‘Celebrities?’ asked Sandy.

Porter shrugged. ‘I probably wouldn’t recognise them even if they were.’

‘Let me buy you something, Dad,’ she said. ‘For Christmas.’

Porter laughed. He’d made sure the £250,000 was paid into their joint account, and then he’d taken his own name off it. He didn’t want the money, and he wasn’t sure he’d trust himself even if he had it. There was a lot of vodka you could buy with that kind of wedge. Sandy had her place at UCL, starting next September, and was planning a trip to Africa with one of her girlfriends during the summer holiday. She could use some of the money for that, use some to pay her tuition fees, then maybe use the rest to buy herself somewhere to live while she was at college. He’d started looking at some places for her. Maybe something that needed restoration. He could work on it when he wasn’t driving the car for Sky.

‘Just seeing you is enough,’ he said. ‘And knowing that you’re doing well.’

‘I’ll make it a surprise then,’ said Sandy.

Porter laughed. ‘I’ve had enough of those for a while, thanks.’

Porter glanced up at the waitress delivering the bill. Another Czech girl. He didn’t recognise her, but then they turned over very fast in this place. Most of them didn’t stick it for more than a couple of weeks, and this one would probably be gone after Christmas as well. ‘Who’s washing up tonight?’ Porter asked.

‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘I don’t … understand.’

Porter put down the money for the bill, then peeled off another couple of twenties from the roll in his pocket. ‘Tell the guy he’s doing a great job, and give him this.’

The girl nodded, looked at him as if he was mad, then walked away.

Porter collected his coat, helped Sandy with hers, and together they stepped outside into the cold night. They walked for a while along the Thames, towards where Porter had parked the Mercedes. A wind was whipping across the river, blowing hard into their faces, and Porter pulled the collar up around his coat, protecting his skin. His shoulder had mostly healed now, and he’d had a couple of new teeth fitted where he’d lost them, but he knew he still had to take things easy. It would be several months before he was completely better.

Taking another twenty from his pocket, Porter paused to give it to a man lying on the ground close to Vauxhall Bridge. He had a rough, beaten-looking face, and he smelt of beer and blood. Give the money now, thought Porter. Because in a few months’ time you’ll probably have forgotten all about them. You’ll walk straight past them, as if they weren’t even there, just like everyone else.

‘Thanks, mate … Merry Christmas.’

‘And you too,’ said Porter.

He clicked the car keys, and the doors on the Mercedes lit up as the locks sprang open. He opened the door for Sandy to climb inside. He’d run her up to St Pancras and get her on the last train to Nottingham before going home to get some kip.