‘Too long and still another three months on secure,’ Rhea said, as she kicked the half-open door of Oli’s old room. It had been vacuumed and clean sheets put on the bed, but Oli’s Aston Villa posters had stayed on the wall.

The bed bounced as the big pack hit the mattress.

‘Maybe I’ll show you around the neighbourhood,’ Rhea said, as she stepped closer. ‘If you like, that is.’

‘For sure,’ Ryan said, smiling.

‘Wanker!’ Daniel said, as he barged through the door and gave his big brother a friendly shoulder punch. ‘Train OK?’

Leon came in behind and got a jolt. He was conscious that Rhea was a year older and stood the same height as him if she wore heels. Ryan was almost a head taller, making Rhea look like perfect girlfriend material for his older brother.

‘Missed you,’ Leon said, stepping past his brothers and marking territory by giving Rhea a kiss. She accepted it grudgingly, before taking a step back.

‘You missed me since breakfast?’ Rhea said disbelievingly, tutting. Then she smiled at Ryan. ‘So you guys are brothers? I totally see the resemblance now.’

‘I got the full share of brains and looks,’ Ryan explained. ‘The twins got half each.’

‘Kiss my ass,’ Daniel smirked, but Leon was too jealous to join the smiles.

‘I’ll leave you bros to catch up,’ Rhea said, enjoying Leon’s discomfort and giving Ryan a wink as she edged out.

‘You wanna go to my room?’ Leon asked, but Rhea didn’t bother answering.

‘Smooth,’ Ryan grinned, not wanting to cause trouble, but unable to resist teasing his little brother.

‘I saw her first,’ Leon said, once Rhea was way down the hallway.

‘Give over,’ Ryan said. ‘She just started flirting with me. How could I possibly know what was going on?’

‘If I looked like Leon I’d be worried,’ Daniel said.

‘Huh!’ Leon snorted. ‘When did you last make out with someone, stud?’

It had taken Ryan less than two minutes to be reminded that while he loved his twin brothers in theory, actual time in their presence was pretty irritating.

‘So I spoke to James before I came over here,’ Ryan said, trying to take charge. ‘I’ll unpack, grab some food. Then we’ll go see Trey.’

Ryan had been set up with a tatty Peugeot 208 and drove his brothers a couple of miles south, to Edgbaston. The house was detached, with a mossy paved drive. A BMW M3 Coupe sat next to a seven-seat Citroen with a pair of child seats in the back. It wasn’t luxury, but it was good digs for a guy whose only official job was as a part-time controller for his father’s taxi business.

The woman answering the door looked harassed. Two little kids running round half naked, bottles being sterilised in the microwave, washing machine running and something on the stove.