Mary James is a bright, confident, rebellious teenager who never sticks to the rules. Thrown out of the family home on the notorious Crescents estate, she soon learns how tough life can really be. With her new job at Henshall's factory under threat, she is relieved when older, more sophisticated Lynne offers her a room in her flat. Gossip from the factory floor hints that Lynne has a seedier alternative profession. While Mary sticks to a straighter path, her flatmate walks the streets for extra cash. Then, one night, Lynne brings Ali and Raiz back to the flat, both desperate for alibis for murder, and Mary finds herself involved in a far more dangerous game. Jane Bates, Mary's long-lost childhood friend, is shocked by the change in her one-time protector when they are reunited years later. Bad men and hard drugs have taken their toll. Is Mary's fate already sealed or can Jane's risky scheme save her?