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‘I already told you. I never got those tablets from the medicine cabinet.’

‘So youdidhave tablets?’

‘I got given them by a kid in Pauly’s class.’

‘Lloyd!’ Pauly yells. ‘That’s mybestmate.’ He hurls himself at his brother, all elbows and fists.

Lloyd calmly picks Pauly up and throws him onto the sofa.

‘Are you saying …’ I pause, choosing my words carefully. ‘You’re saying a child in Pauly’s class gives you his medicine? Prescription medicine?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And do you, by any chance, throw the empty bottles at the back of the school field?’

‘Have you beenspyingon me?’

‘Social workers know everything,’ I say.

Lloyd snorts with laughter. ‘No they don’t. Half the time, they don’t even spell my name right.’

‘And that child,’ I say, knowing I’m on dangerous ground, professionally speaking. ‘Would that child in Pauly’s class be Tom Kinnock?’

‘She’s Tom’s social worker too, Lloyd,’ whispers Pauly. ‘He must have grassed you up.’

Lloyd balls his fists. ‘I’ll kill him, the little shit.’

‘He didn’t say a word to me,’ I say. ‘I worked it out. Why would Tom Kinnock give his medicine to you?’

‘Because Iaskhim to.’

‘Ask? Do you mean threaten?’

‘Iask. It’s not my fault if kids are scared of me.’

‘So, what would happen if he didn’t give you this medicine?’

‘I’d … well, we’d have to have a talk, wouldn’t we?’

I’m wide awake now, despite being extremely tired, and it’s hard not to rush out questions. ‘Have you ever met Tom Kinnock’s father? His name is Olly.’

‘No,’ says Lloyd.

‘You’re sure? He’s never come into the school or anything like that?’

‘Tom wants to see his dad,’ says Pauly. ‘He told me. But his mum won’t let him.’

Lloyd’s eyes narrow. ‘Should you be asking me about other social worker kids? Isn’t that un-pro-fession-al?’

He’s a much brighter boy than the teachers give him credit for.

‘Let’s talk about you, then,’ I say. ‘Why wouldyoutake medicine from this boy, Lloyd?’

‘The doctors won’t give our mum enough meds,’ Joey pipes up. ‘So Lloyd gets them for her. And sometimes he takes them too.’

‘Joey.’ Lloyd turns to him, fists clenched, then leaps on his younger brother.

Not one to miss a fight, Pauly jumps into the punches, trying to defend little Joey from Lloyd’s hard fists.