Her father had presented her with a lovely flat in Canary Wharf; it was the envy of everyone she knew. It was gorgeous – it had fabulous views across the river, and it was furnished to the highest standards; she would have expected nothing less from her dad. Like everything else in his life, he thought that if it cost a fortune then it must be good. She hated the place. It was another reminder of her father’s hold over her. It wasn’t in her name so she was no more than a lodger. It was hers only so he would know where she was living, just like he paid her a weekly wage so he could keep her within his orbit. Everything her parents did had an ulterior motive.

She slipped inside the public house, breathing in the familiar smell of sweat and stale beer. She saw the dealer she was looking for standing at the bar, and she made her way over to him quickly. It was late, and the place was nearly empty.

Georgie Burns smiled at her, displaying his gold teeth. It had been a slow night, and Jessie Flynn was always a good spender. She bought in bulk and paid cash, and that guaranteed her a very warm welcome. With his gold teeth and expensive dreads, Georgie looked every inch the bad man. In the real world, he had a degree in Sociology and his parents were both teachers. He had grown up in a nice house in North London with two sisters and an overweight Labrador called Bubbles. Now he was a dealer because it was the only way he could earn himself a decent living, pay his mortgage, and cover his two daughters’ school fees. His wife was a woman who needed a good wage coming in; she liked the finer things in life. She was also more than willing to turn a blind eye to her husband’s activities.

‘Hello, Jessie. You looking for me, girl?’

Jessie smiled. She genuinely liked Georgie – he was a nice bloke and one of the few men in her life who had never tried to take advantage of her.

‘Of course I am, Georgie. I wouldn’t come inside this shithole otherwise, would I?’

They laughed together, and Georgie motioned to the barmaid for drinks. ‘Agreed. So, what you after tonight?’

‘Just the usual.’ She glanced around her. ‘It’s empty in here tonight. I’m amazed you’re still here.’

Georgie shrugged with irritation. ‘Nothing going on anywhere, girl. I was just on my way home.’ He passed her a large JD and Coke, and she swallowed it down quickly.

‘Soho is the same. Dead as a fucking doornail.’

Georgie laughed at her delightedly. ‘You should have gone clubbing. It’s a week night, for fuck’s sake.’

Jessie grinned. ‘I know. But I didn’t feel like it tonight. How much do I owe you?’