Tommy sat supporting Rosalee, his terrible secret still untold. He waited until the church began to empty before he crooked his forefinger at Boysie and whispered the secret for the first time. He looked at Rosalee in Tommy’s arms and, kneeling down, put a hand gently to her face. Then, to the amazement of the priest, he began to sob, loud sobbing that caught the attention of everyone around him. Kerry, drunk as she was, took in the news quicker than anyone else. She sat crying silently alone until Evander, still smarting over the shock he had caused to the congregation, put his arm around her and tried as best he could to console her.

Briony was stunned. She sat beside her sister while the priest held the purple stole to her and whispered the prayers for the dead.

Her Rosalee was dead.

Her Rosalee whom she had loved all her life. Had cared for, fed with frozen fingers in the basements. Had played with and crooned to. Whom she had loved as Rosalee. Just Rosalee, her sister and her friend. She was gone forever.

Poor Rosalee, people had always said. They had never realised just how rich she was.

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

‘I don’t care if it is Christmas, I don’t care if Christ himself is coming here to gamble, I want me money, Davey, and I want it now.’ Boysie’s face was dark with anger.

Davey Mitchell was terrified, but made a good show of hiding this fact.

‘Look, Boysie, I borrowed the money and you’re charging me interest on it. I’ll pay it, right. It’ll be paid.’

Boysie clenched his fists and held them up in front of his face.

Davey felt a thrill of terror.

‘Don’t mug me off, Davey, don’t even think about mugging me off. You borrowed a grand, now you owe two and a half. I want that by New Year’s Eve or I’ll hurt you. Really hurt you.’

The last was said low and Davey swallowed hard. ‘You’ll have it.’