The man nodded. He was big, this Reggie, and he had obviously been working out in the nick. He was dark-haired and brown-eyed, good-looking in a gypsy-type of way. Lenny imagined the women loved him; he had the look of a rogue, and a lovable one at that.

‘It’s you I need to talk to really, Janey. You are into us for over seven grand, and Mr Johnson likes regular payments, see? Now he has asked me to politely request said payments.’

Janey felt sick to the pit of her stomach. She knew her Reggie would hit the roof over this little lot; he was a funny fucker like that. He couldn’t stand what he called ‘unnecessary aggravation’.

‘I will have it next week with a bit off the back, I give you my word.’

Lenny laughed. ‘Oh, well, that’s all right then. You hear that, Cyril? She is giving me her word.’

Cyril Brock laughed on cue. ‘You’re off the books now, Janey. No more loans of any description. You pay double every week until this debt is cleared. If you miss one week I will be back and this time I will be mob-handed and I will take the debt in kind. Do you understand me?’

Janey had to nod in agreement; she knew the neighbours were listening and enjoying seeing her brought low like this. Seeing Lenny Scott himself told her that she had taken the piss about as far as she could. It was Reggie who was worrying her now. He’d obviously read too many books inside. Since he had got out of the nick, he was like a born-again choirboy, talking about serious earns and convinced that it was better to maintain a low profile and keep the Filth at bay. He didn’t want her to bring unnecessary attention to the house; it was a show-up, if only she could see that. And now Lenny Scott and his trained monkey were putting the hard word on her in front of the whole fucking street. She could quite happily cry with the frustration of it all.

Reggie was fuming; he stepped forward and, looking into Lenny’s eyes, he said quietly, ‘Seven grand?’

Lenny nodded. ‘Three grand is fucking late-payment fees. She is her own worst enemy. It ain’t like she ain’t got the dough. She just never wants to pay.’

Reggie sighed a deep, angry sigh and Lenny felt a moment’s sorrow for him. He couldn’t imagine being dragged up by someone like Janey.

‘I will sort it, mate. I know what she’s fucking like. Give me a week and I will try and get a good lump paid off, bring the debt down.’

Lenny smiled and held out his hand. Reggie shook it firmly and, strange as it seemed given the circumstances, they both realised they liked each other.