‘Erm, I bring my own sandwiches and on a nice day like this, I sit on the green down by the church and read my magazines.’

‘Let’s go there then. What I’ve got to say to you won’t take too long.’

The rest of the journey was walked in silence. Queenie sat on the grass opposite the girl.

‘I take it this is about Vinny?’ Yvonne asked. ‘Did he tell you what happened last Saturday?’

‘No. Vinny didn’t. However, not much goes on round ’ere that I don’t get to hear about. I’m quite well known you see. For instance, I know you’ve been seeing your last boyfriend, Trevor Thomas, again. A pal of Albie’s spotted you with him in a pub in Barking.’

‘I’m not back with Trevor or anything like that. We’re just friends and I needed someone to talk to.’

‘I doubt Vinny would see it that way, would he? I haven’t told him, not yet anyway. But my guess would be he’d throttle the bloody pair of ya.’

Yvonne’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t want any trouble, Queenie. Please don’t say anything.’

‘So, here’s the deal. I won’t say anything to Vinny, provided you end your relationship with him.’

‘But he’s my boyfriend. I like him.’

‘You’re no good for my son, Yvonne. For a start, you’re too old. You also make him miserable, not happy. I’ve got some savings, two hundred pounds. I will give it to you. You can make a fresh start somewhere, with Trevor. He’s older, more mature than Vinny. Between you and me, Yvonne, my Vinny has a screw loose,’ lied Queenie. ‘You must never repeat this to anyone, but the last girl who cheated on Vinny was found floating face down in the Thames. Whatever you do, do not tell Vinny I told you this as he will see you as a liability and might feel he has to get rid of you too. It’s your safety I’m thinking of here – and Trevor’s. I would hate any harm to come to either of you.’

Hand over her mouth and deathly white, Yvonne mumbled. ‘Oh my God! Vinny told me I was his first girlfriend.’

‘Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he? He’s hardly going to mention the one found floating.’

Recalling how scared she’d been when Vinny grabbed her around the throat last Saturday and how badly he’d beaten up her old school friend Timmy Dickins, Yvonne felt a shiver down her spine. ‘Where would I go? And what about my mum?’

‘You’re a hairdresser. You can get a job anywhere in the country, can’t you? Your mum can visit you and your friends.’

‘I don’t know. Trevor’s got a job and he’s very close to his mum. I’m not going away on my own. I’d be too scared.’

‘You’ve got good enough powers of persuasion. I’m sure if you begged Trevor to come with you, he would.’

‘What about Sparkle?’

‘You can take him with ya. I can sneak him out the house and bring him to you. I’ll just tell Vinny and the kids he’s gone missing. They won’t be any the wiser.’