Not interested in doing anything near to backing off, Vaughn continued. ‘I don’t like it meself, but she ain’t to be trusted. You know that, but you just don’t want to admit it.’

Knocking back the vodka and immediately pouring himself another drink, Alfie said, ‘You’ve just got it in for her. Ever since she took that money, you’ve been looking for something to hang on her.’

‘Well do you blame me? She’s screwed us over once and she’s capable of doing that again.’

Angrily, Alfie threw the glass to the side. He rubbed the stubble on his chin. ‘She ain’t like that.’

‘Oh, please, Alf, that’s exactly what you said last time, yet she took two million quid right from under our noses.’

‘She did that to save her family.’

‘Whatever the reason she still did it and even to this day we ain’t got our money back. Wake up, son, and see what’s in front of your face.’

Trying his hardest not to grab Vaughn and give him a good hiding, Alfie slammed his fist down on the bar. ‘First off, never call me son, and secondly where do you get off trying to cause trouble? Don’t get me wrong, it pissed me off as well and it caused us a whole load of grief, but just cos someone’s late don’t mean they’re up to no good. Fuck me, that would mean most of the population at one time or another were mugging each other off.’

Vaughn snorted with derision. ‘Why all of a sudden the rose-tinted glasses, eh? You need to smash those fuckers up and see what’s going on in front of your nose.’

‘So where’s your proof then? You ain’t got any have you?’

‘If you must know I heard her on the phone earlier, telling someone not to call her. She was well agitated. She’s up to something.’