‘All I want you to do is the same as you do here, but you’ll be in charge of the other men, you’ll make sure they do their collections and come back with the money. If there’s any trouble in the area that needs to be sorted, you speak to Jake or me and we’ll tell you what to do. There are drug dealers in the area, it’s a popular place for it, as you know, and I don’t want to hear that you’re doing it as well. I want a clear head at all times, or they’ll think you’re weak and a pushover, not the kind of man I want as a boss for the South London mob.’

Angus suddenly forgot himself, and forgot he was talking to Tony. He was quickly on the defensive. ‘Hold on, laddie, I don’t do anything like that. I like a little drink, but you know I’ve never been drunk on duty. The wife would kill me, and believe me, laddie, I’m more scared of her than I am of you.’

Tony and Jake both burst out laughing at that one. The thought of this big man being frightened of his wife was, indeed, funny.

‘Maybe I should let her take things over in the south, then; she sounds like she keeps you in order,’ said Tony. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. The upstairs accommodation that Marlon had used as his office was now clean, decorated, and set up as normal living quarters. He knew Angus and his family were living with his wife’s mother, because Angus was always in and out of prison. If she had her own home, and all she had to do to keep it was make sure Angus stayed in good order, Tony was sure she damn well would.

‘Of course,’ he said, ‘there’s a large flat above one of the pubs. It’s a good size and has a few bedrooms. Maybe you and your family could live there? That is, if you want to.’ Tony knew this was a great big carrot to dangle before Angus’s eyes. A home of their own, without his interfering mother-in-law bad-mouthing him. It would be sheer paradise.

‘You mean we get our own place as well, boss, just for looking after things for you and making sure no one tries to swindle you? Boss, you just got yourself a deal. Hell, my wife in her curlers and dressing gown, shouting and screaming, is a bloody scary sight. Aye laddie, I’ll do it, and I’ll make sure I do a good job for you. You just tell me what you want me to do, okay.’

Tony held out his hand to shake Angus’s. ‘Well, leader of the South London mob, you had better go home and tell your wife to start packing.’ He smiled, oozing charm. Tony felt this show of flattery and trust would make Angus the loyal puppet he wanted.

After Angus had left, all fired up and excited to tell his wife the good news, Jake burst out laughing. ‘I think you’ve made a mistake there, Tony, sounds like we should let his wife take over, instead. Can you believe it? A guy that size is frightened of his wife! I bet she’s only five foot.’ They both laughed at the irony of it.