Then the laughter stopped as quickly as it had started and Dom said seriously, ‘It is not what you think, lads. They were into us for a lot of money. They were dealing outside your firm, and they thought they were safe because of Jack Johnson and yourselves. Well, they fucking well made a big mistake because me and my brother ain’t scared of anybody.’

It was said not as a threat, but as a statement of fact.

‘Where are they?’

This from Reggie, who was not as welcome as Lenny and should have remembered that. He immediately realised his faux pas.

Dicky sneered at him as he said theatrically, ‘It fucking speaks!’

Lenny closed his eyes to regulate his breathing and his temper. He wasn’t in the mood for game-playing tonight.

‘Answer the question, lads.’ His voice was low and he sounded genuinely interested in the answer.

‘Nowhere you will ever find them. They are gone, mate.’

Lenny Scott nodded.

Dominic Carter leaned forward and said conversationally, ‘Before they slipped off their mortal coils, they tried to tell us that you two were stuck up each other’s arses. Said that you went off on a boat together for days on end. Nice people you had working for you, Lenny.’

Lenny and Reggie were both shocked at the words and it showed.

‘They fucking what?’ Lenny sounded suitably outraged, which, of course, he was.

The twins were laughing again now.

‘I know. Honestly, by the time we were finished with them they would have said anything to get another few minutes on the earth. Pair of treacherous cunts. Reckoned they’d sussed it out a few months ago. Said there was something a bit iffy about you two and your deep friendship.’

Reggie and Lenny realised that the Carter twins believed it. Lenny nodded gently at Reggie, and they both pulled out knives from inside their coats.

It was all over in under two minutes. The Carters had had their mouths sliced open and their throats cut.

Lenny and Reggie watched them bleed out. That was the trouble with the serious nutters: they never thought anyone would ever take them on their own doorsteps. They had let their guard down, and paid the price for their big fucking mouths.

The men slipped out the back door, aware that this deed would be all over the Smoke by breakfast time. But what the twins had said had rattled them and they wondered who else had heard the same story. Both were quiet as they drove back to East London.

Chapter Fifty-Three

‘You two had a lovers’ tiff?’

Sharon’s voice was full of fun so she was shocked when Lenny turned on her and shouted angrily, ‘What is that supposed to fucking mean?’