?’

Jade looked him over, taking in the worry lines furrowing his brow like a five-bar gate, his jeans which were an inch too short – obviously turned up by his mother – and the wet patches under his armpits, and suppressed her immense agitation. ‘I’m her mum, Dylan. I’m also a qualified nursery nurse. I think I should know, don’t you?’

Smiling sweetly, she stroked his cheek – God forbid she should have to stroke any other part of him today – and then, feeling nauseated at the stench of body odour mingled with pig shit that seemed to permanently emanate from him, she turned quickly for the stairs.

Grabbing up her bag, she headed across the tiny living room and straight for the front door.

‘You going already?’ Dylan asked, following her like an annoying little lapdog as she stepped out and breathed in some blessed fresh air.

‘I have to pick Poppy up from school.’

Jade sighed as she watched him lumbering after her, wondering again how a man who was built like a brick shithouse came to be scared of his own shadow. It was useful, of course, along with the fact that he’d obviously been born stupid, but she did worry it might be her downfall. Dylan would undoubtedly spill the beans if he were cornered – he couldn’t lie convincingly to save his life. Jade would probably have to do something about him too, which was a shame, but needs must.

‘So, will you be taking her soon?’ Dylan asked, shrugging his huge round shoulders awkwardly. ‘It’s just that me mum comes out to talk to the pigs sometimes.’ He nodded to where the disgusting creatures were snuffling and grunting in the field adjoining the cottage,

Jade had to stifle a laugh at that, the image of his sour-faced, frumpy mother talking to the pigs. Mind you, she wasn’t surprised, with only Dylan for company.

‘I will, I promise. It’s just…’ Jade faltered. ‘You know he doesn’t want her,’ she went on, looking tearfully back at him. ‘He’s bound to do something awful to her. She really is much better off here for now.’

‘He’ being Mark, who Dylan believed to be the father of the girl, and who was as capable of doing something awful to a child as he was his needy wife. His inexhaustible patience was becoming a bit of a concern. Jade needed Mark to realise that Melissa was nothing but a ball and chain around his ankles, pulling him down. He needed to leave her. Jade had no intention of sharing him for much longer.

Puffing up his chest manfully, Dylan looked her over and nodded. ‘I know,’ he said sympathetically, placing a huge paw around her shoulders. Jade’s skin crawled. ‘It’s okay,’ he said gruffly. ‘She can stay a bit longer. I’ll try and keep me mum away.’

‘Thanks, Dylan.’ Jade smiled at him, and silently thanked God she’d convinced him to change the locks. With his miserable mother wandering around, she was going to have to do something about the girl sooner rather than later, she realised. ‘I knew I could depend on you. I’ll see to her soon.’ Checking her watch, she sighed regretfully. ‘I’d better go.’

Giving him a peck on the cheek, Jade turned, resisting the urge to wipe her mouth. She wasn’t sure how, exactly, she would see to her. Feed her to the pigs? Pondering her options, Jade hummed softly to herself as she went. Hush, little baby…