‘It is not like you think. He loved you—’

She laughed then, a nasty, vicious laugh. ‘Oh, really? Enlighten me, please. I’m dying to hear what you and him thought you were doing together. Playing hide-the-fucking-sausage?’

He looked at her with such distress and pity that she felt the urge to rip his face open, to make him hurt as much as she was.

‘I loved him, Sharon, just like you did. But he would never have left you or those boys. You have to understand that this was never about you as a person. He always admired you.’

‘Oh, get the fucking violins out! He was fucking you. And, if he admired me so much, why did he hit me and hurt me like he did? Tell me that, Reggie. I’m so fucking interested in what Mr Library has to say. That’s what he called you, Mr Library. Call you that in bed, did he? While you were fucking each other up the arse?’

Reggie suddenly lost all compassion. Physically dragging her away from the doorway, he pushed her into the car park and, grabbing her coat, he pulled her face towards his.

‘You listen to me, Sharon. You’re fucking hurting. I get it, all right? Well so am I, lady. I loved him. God help me, I fucking loved him. He was a treacherous cunt, we both know that. But if we have nothing else to build on, we have that much. I know you are hurting and, believe me, I would give anything to make your hurt go away. I love you, just like I love those boys, because you were part of him. He was my first love too, Sharon, and I know that you can’t understand why he would want another man. I wish to Christ he had not wanted me, but what we had never could take away from what he had with you. You have to believe that. You and the boys were always his first priority.’

Sharon was actually beginning to feel sorry for him – for Reggie, who had fucked her old man! She needed to get away.

‘Lenny worshipped you and those lads. Please, Sharon. Never forget that.’

She grinned again, and she knew that she was very drunk. ‘Thank you, Reg. I feel so much better now.’

The sarcasm wasn’t lost on him, and his anger nearly took over as he said quietly, ‘I will never rest till I know who killed Lenny. I loved him and I will always be there for you and those lads. Remember that.’

She turned away then, and crushed out her cigarette angrily. He knew he couldn’t stop her as she made to walk off. But then she turned suddenly and said with quiet hatred, ‘I’m glad he’s dead. You unnatural fuckers.’