‘No, you wait, you idiot! How could you be stupid enough to get involved in people trafficking? I told you there were certain things I wouldn’t tolerate – and that was in my top three, along with the production and distribution of drugs – and you’ve been busy with all of them. You know my family history; you know about my sister, Jessica. What were you thinking? “What he doesn’t see, he can’t complain about”?’ Tobey’s eyes flashed with something sharp and reproachful – or was it my imagination that he was hurt?

‘Tobey, it wasn’t like that—’ I began.

‘I don’t want to hear it,’ Tobey interrupted. ‘Either you deliberately started making drugs and to hell with me and my views, or someone in the Outfit decided to go behind your back and do it for you. Neither is a good look.’

‘Like I said, someone in my operation took it upon themselves to branch out.’

‘No one who works for you should have the balls to try something like that without your say-so. You’re losing your grip, Dan, and the Serious Crime Agency is standing below you with a huge butterfly net and handcuffs, just waiting for you to fall.’

‘Your faith in me is touching.’

‘I’m a realist. You of all people should know that,’ said Tobey. ‘So, as of now, you and I are friends, but no longer business associates.’

Just like that. He hadn’t even attempted to listen properly to my side of the story.

Decades of friendship counted for absolutely nothing.

‘You haven’t won the election yet,’ I reminded him.

‘But we both know I will.’ Tobey was all confidence.

‘Oh, Tobey, you really believe what you’re saying, don’t you?’ I contrived to make my tone amused and pitying at the same time. ‘You seriously think you can treat me like one of your discarded whores? You actually believe that all you have to say is, “Dan, we’re done,” like it was some magic spell and that’s it, with no hard feelings?’

‘I’m hoping we can both be grown up about this, yes,’ said Tobey.

‘Tobey, I can’t believe I have to say this out loud, but here goes – our working relationship is over when I say it is and not before.’

Tobey stood up, his mahogany-brown eyes almost black as he considered me. ‘Dan, I think you’re forgetting who you’re talking to. I want to keep this amicable, but that’s entirely up to you. Either way, we won’t be working together any more. I’m washing my hands of the entire business. Deal with it.’

I got to my feet. ‘And you forget I know where the bodies are buried and there’s always space for more.’