Frank nodded. ‘I know all about him and that young Reggie Dornan. They are the new guard, mate. Nice enough lads, though.’

The men agreed with him, as they had to – whether they really did or not. Frank wasn’t a man who took kindly to being mugged off in any way, shape or form.

‘I hear Jack has done well for himself.’ No one elaborated on what he said and he smiled. ‘I’m going to see him soon. We go back a long way, me and Jack Johnson.’

Still no one said a word either for or against him.

‘I think he needs a lesson in etiquette personally, and I might be the one to give it to him.’

Then he ordered another round of drinks and the talk changed to other subjects. Everyone had forgotten how mercurial old Frank could be. They wouldn’t do that again in the future.

Chapter Sixty-One

Lenny was quite taken with Frank Barber. He admired the old fucker; he had done a nineteen without too much trouble and he seemed a nice enough bloke.

‘I can’t imagine being banged up for nineteen years, can you, Reg?’

Reggie laughed. ‘Can I fuck! I’ve only done a few years and that was hard enough. But the thing is, Len, once you’re in there, you got no choice, mate. You have to wipe your mouth and get on with it. It’s a mindset really.’

Lenny nodded. ‘I suppose so. If we had a capture for some of the stunts we’ve pulled, we wouldn’t get out ever!’

They laughed together at the truth of it.

‘If it did come to that, there’d be nothing for it but to knuckle down and make the best of it, I suppose.’

Reggie laughed again. ‘Turn it off, Lenny! You’re giving me the fucking heebie-jeebies.’

Lenny lit them both cigarettes and passed one to Reggie before saying, ‘I had a chat with Dennis Dunmore last night. I met him outside the off-licence near my mum’s house. Interesting man.’

Reggie frowned as he said, ‘In what way?’

‘Well, he didn’t exactly come out with it, but I got the impression that Jack started his businesses on what was, in effect, Frank Barber’s money.’

Reggie whistled through his teeth. ‘That might be why Jack is so interested in seeing what Frankie Boy has in mind.’

Lenny nodded. ‘Maybe. I don’t like to think that Jack tucked someone up. I think we need to get the full SP before we start wondering about things that as yet don’t even concern us.’

Reggie dropped him outside his house and they smiled at one another.

‘Shall I pick you up tomorrow?’

Lenny shook his head. ‘Nah. I’ll drive meself. See you in the morning.’

Chapter Sixty-Two