“Over time, the McDades grew frustrated about not being able sell drugs in our territories, especially when we went straight in the eighties. Our business grew and grew. There had been skirmishes over the years, but it wasn’t until the last McDade got older and was influenced by his son Malky McDade that things got bad. Malky got one of their dealers, Kevin Drury, to sell drugs outside Isy’s private school. Some of the older sixth years bought some, and he kept returning every day. Eventually, he got Isy’s best friend to take cocaine. She overdosed and died.”

“Oh my God. Poor Isy, did she see—”

Mack nodded. “She was in hysterics. Nikki didn’t know what to do with her. All she kept saying was It was for me. It was meant to be me.”

“Poor girl.”

Mack nodded. “It broke our hearts. Nikki made inquiries, and it turned out there was a hit out on Isy, but no one knew who from. We now know it was probably Malky McDade.”

“A hit? Like an execution? But she’s just a little girl.” Tears started to fall from Flora’s eyes.

Mack nodded. “It goes against all the unwritten rules of the street. You don’t involve children or families of your rivals.”

“I can’t imagine what Isy went through, losing her best friend.”

“She’s always been a quiet, sensitive girl, and she just couldn’t cope. Nikki and I had to deal with Kevin Drury and find out who paid him. Nikki took the lead—she’s never been frightened of getting her hands dirty, and this was for her daughter, and the family of her friend. Kevin said some disgusting things about the girls, but just as he was about to give us a name, we heard the police sirens coming. Someone had called them, hoping to get Nikki arrested, no doubt.”

“What did you do?”

“I told Nikki to go. We had a car waiting at the other side of the building. She didn’t want to, but I knew Isy couldn’t have coped if her mum was convicted and taken away from her.”

“She left?” Flora asked.

Mack nodded. “Eventually. I was there with him when the police busted in.”

“You were arrested?”

“Aye, I had to do it for my family. Nikki is our leader, and Isy needs her. I was convicted and got a light sentence. We had a really good lawyer.”

“Wow, you really do love your family, don’t you?” Flora said.

Mack waited a beat and said, “I’d do anything for those that I love.”

Flora’s breath caught at that statement. “I believe you.”