Page 102 of The Stranger in Room Six

I storm into Mouse’s room and find her slumped in front of the television, watching a daytime quiz show.

Slamming my hand down on the remote, I wave the note in front of her.

‘Mabel received this in the post today. Anything to do with you?’

My old cellmate reads it out loud.

‘FASCIST TRAITORS MUST DIE. YOUR SINS WILL BE PUNISHED.

‘Of course not,’ she says. ‘But you’ve done well, Belinda. I’ll pass on this information.’

‘To who?’

‘I’ve told you. I can’t say.’

I try to snatch the note back but she’s too quick for me.

‘OK. I’m going to tell the police.’

Alarm crosses Mouse’s face. ‘You can’t do that. It could send us back to prison.’

I shudder at the thought. ‘Then tell me what’s going on.’

She sighs. ‘The boss – and I mean, the big boss – wants to bring Harry Marchmont down.’

‘So why do you want this list?’

‘You don’t need to know that.’

I run out of the room, shaking. I won’t let them get my family or Mabel, whoever ‘they’ are. There’s only one thing to be done. It’s a big risk but I have to tell Harry Marchmont about the note. I would do anything – well, almost anything – to protect Mabel’s life.