It was the next morning that Kira finally let me out. She woke me just after half past six with some toast and a mug of coffee (which didn't make me drowsy) and then offered to drive me home. I refused, not only because I didn't want her getting reinvolved in my private life but also because I didn't want anyone to suspect that we were seeing each other again.

'I'll be fine.' I said this rather abruptly as I made my way out the station. The cold, morning air was bitter with the wind and it wasn't even light yet. She had practically held me captive last night after all – locking me in a cell without letting my mum know how I was, and to be fair, she hadn't actually rang my mum at all. Luckily though, my phone was switched off in the pocket of my cream overcoat that Kira had stashed in her office. I'd got it back now, feeling a surge of superiority just 'cause the coat was long.

Greenock in the early hours of the morning was deserted. Across the road there was a takeaway open, and despite the breakfast I'd already had, I was hungry. I went in, smiling to myself at the purple neon sign above the door. There was a young woman serving behind the counter. I browsed the menus for several minutes before deciding on a full Chinese. Chips, chicken strips, rice and curry sauce where what I needed. It was simply just under a full meal for £5.00. How cheap is that?

'Yes, darling?' The young blonde woman asked me as I gave her my order. She laughed and started to sort out my meal. It was then that I looked round and saw a young guy in a black leather jacket, jeans and trainers. His light brown hair and stubble looked vaguely familiar. Shit. Was that who I thought it was?

'Here you are, my love.' She flashed me a smile as I carried the tray over to a neighbouring table. Was that really who I thought it was? After all this time?

I switched on my phone just before I got ready to eat. Then spontaneously, I rang Mum. She answered on the first ring.

'Hi sweetie. Is everything okay? Will you be alright coming home on your own?' This was strange for Mum. She was calm and collected. Like she'd been up waiting for me to call. It was weird like. I felt anger rising in me – what if Eve was there?

'Is Eve there?' My tone was brittle as I paid attention to my breakfast. I plunged my fork into some curried chicken strips and rice and ate then swallowed.

'Mum, I'll be home in a bit, alright?' I switched my phone off after that, and then devoured the meal. It was stodge and looked like crap, but I was starving. I shovelled the food into my mouth, thinking of Kira, thinking of the weird man sitting behind me, thinking of Mum, and thinking of Eve.

x x

In the kitchen of the café, I looked up as the door opened. It was Kira. I'd only known she was taking backhanders when I first started working here, but other than that, I knew nothing. I knew that one of the men she arrested and had since been released was in the café, eating a bacon roll before he went back to his wife. I knew him as Graham, that Deena was married to him and that he'd abducted some young girl and had sold her as a prostitute. That was all I knew. It had been all over the news last year. I only knew that he was based somewhere near here and that this was his local. Deena was attractive; I'd seen pictures of her in his wallet.

'Toni?' Kira stood leaning in the doorway.

'You want your bacon, eggs, toast, Diet Pepsi and chocolate muffin?' I watched her smile.

'Please.'

'Coming up.'

I bustled round the kitchen to make her breakfast, keeping my eye on the door all the while. Graham turned towards the hatch a few seconds before he went.

'Toni, I'll be off now, love. Thanks for that, it was lovely.' I kissed Graham's cheek and then he left. He caught sight of a young blonde teenager eating a Chinese at twenty past seven in the morning. Kira stood at the till, keeping out of sight of the blonde girl. She took atleast £70 and pocketed it, and then her meal was ready.

'Thanks, To.' She ate greedily, then she was off again, the chocolate muffin and Diet Pepsi in her large coat pocket. She slipped out the back door. I sighed inwardly for a few moments, not noticing that the young blonde girl was standing in front of the hatch, her plate empty.

'Cheers, love. Will I see you again?' I switched a smile onto my face and got one in return.

'Probably not. This was only a one time visit but thanks, that was gorgeous.' I smiled at her reply.

'I'll see you.' She abruptly left.

x x

I caught the bus home after that. With luck, Mum had already left for work. I left myself in and went straight upstairs. I showered, washed my hair and re-dressed. Black suit, purple shirt, cream overcoat. Heels. The works. I was going to get over Kira on Rhiannon's advice. Who the fuck did she think she was?

The doorbell rang and this annoyingly interrupted my trail of thoughts. I answered it, not really caring who it was and got the shock of my life. Deena was standing there. The evil bitch who'd manipulated me was smirking at me as if to say she wanted me all over again.

'Hello Scout. I've missed you.' Standing next to her was a person who made my blood run cold. It was Graham who was in the café.

'And I've missed you too, Scout.' His face was fixed in a smirk.

'Are you going to come with us?' I shook my head.

'You better had Scout, or you'll be letting me down if you don't.' A very familiar Scouse accent drifted towards me.

Kira came out the shadows, her face pinched with stress and her eyes were dark. In her hand she had a cloth; in the other she had a syringe.

'You?' It hit me in that single, fearful second. Kira was in on this all along!

'Well done, Scout. Top marks.' Her sarcasm really wasn't funny.

What I felt next was fright as she spun me round into the wall and tied my hands behind my back. Before I could speak she was holding me fast, her hand and the cloth over my mouth. It stunk of some sickly smell, and it cut off my oxygen supply. She tied my ankles too, and before I lost consciousness I was in her arms, and she was cuddling me like the way she had last night.

'I'm sorry, sweetheart. I did that because I had to.' Her words meant nothing in the next few moments as she suddenly hit out with her fists. My eye was swollen, and she left two red grazes on my chin and my cheek. I writhed against her but she held me tight as she picked me up again and carried me out the house. It was freezing. It was freezing. It was freezing.

And then, the next thing I knew, Kira was crumpling to the ground, blood seeping from her chest, a gunshot having gone off and I was pricked in the side of my arm with the needle.

That was when I lost consciousness.