‘Don’t look at me like that, babe,’ he complained. ‘We’ve never been enemies.’

‘Really?’

‘Look … we’re on different sides of the fence, I agree. But we weren’t always, were we?’

‘I was young and stupid back then,’ she said.

‘Some might say you’re stupid to do what you do now.’ Briefly, he sounded stung by her dismissal of their former relationship. ‘Lead a happy life, do you, Luce? Still see all your old muckers?’

‘My personal happiness is irrelevant, Kyle … whether I’m stupid or not depends on my response to this favour you’re about to ask.’

He didn’t immediately reply, humbled again – firstly because she’d clearly guessed why she was here, which kind of gave her an advantage, and secondly because if he wanted to get anything out of this, he had no real option other than to be nice to her.

‘One of our lot got turned over by Crowley Drugs Squad,’ he said.

‘Well … wonders never cease.’

‘No, look … this is serious. Remember Ian Dyke?’

‘Not sure. The memory plays tricks. All your idiots tend to blend into one.’

‘He’s been busted for possession with intent to supply.’ Armstrong shrugged. ‘It wouldn’t normally be a big deal … he was only carrying some draw, a few ecstasy tablets … but he really doesn’t want to go down.’

‘What’s that popular phrase?’ she said. ‘If you don’t like the time, don’t do the …?’

‘I know all that. Listen Luce, Dykey’s girlfriend’s just had a baby and he’s trying to get his life sorted. Got himself a proper job and everything. But this isn’t going to help with that, is it?’

‘If it’s only a bit of molly … he won’t go down for that.’

‘But he will lose the job.’

‘So, he’ll have to get another.’

‘Look …’ Armstrong seemed inordinately frustrated. ‘Of all my lads, Dykey’s the last one to deserve this shit.’

‘You telling me the Drugs Squad framed him?’

‘Nah … that’ll be his defence, but that’s not what happened.’

‘Well, then he does deserve it, doesn’t he?’

‘It was his last delivery,’ the biker stressed. ‘His very last one. After that, I was gonna cut him loose so he could start a normal family life.’

She eyed him with fascination. ‘So … is this your guilty conscience speaking, Kyle? Is the untouchable general finally getting a complex about the good little soldiers he sends into battle for him?’

‘Hey, I’m just trying to help a guy out who’s been a good mate of mine for a long time.’

She pondered, mulling over whether she could turn this thing to her own advantage. ‘Have we got a trial date yet?’

‘Yeah … next spring.’

‘Next spring?’

‘He’s at Manchester Crown.’

‘He’s at Crown Court?’ That surprised her. ‘And he was only delivering a few bits and bobs?’