Picture it: Baħar iċ-Ċagħak at two in the morning. More accurately: ………4………Rocks at two in the morning. February. A temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and a ….5……..sea. A ………6…………van without a license plate appears, moving slowly with its headlamps off. The engine dies as it reaches the waterline. A man emerges. The other one remains seated behind the steering wheel. Her uncle. The man who gets out of the van is Rachel’s uncle. So is the one behind the steering wheel. He lights a cigarette and opens the back door of the van. A number of people, their covered heads bowed, climb out. The door clicks shut behind them. The van splutters into life, reverses and drives off, leaving behind only the smell of Rothies mingling with the calm ……………7………air and the exhaust fumes. It’s cold. Nine people waiting for something to happen. Nine women in …………..8……….wraps. Rachel can see them, though they can’t see her. Grabbing her mobile phone, she dials a number and hangs up after a ………….9…………ring. And waits. So are they, waiting.