When the song ends, I down my sherry and pour another. I’m calmer now. I wonder how Vinny and Roy are feeling. Vinny’s expecting a huge turnout, has a live singer on. I know the Kelly brothers will be there, and they’re bringing a group of their friends. ‘The more faces the merrier, Mum,’ Vinny told me earlier. ‘Word gets around then, our club’s the new place to be. That’s how the business works,’ he explained.

I put my fur jacket on, my present from Vinny. I smile. The Queenie who dressed in shabby clothes and skivvied for the Huntingdon-Browns seems a stranger to me now.

The phone rings. Vinny has had a callbox installed in the club reception area and I wonder if it’s Daniel.

‘Hello.’

My heart leaps at the sound of an Irish accent. ‘Daniel, is that you?’

‘I’m afraid not. Is that Queenie I’m speaking to?’

The voice sounds very much like Daniel’s. ‘Yes,’ I reply. ‘Who is this?’

There’s a pause. ‘Robbie O’Callaghan. Not sure if Daniel has ever mentioned me to you, but—’

‘How have you got my number? I interrupt. My heart is pounding. Something’s wrong. Instinct tells me.

‘Daniel gave me your number recently, just in case anything went wrong. I am so sorry to have to inform you of this, Queenie, but Daniel and Patrick were both shot dead earlier today. They were ambushed on their way to the ferry.’

‘Nah, that can’t be right. Who are you? Some joker? Daniel and Patrick are meeting me soon, they’ll be at the opening of my sons’ club. In fact, I bet they’re already there. You’re one of that family, aren’t you? The McCarthys?’

There was another pause. ‘I’m not one of those McCarthys, believe me,’ replied the man. He sounded choked up. ‘There’s no doubt the McCarthys are responsible for what happened today – and believe me, Queenie, I will be gunning for revenge. Daniel and Patrick were two of my oldest friends. I was very close to Mary too.’

Tears are streaming down my face. This can’t be happening. It feels like a nightmare. But I know it is true, can feel it in my bones.

‘Queenie, Daniel left me strict orders. If the worst was to happen, I was to call you and tell you that he loves you very much and he always will.’

I drop the phone on its cradle and collapse to my knees. ‘Not Daniel. Not my Daniel,’ I cry. I don’t even think about poor Patrick. All I can think about is the love of my life.

The phone rings again. ‘Mum, hurry up,’ urges Vinny. ‘It’s mobbed ’ere, exactly as I predicted it would be.’

I know that man on the phone wasn’t joking, but I pray that he was. ‘Are Patrick and Daniel O’Leary there yet?’

‘Don’t think so. Not seen ’em. Just hurry up, will ya? I’m gonna do a speech soon and you gotta be ’ere for that.’

I slam the phone down and burst into tears. I take off my fur coat and look in the mirror. I don’t look beautiful any more. I don’t feel it either. Who was I kidding, thinking I’d finally found love and happiness? I’ve always been cursed. Well, from the moment I was raped as a child anyway.