‘What in the hell does she want to see me for? There’s nothing to bleeding well say, is there? I’ll lose all my remission over this little lot. I’m going back to the nick for another two and a half years plus anything else the beak likes to throw at me for the things I’ve done while I’ve been out. On top of that I’ll be dragging this leg around behind me like a log of wood for the rest of my life when I get out.’

‘And a bloody good thing as well,’ Brady said brutally. ‘No more climbing for you, my lad.’

‘I’ll get her now,’ Miller said. ‘You can see her alone. We’ll wait outside.’

The Gunner shrugged. ‘Suit yourself.’

Miller and Brady went out and a second later, the girl came round the screen and stood at the end of the bed. Her face was very pale and there was a nasty bruise on her forehead, but she was still about fifty times better in every possible way than any other woman he’d ever met. There was that strange choking feeling in his throat again. He was tired and in great pain. He was going back to gaol for what seemed like forever and for the first time he was afraid of the prospect. He felt just like a kid who had been hurt. He wanted to have her come round the bed and kiss him, smooth back his hair, pillow his head on her shoulder.

But that was no good – no good at all. What he did now was the most courageous thing he had ever done in his entire life, braver by far than his conduct on the roof when facing Faulkner.

He smiled brightly. ‘Surprise, surprise. What’s all this?’

‘I’ve been waiting for hours. They wouldn’t let me in before. Gran sends her regards.’

‘How is she?’ The Gunner couldn’t resist the question. ‘They tell me she finished him off good and proper up there. How’s she taken it? Flat on her back?’

‘Not her – says she’d do it again any day. They’ve told you who he was?’ The Gunner nodded and she went on, ‘I was in such a panic when he started smashing his way in that I locked her in the bedroom and forgot all about the shotgun. She keeps it in the wardrobe. She had to shoot the lock off to get out.’

‘Good job she arrived when she did from what they tell me.’

There was a slight silence and she frowned. ‘Is anything wrong, Gunner?’

‘No – should there be?’

‘You seem funny, that’s all.’

‘That’s me all over, darlin’. To tell you the truth I was just going to get some shut-eye when you turned up.’

Her face had gone very pale now. ‘What is it, Gunner? what are you trying to say?’