‘Alfie mate, it ain’t from him.’ Charlie’s voice held an unusual warmth. ‘Jesus Christ. Look, I know you and me have a lot of agg at the moment over the club, but I don’t want to see you like this. You’re losing it, mate. You need to go home, have a shower and a shave. You’re looking terrible, and I swear, Alf, I don’t know anything about any letters.’

Ignoring what Charlie had to say, Alfie charged over to him, grabbing hold of his tracksuit top and shaking him hard. ‘Char, you’re lying! I know it!’

‘I’m not, and do you know why, mate? Listen to me carefully here. Because they ain’t from him. Now let go of me.’

Blinking, and with a manic, faraway look in his eye, Alfie nodded, dropping his hold. He began to pace up and down again at the same time as Charlie went over to the large black locker in the corner.

Opening the top drawer, Charlie pulled out a bag of cocaine, tapping some out on the side before cutting it up finely. He waved a silver toot at Alfie, still speaking gently to him. ‘Here, mate, take some of this – it looks like you need some.’

Sounding broken, Alfie walked over to where Charlie was standing. ‘Yeah thanks.’ But about to snort a line, Alfie stopped, staring intently at Charlie. ‘You really think it’s not from him?’

‘Jesus, Alf, how many times – of course I don’t.’

A shallow exhalation came from Alfie as he tried to get his breath, shame rushing over him. ‘Cos I’m scared, mate, and I know it’s stupid, but I’m scared.’

Charlie gave a small but genuine smile. ‘I know you are, but it’ll be fine, Alf … I’m here. It’s going to be fine.’

And almost to himself, Alfie nodded, the tears falling down his cheeks as he leant his head on Charlie’s shoulder. ‘It’s going to be fine … it’s going to be fine … it’s going to be fine.’

‘For fuck’s sake! Jesus Christ!’ Vaughn banged on the horn. Fuck! What the fuck did she think she was doing?

‘Get out of the way! Get out of my way!’

Shannon stood in front of the revving car, smiling a semi-toothless grin at Vaughn. She’d seen Bree come out of the flat and although Bree had been with some woman she didn’t know, she’d made up her mind to go and say hello – after all, at one time they’d known each other pretty well – but when she’d seen Vaughn’s car turning around in the street, the thought of getting a lift back to Soho was more inviting than a quick chat with Bree.