Briony was with Mariah, sorting out how best to get the Manor back up and running. It had always been their most lucrative house, and now the war was over and everyone was getting on with their lives, they wanted to get it back in business. Mariah had been all for refusing to let it be used as a hospital but Briony had stood firm. It was the least they could do for the war effort. She had been so patriotic that everyone had been amazed. Once the Blitz started Briony had arranged for a soup kitchen, and for clothing and soap to be supplied to bombed-out people. She had doled out money, taken people in until they found alternative shelter, and had won the hearts of even the most hardened charity worker. And if she had also been the instigator of a thriving black market, she felt that her efforts to help far outweighed any of the shady things she’d done. Now all she wanted was to get on with her old business.

The call came for her at ten minutes past ten. Mariah handed over the phone while Briony was laughing about something. Her face sobered up almost immediately and Mariah watched in amazement as she had slammed down the phone and poured herself a large Napoleon brandy.

‘I’ll kill those two little fuckers! By Christ, I’ll kill them!’

Mariah looked at her friend and shook her head.

Briony was still a very good-looking woman even though she was well into her forties. Her figure was slim, and her face barely lined. The new fashions suited her and her spectacular hair was worn in a chic French pleat. It was only her voice that betrayed her. Until she opened her mouth, people always assumed she was from the upper classes.

‘You’ll never guess what the twins done tonight?’

‘What?’ Mariah’s voice was shocked. Briony never spoke about the twins like this. Usually she spoke of them as a mixture of the Pope and God himself.

‘They only shot bleeding Seamus McNee in the legs. In a snooker hall in Canning bloody Town. The stupid little gits! Wait ’til I get my hands on them. It’s all over Silvertown so you can bet it’ll be everywhere in the morning. And as for the Rileys, well, I just heard they’re not too happy about it. The McNees worked for them.’

‘Oh, for Gawd’s sake!’

Briony swallowed the burning liquid and shrugged.

‘Oh, sod the Rileys, they don’t bleeding well scare me. It’s the audacity of those two little sods. They sat in that house tonight like butter wouldn’t melt! They must have been planning this... You wait ’til I get my hands on them.’

Mariah took a deep breath and spoke.