He was slowly working out a plan in his mind. A lot of the old South London mob weren’t known faces. It would be so easy to get them to stir up a little trouble under Angus’s guidance. Under no circumstances could they be recognised as his own men.

It was time to go back and see Angus and fill him in on his plan, after he had told Jake.

First, he wanted Christine to come around and have another go at sorting out his hair. There was no way he was going to see his grandmother looking like that. If Christine had to put a hair dye on it for now, then so be it.

Getting into the back of his beige Rolls Royce, with the oyster finish that made it look as though it changed colours in the sunshine, made Tony feel like he had achieved something. Dressed as he was, in a double-breasted grey suit and tie, bought under Mathers’ guidance, he felt like a man about town.

Now and again Tony still drove past the old haunts where he used to sleep as a child, just to remind himself what he was striving for. It kept his feet firmly on the ground.

‘My plan is simple, Jake, and no one is going to get hurt. Maybe a few bumps and bruises, but nothing they can’t handle, and I’ll see that they are well paid for it.’

Jake took a deep sigh and put his head back on the luxurious leather head rest of the car. ‘Go on, then, let’s have it, Tony. I’ve seen that brain of yours working overtime.’

‘What do these pubs really not want on their doorsteps and what is it that the South London mob were famous for? Take your time.’ The smug grin on his face made Jake feel sick inside.

‘Drugs, that is what they don’t want on their doorsteps, they cause too much trouble and that is what the South London mob were famous for.’

There, now Jake had the smug expression on his face. He was sure Tony hadn’t expected him to come up with the answers so soon.

‘Nice one, Jake. That’s definitely one to you. We go away, like you and Sharon suggested. Thinking that we are out of the way, the South London mob, via Angus and with a little bit of gear from our old friend, Bennie – who I hear is doing okay with his new set up – will hang around the pubs and snooker halls and do some dealing.’ Tony nodded at Jake; he was beaming at his master plan.

He continued. ‘Dan, and those guys he hangs around with, are still our eyes and ears. He’s always been loyal, and he’s turned out okay. A few years ago, he was on a downhill slope. Now, he’s got money coming in and got his act together.’

Jake was astonished. ‘Dan? You’ve got him working the bar at the club, that’s how he keeps his ear to the ground these days. And his mates, well, some of them work our doors. Why would you want to get him into trouble, selling drugs?’ Jake shook his head. Tony was right, Dan and his mates had been more than useful, so why was Tony turning against them now?