As Alfie went up the stairs – lit only by a flickering red light – to the flat above the club, he thought again about the promise he’d made to Franny. He’d told her he wouldn’t go around and see Charlie until they were certain about the fire, but when he’d put the phone down, he’d thought better of it. Jesus, this wasn’t just a few threats here and there; this was a raging fire that basically had wiped out the whole building and most of next door’s place. And okay, Franny had asked him not to go and pay Charlie a visit, but the way he saw it, what Franny didn’t know couldn’t hurt her.

He didn’t even want to start thinking about how much money they were going to lose through all the damage caused by the fire, and that was even before taking into account any future earnings. Yes, they had insurance but until everything had been investigated, the insurance company wouldn’t even think about paying out. It could all take months. And now with Vaughn gone, everything was going to be left down to him, which meant someone had to pay. And he was going to make sure that someone was Charlie Eton.

‘Hello, Charlie.’

Charlie, having just come out of the bathroom, looked at Alfie in puzzlement. He wiped his hand on the small, grey towel at the same time as making a mental note to pull up his men for letting Alfie slip by them.

‘What are you doing here? Though you look better than you did yesterday. That coke must’ve done you good.’

Alfie’s face darkened. ‘Let’s just say things have taken a different turn. You know what I’m talking about, so let’s not pretend.’

Charlie walked over to light himself a cigarette, keeping his gaze on Alfie. ‘You’re not being very nice given that less than forty-eight hours ago you were weeping like a baby on my shoulder.’

Angrily, Alfie screwed up his face. ‘That’s different, and besides, you know what I’m getting at.’

‘No, Alf, actually I don’t. As usual you’re talking in fucking riddles, and I take it now your club’s been somewhat destroyed, you’re not here to talk about our deal, which is a shame. I was looking forward to becoming a partner in your business.’

Alfie, taken aback by what he saw as Charlie’s brazenness, was bemused. ‘Are you having a fucking laugh?’

Charlie chuckled. ‘Yes, but clearly you aren’t, though I’m glad I’ve seen you because I wanted a word about my niece. I understand you’ve been looking after her.’

‘What?’

Blowing the smoke out of his mouth, Charlie laughed but at once he began to choke. Through splutters and spitting, he just managed to get his words out. ‘Shannon. She tells me you and Vaughn were good to her.’