Her voice is low, grown cracked and husky from the Woodbines. She leans in and speaks like a thief: always quiet, never wanting to be overheard.

‘Maggs.’ She gives her old associate an easy smile. They go way back – as far as the gutter they were born in, they both say. Annie might be Queen, but Maggs is the general of her thieving army. Annie turns to survey the rest of her troops. ‘Ladies.’

Daisy slips into the seat next to Ruby. There are dark circles under her eyes and her cheeks are pale. Beneath the table, Ruby reaches out a hand and squeezes Daisy’s fingers.

‘Sit down, Annie.’ Maggs drags a chair over from a neighbouring table, wiping her hand over the seat to make sure it’s clean and dry. ‘Join us.’ The look she gives to Ronald and Albert makes it clear that the invitation is not extended to them, and they fall back, blending into the crowd of dark-suited men, happier to down pints with their friends than stand guard over their sister. She needs no guarding.

‘Pay day,’ says Annie, lifting a large cream handbag onto her lap. ‘I hear your cell did well this morning, Maggs.’

The Forties are split into cells. There are six of them in Maggs’s cell: five who go out hoisting and Grace, who is too old to run from the coppers these days, but who takes care of whatever they bring back. They all know that Annie will have gone over the accounts with Grace at the warehouse. Nothing will have been written down – nothing is ever written down if it’s not legitimately supposed to be there – but Annie will have a note of the merchandise, the figures, the designated outlets, all in her head. She will know what each item was worth and how much to expect for it.

‘We did alright.’ Maggs picks up her glass and swills down her stout. ‘No trouble. It worked well for us to split into two pairs.’

Daisy tenses her shoulders.

‘How are you doing, Daisy?’ Annie looks at the crumpled woman. ‘You look like you need some cheering up, some new clothes, a pretty hat and a decent meal.’

‘I’m a’right.’ Daisy’s voice is small, but she’s proud. ‘Managing.’

‘Well, we’ll look after you, like we always do. You won’t go short while Harry’s away.’

‘I know. Thanks, Annie.’ Her eyes redden and tears begin to form. ‘I’m strong. I can work. It’s only that… I’ll miss him.’

She presses her face into Ruby’s shoulder.

Grace gives her a fond look. ‘Bless you, darling. What it must be to have a man worth missing.’

‘And you’ll be back out with the girls when you’re ready,’ says Annie.

‘Next time,’ the muffled voice agrees.

‘Did you say something about pay, or did I mishear you?’ Maggs is keen to see her money. She always is.