‘What the fuckin’ hell is it like, then?’ she screeched. ‘Did you think that working with a bunch of criminals was what I deserved after what I’d done?’

Adele knew she was becoming hysterical as well as irrational now, but she couldn’t help it. Her brother had put her in an impossible predicament as well as placing her in danger and she rued the day she had ever gone to work for him.

‘Now you’re being fuckin’ ridiculous!’ he bit back. Then she heard another heavy sigh and he added, ‘Look, Adele. I didn’t know things would come to this. I tried to keep you out of it. If you must know, that’s why I hid the ledgers for the security side of the business.’

‘Well, you didn’t do a very good job of protecting me, did you?’ she barked.

‘Look, sis, I didn’t know what was gonna happen with David. But if you come back to work I swear I’ll protect you. I’ll make sure there’s a car posted outside your flat all the time.’

‘And if I don’t?’

‘That’s up to you. But if you go to the cops, you could still be implicated. After all, you’ve been doing the books and you knew about the man who Glynn killed.’

‘Thanks a fuckin’ million!’ she cursed.

‘I’m sorry it’s come to this, sis. But, like I say, I’ll do my best to protect you if you come back.’

‘And just what would I be getting involved with if I did come back?’ she asked, becoming calmer as she realised the futility of losing her temper.

‘It’s best you don’t know everything. There’s a lot of heavy shit going down at the moment. I’d prefer it if you didn’t know too many details.’

‘Peter, I need to know just what the hell I’d be getting involved with if I come back,’ she said, between gritted teeth as she fought to remain calm.

‘I’ve told you, Adele, it’s best you don’t know. I can protect you more that way. The more you know, the more the coppers can get out of you if it comes to it.’

‘So now we’re getting to the bottom of it,’ she said sardonically. ‘You’re not keeping me in the dark to protect me; you’re doing it to protect yourself. Why is it so important that I come to work for you, anyway? Why won’t you protect me if I don’t work for you?’

‘’Cos for one thing, I have to fuckin’ pay my men to protect you so I’d like to think that at least you’re doing something to earn that protection. But for another thing, I need someone onside who I can trust.’

His last few words hit home. ‘Are you saying you can’t trust Glynn?’ she asked.