He was startled out of his reverie by a tap on the window of the car. He got out, passed over the parcel, took the envelope with the money in and, getting back in his car, pulled away immediately. No words were exchanged.

Smiling to himself, PC Dillinger turned left and made his way towards Rainham, Berwick Manor and the good life.

Briony burnt the pickaxe handle herself, watching it until all that was left were a few cinders. Then she smiled tightly at the man in Ford’s furnace room, slipped him a monkey, and walked back to her car where Jimmy Nailer drove her silently back to Manor Park and Bernadette.

Delia had not emerged from the bedroom, had neither eaten nor spoken to anyone. Bernadette had left her there, frightened of what she would do to her daughter if she spoke to her for any length of time. When Briony returned, Bernadette ran out to the hallway, beating a white-faced Cissy to the front door.

‘Is everything all right, Bri?’

Briony smiled. Her first real smile of the day. ‘It’s OK now. Everything done. We should have them back in the morning.’

She pulled off her light coat and slung it over the banister.

‘Cissy love, stop staring and make a cuppa, strong and sweet. Where’s Delia, Bernie?’

Cissy rushed off to make the tea, her nervousness apparent to anyone. Bernadette followed Briony into the drawing room and stammered, ‘She ain’t been down. I can’t go up to her, Bri, I’ll muller her. I’ve never been so frightened or so annoyed in all me life.’

Briony nodded, understanding.

‘Where’s Faithey?’

‘She’s asleep, bless her heart. I put her down about an hour ago.’

‘I’ll go up to Delia. She has to know what to say. The Old Bill could be here again any time with a warrant for her arrest. They’ll want to question her about the fight with Jimmy. I want her word perfect when they see her.’

Briony practically ran up Bernadette’s shining staircase and burst into Delia’s bedroom.

She jumped with fright as she saw her aunt at the bottom of her bed like an avenging angel.

‘You’ve caused some trouble, my girl, but I’m pleased to say I have sorted it all out.’ Briony’s voice was low and hard, nothing like the usual tone she used with her niece, and Delia felt the prickle of fear getting bigger until it enveloped her whole body.

‘Oh, Auntie Bri ...’

Briony cut her off with a wave of her hand and sat on the bed heavily.