Vinny arrived home with a spring in his step. He could not believe he had forty quid in his pocket. It was beyond his wildest dreams. ‘All right? What’s up?’ he asked. His mum was having an argument with Michael.

‘You need to have a word with your brother, Vinny. He’s nothing like you and Roy. He’s lazy, has your father’s genes.’

‘No, I’m not lazy. I’m only nine!’

Vinny sat on the edge of the threadbare sofa. If he did that job, the ladies’ party, he would easily have enough dosh to buy his family a new sofa, he thought. ‘What’s this all about?’

‘Brian has told Roy that Michael can have your old job bringing the barrows in and out. Only problem is, Michael can’t be bothered to do it. He says he’s too young and should be out playing with his mates. The cheek of him, Vinny.’

Vinny sat next to Michael and put an arm around his shoulders. ‘Why don’t you want the job, boy?’

‘’Cause me and Kev have started earning money. We’re building go-karts and selling ’em to lads at school. I like building stuff, Vinny. I’m only small. Them barrows are big and hard to push. I don’t wanna work on the markets.’

Vinny pulled out his wallet and handed his mum fifteen pounds.

Queenie was stunned. ‘Fifteen! I thought you were joking when you said you were giving me a tenner?’

‘Nah. I never joke about money, Mum. Michael doesn’t need to work on the barrows just yet. Perhaps in a couple of years’ time, but not now. Me and Roy were older and taller than him when we started that job and believe me, it is hard graft. Let Michael do what he wants for the time being. I’ll be able to support us on my wages.’

‘I can’t take all your wages, boy. Take some back,’ Queenie insisted.

‘I’ve kept what I need for myself, Mum. That’s what I can spare for you. Take it, please.’

Queenie was stunned and worried all at the same time. ‘But how did you earn this type of money in a hotel, Vinny?’

Vinny grinned. ‘Arabs. Rich Arabs. If you’re polite to ’em, they don’t arf bloody tip well, Mum.’

When Vinny left the room, Queenie stared at the money in shock. If true, it was wonderful if Vinny had landed a legitimate job that was paying him that much money. But she had her doubts. She knew her eldest better than anybody and he’d been acting very secretive and weird of late.

‘Can I go out now, Mum?’ Michael asked.

‘Yes,’ Queenie snapped. Her instincts were never far wrong. Something about that posh hotel job didn’t ring true.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The queue was long in the greengrocer’s, so Queenie took her place at the back. Fifteen minutes, she’d been standing there, when she heard Sid shout out, ‘Violet, come to the front, sweetheart.’

Violet Kray’s sons’ Ronnie and Reggie had made a real name for themselves in the East End of late. They’d become even more notorious than the Kelly brothers.