‘She ain’t leaving Keeper’s House.’ ‘What if she wants to?’ Hunter gave him one of his nasty leers. ‘Izzy, love,’ he called across the basement to the girl. ‘This fella wants a chat. Feel like going for a little walk with him?’ Izzy Cole shook her head. ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ she whispered. Her voice was cracked and weak, and her eyes darted around the room. ‘Like I say’ – Hunter smirked – ‘she ain’t leaving.’ Ricky stepped forward. His footsteps were the only noise in that basement. ‘I just wanted to talk to you, Izzy. Is that all right?’ She looked uncertain. But after a few seconds, she nodded and disappeared back into the side room. ‘You’ve got ten minutes,’ Hunter muttered. ‘Then I’m kicking you out.’ The side room was smaller than the main basement room. About ten metres by ten. The only light came from a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. The floor was covered with thin, dirty mattresses. Clearly this was where the Hunter’s Thrownaways slept.
