‘Listen, Bri, me and you go back a long way, girl. Let me tell you something now. Those two boys are out of control. Look at last year when they had that fight at the fair in Victoria Park. They crippled that bloke, remember? Even as little kids they had a violent streak. This is the culmination of it. You’ve got to put your foot down once and for all. Stop bloody well getting them off the hook.’

Briony closed her eyes ’til they were slits and looked at the big woman in front of her. Mariah bleached her hair and still wore dresses that were too tight; she plastered the make-up on these days but she looked her age: sixty-two. It suddenly occurred to Briony that out of everyone she knew, Mariah had never been one to sing the boys’ praises. She had always pointed out their shortcomings. Even though at heart Briony knew that what her friend said was true, hearing her pulling her boys to pieces went against the grain.

‘So that’s your opinion, is it?’

Mariah shrugged. ‘For what it’s worth. It’s about time someone told you the truth of it. You and your family treat them like visiting royalty. Well, look where it’s got them. They’ve kneecapped a known villain in a dirty snooker club. I bet you’re really pleased about their good education now, ain’t you! And another thing while we’re about it...’

Briony held her hand up to stem the flow.

‘I think I’ve heard enough from you for one night, Mariah. I never realised before that you didn’t like my boys. But I think I get the picture now, thank you very much.’

She started to pull on her fox fur coat and Mariah grabbed her arm.

‘I love those boys, Briony, but unlike you I can see their faults. They play you, girl. They get all spruced up round Bernie’s before they darken your door, then they sit and smile - and I tell you now, girl, they’re taking the bleeding piss! Oh, I don’t dispute they love you. No ... they worship you. But all the same, they know what you want from them and they deliver it. This is the proof of it. You told me tonight that they were thinking of getting a little business. You was pleased as bloody punch. Finally settling themselves, you said. And what is this business? Collecting fucking rents! It’s villainy they want, girl. They want to be like the Rileys. Like...’

Briony pushed Mariah in her ample breasts, shouting, ‘Go on, say it! They want to be like me ... me and you. Because you’re in all this up to your bloody neck too!’