Now Connor came in close to Tobias. Wincing, bloody, Tobias staggered back against the wall as Connor loomed over him. Connor was big, powerful; Tobias was small and in shock.

‘You’ll pay it back on Monday,’ said Connor, and even his voice struck fear in Tobias. Connor’s voice was deep, resonant; it seemed to come from somewhere down in his boots. ‘I’ll call round and you better be here, with what you stole off my family, or you’ll be fucking sorry. And you better start looking for another job, and consider yourself lucky I don’t get really upset about this. I know you got troubles and I’m making allowances. But you take the piss any more and I swear, you’re a dead man.’

‘That told him,’ said Joey, grinning as they went back down the path to the gate.

‘Yeah. That told him.’ Connor stopped walking and yanked Joey to a halt with a hand on his arm. ‘And now I’m telling you. You’re out, you fucking moron. Finished.’

‘You what?’

‘You heard.’

‘But I—’

‘Shut up. You’re a fucking liability. I said all I’m going to say. You’re out.’

71

71

Aunt Ginny’s funeral was the saddest thing Suki had ever seen. It was all cut-price. There was only her, Sweaty Stefan and kindly Felice, plus the preacher and the pallbearers in attendance. Aunt Ginny was ushered out of the world in a cheap casket without fuss, but there were plenty of tears. Suki howled the church down while Felice patted her back and cooed comforting words. When it was all over Suki said goodbye to her friend and Stefan chose his moment to step up.

‘Sorry for your loss, Suki,’ he said. ‘I’m real sorry.’

He’d spruced himself up and the odour of his cheap aftershave was so pungent it was making her feel sick.

‘That’s kind of you,’ she said.

‘If there’s anything I can do, name it,’ he said, and hugged her while Suki stood rigid, hating the feel of his pudgy body against hers but too stunned and grief-stricken to even fend him off. And at least he was being nice to her for a change. Maybe he wasn’t so bad.

‘I’ll walk you home,’ he said, and Suki, dazed by grief, started walking.

But Felice was back. She’d seen what was happening as she went out the church gate and had turned right around and come back to the rescue. She eyed Sweaty Stefan with hostility.

‘Suki don’t need you to walk her home, Stefan. Although I’m sure she appreciates the thought. It’s kind of you. But I’m going to do that,’ she said.

He hesitated. Suki almost felt sorry for him, he looked so crestfallen. ‘If you’re sure . . . ?’

‘Sure she’s sure,’ said Felice, hooking one arm through Suki’s and hauling her away.