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around her neck, she glared at her sister. ‘I wouldn’t put it past you to take his side.’
    Violet grinned and her dark eyes were full of mischief. ‘Oh, I would.’ The younger girl stood up, stretched and yawned. ‘I’m off to bed, if little squealer doesn’t keep me awake.’
    ‘And about time. You should have been in bed hours ago. And don’t call Baby that. She’s a good little thing.’
    Polly pulled her coat closely around her as she closed the door quietly and set off down the street towards the Hallidays’ house.
    ‘’Ello, love. What brings you out this late?’ Seth asked as he peered at her through the darkness.
    ‘Is Leo at home, Mr Halliday?’
    ‘He is, lass. Come away in.’ He ushered the shivering girl into the kitchen. ‘Bertha – Leo, mek room by the fire. This little lass is freezing.’
    ‘Aw, Polly, love. Whatever’s the matter? Is it your dad?’
    Polly shook her head. ‘No. He’s all right, as far as I know.’ She glanced at Leo, who’d risen from his chair and was gesturing for her to sit down in it.
    She gave him a wan smile and sat down. ‘I – I’ve come to ask for some advice. From – from Leo really, I suppose.’
    Polly glanced around the three kindly, concerned faces, her gaze coming to rest on Leo’s. She drank in the sight of him; his curly fair hair, his bright blue eyes and his generous mouth that was nearly always smiling. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to dream, but then she pulled herself back to the reason for her visit.
    ‘It’s our Eddie. He’s playing me up summat rotten. It started a bit when Mam was first ill.’ At the thought of her mother, her voice broke a little but she carried on bravely. ‘You know, staying out late if he thought Dad was out and wouldn’t notice. But since Mam died and – and Dad got ill, Eddie’s got worse. He’s stopping out until all hours. I don’t even know where he is – or who he’s with.’ Polly’s head dropped as she strove to hold back the tears.
    She felt Leo’s hand on her shoulder as his mother said, ‘Aw, Polly love, don’t cry. We’ll see what we can do.’ She looked up at Leo ‘Have you heard owt?’
    Polly looked up to see Leo shaking his head. ‘No, but I’ll go down the station this minute and make enquiries.’
    ‘Oh – I don’t want to get him into trouble. I mean, not with the coppers.’
    ‘He already is,’ Leo said, but he was laughing.
    Polly gasped and clutched her throat. ‘What d’you mean?’
    ‘He’s in trouble with me for upsetting you. And I’m a copper, aren’t I?’
    Polly relaxed and smiled too. ‘Oh yes. Just for a moment, I thought you meant . . .’
    He patted her shoulder. ‘You go back to the little ones, Poll, and I’ll go out and see if I can track that rascal down.’
    As she stood up to leave, Bertha asked bluntly, ‘And what about young Violet? Is she behaving herself?’
    Polly pulled a wry face. ‘Yes – and no. I have a job to get her to go to school, but she’s going at the moment ever since I threatened to tell the attendance officer mesen if she didn’t.’
    ‘I know she’s only ten, but she’s a little madam, that one. You’ll have to watch her, Polly.’
    ‘I assume Eddie’s not been going to school either?’ Leo asked quietly.
    Polly shook her head. ‘Not since Mam died.’
    The three Hallidays exchanged a worried glance.
    ‘You know, this could all be to do with losing your mam, love. Kids deal with trouble in different ways and maybe this is Eddie’s way. He’s trying to block it all out of his mind and mebbe, by staying out with his mates, he can forget it for a while. Though it’s not fair on you, lass.’
    ‘I just – I just don’t want the authorities to put us in the workhouse.’ Polly covered her face with her hands.
    Bertha reached out towards her and Leo put his arm round her shoulders. Even Seth said at once, ‘Don’t you worry about that. We’ll see that doesn’t happen. Now let me see you home