Lenny Scott couldn’t believe his eyes; the woman was grotesque. In his drunkenness all he could hear was the laughter around him. He found himself being pushed towards her and, as she raised her arms up to put the feather boa around her neck, the sweet smell of sweat and deodorant made him feel sick. He looked around and saw everyone laughing, even his dad. But the loudest laughter was coming from Keith Smith, and Lenny sensed instinctively that this was down to him. Keith Smith had arranged this. It was just the kind of nasty stunt he would pull – he was always trying to make everyone around him look a cunt.

Pushing the woman away from him roughly, making her overbalance on her high heels, he lunged himself at Keith Smith. Never in his life had Lenny felt such a powerful anger, and never before in his life had he had so much to drink. He wasn’t aware of picking up a pint glass from the crowded bar. The only thing he remembered was smashing it with all his might into Keith Smith’s face.

The real strippers, a blonde and a brunette who had just walked in, watched in morbid fascination with the rest of the pub, before putting their coats back on and exiting to their waiting car quick-sharp.

Big Lenny Scott was rooted to the floor. He had never in his life seen his son act like this. He saw Lenny’s friends dragging him to the floor, eventually sitting on him to try and contain his anger. He shook his head slowly in abject disbelief at his son’s actions. His boy could have a row, there was no doubting that, but he had never been vicious for the sake of it. And tonight of all fucking nights! Lesley would have his balls for this. He was still feeling thunderstruck when the Old Bill arrived – along with the ambulance.

Chapter Six

‘My Lenny? Are you sure that it was my Lenny?’ The incredulity in Sharon’s voice was clear.

Ivy Conway was standing behind her in the small hallway, in her rollers and a candlewick dressing gown, unable to believe what she was hearing.

‘Well, that’s fucking lovely, that is! Arrested the night before the wedding. Augurs well for the future that does, my girl!’

Sharon wasn’t listening to her mother; she was reeling from the news Big Lenny had delivered. She couldn’t believe it. Her Lenny was a gentle giant – everyone knew that. He was one of the gentlest people she knew. But now her husband-to-be was banged up in Barking nick.

Sharon picked up the phone and dialled a number quickly. It was Jack Johnson’s. She was near to tears as she told him the events of the night.