Solomon Shepherd smiled as he held open the door of Michael’s Range Rover for Grace. Taking her hand as she stepped out, he guided her away from the large muddy puddle precariously close to her feet and her very expensive Louboutin’s.

‘Sol, so good to see you again,’ she said, kissing his cheek.

‘You too, Grace. It’s been too long.’

Grace linked her arm through his as they walked towards the builder’s yard where Sol conducted most of his business. Michael Carter followed close behind.

They were greeted at the door of the old Portakabin, which served as an office, by Sol’s right-hand man, Neville Moss, whose large frame almost filled the doorway. He grunted as the three of them made their way into the surprisingly well-furnished room.

‘Make us all a brew, Nev,’ Sol ordered as he offered Grace and Michael a seat.

‘So, how’s business, Grace?’ Sol asked as Neville made tea behind him.

‘Good.’ She nodded. ‘And you?’

‘Just great.’ He smiled.

Grace shot Michael a surreptitious glance. She knew Sol was lying. He’d recently lost a boatload of money after a massive police operation had seen his suppliers arrested and receiving hefty sentences. A police informant had been the key to the whole thing. Much to Sol’s humiliation and annoyance, the leak had come from within his own workforce. The informant earned himself a bullet to the head and a shallow grave for his betrayal. It was a miracle that Sol himself hadn’t been lifted too. Although having a considerable number of Greater Manchester police on his payroll ensured that Sol was rarely in the line of fire.

Never one to miss out on a business opportunity, Grace had offered to become Sol’s new supplier. She’d met him years earlier after Patrick had introduced them. Sol was one of the most powerful players in Manchester and Patrick and Michael had once worked as his enforcers. Like most men of his standing, in Grace’s experience at least, he thought he was irresistible to women. And despite being married, he’d taken a keen interest in Grace as soon as he’d met her. She’d received dozens of bouquets of roses, jewellery and even a car in his bid to bed her. She returned the gifts to him, but he continued to persist in his efforts.