Queenie was stunned. Mrs O’Leary must have told the boys. ‘Let Viv go now, ya nutter. It was me who told the O’Learys you beat Mum up. Not Mum or Viv.’

Eric let go of his youngest and drunkenly lunged at Queenie. ‘You don’t even fucking live ’ere any more. You got no right sticking your trunk in, causing trouble. You’ve always been a trouble maker, you.’

Queenie booted her father in his gammy leg, then felt relief as he fell to the floor. ‘Get out and don’t ever come back. You’re a drunk and a bully!’ Queenie felt her baby kicking her belly and a strength rose up in her that she’d had no idea she possessed. ‘We never want to see you again. And believe me, you so much as lay a finger on Mum or Viv, I’ll have you fucking murdered.’

‘Queenie, don’t make matters worse,’ Molly pleaded. Eric was becoming more and more irate.

‘You treacherous little mare,’ Eric roared, picking up the whisky bottle and unsteadily rising to his feet.

Spotting her dad stumble right at the top of the stairs, in a split second Queenie saw an opportunity to end her mother and sister’s suffering once and for all. She pushed the bastard with all her might.

‘No!’ Molly screamed. ‘Queenie, what have you done?’ she cried, as Eric tumbled backwards, landing with a thud at the bottom of the stairs.

Vivian was frozen to the spot, hand over mouth. ‘He’s not dead, is he?’ Her father was crumpled in an awkward position at the bottom of the stairs. His neck looked all twisted and he wasn’t moving.

Queenie ran past the man who’d made all their lives such a misery, without even glancing at him. She yanked open the front door. ‘Come in, Freddie,’ she said calmly. ‘I’m not gonna lie. Mum can barely move ’cause Dad kicked her so hard in the gut. He tried to strangle Viv, then he lifted his whisky bottle and I thought he was gonna smash me over the head with it. So I pushed him down the stairs.’

Molly hugged Vivian close to her aching ribs. Both were petrified. ‘Oh, Queenie. You can’t go to prison. You’re pregnant. This is all my fault. I should’ve been stronger. I know I should. I’m so sorry.’

‘I can’t lose you, Queenie. You’re not only my sister, you’re my best friend,’ cried Viv.

Freddie bent down and checked Eric’s pulse. He could see his neck was broken, so it was no surprise he couldn’t feel a pulse. A serious expression on his face, Freddie ordered Molly and Viv down the stairs. ‘Right, ’ere’s what we’re going to do. I shall call for help, but you’re not to say Queenie pushed Eric. You tell my superior that Eric was drunk and tumbled down the stairs while the rest of you were in the bedroom, OK?’

‘OK. Yes,’ replied Molly, her voice jittery.

Freddie swung around and placed his hands on Queenie’s shoulders. ‘Ya know what you’ve gotta say, don’t ya, Queen? My job’s on the line ’ere if you cock this up. Nobody will disbelieve you if you stick to the story. Everyone down the station knows what your dad is. Or was, should I say. Keep calm. Don’t panic. I don’t wanna see you face trial or go to prison. You don’t bloody deserve it.’