She would recognise Freddy Moss and Billy Walsh anywhere.

She pauses, watching from a distance, as they return to the doorway and emerge once again carrying more boxes. This is the work they are doing for Peter Lazenby, then. As Billy has told her, they are delivering goods – alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, whatever he asks. She can’t see Peter. She can’t imagine he will be heaving boxes.

Another man appears in the doorway and she catches a glimpse of his face in the light. She does not know him. He is older. He scans the street, up and down, anxious for the Elephants to leave. Billy climbs into the driver’s seat and starts the engine. Moss talks to the man in the doorway.

Ruby takes a step back, keeping out of sight. She recognises from the way Moss is standing, up close to the older man, that he is threatening or intimidating him. The man in the doorway cowers, cringes, as if he expects to be shoved or punched. Moss does not need to hit him. The threat of violence is usually enough from a man like him.

Moss climbs into the car and Billy pulls away.

The man watches them go, glances down the street and then scuttles back inside, pulling the door closed behind him. He has not seen Ruby – and none of the passers-by has taken any notice of men loading boxes into a motor car. People load and unload goods all the time. It is only the man’s twitching that would attract attention.

She walks down the street and stands outside the door.

She had half-expected this to be the back of the Angel, but the small sign on the doorway tells her that this is the rear of the letting agency she visited with Peter’s money. It is Mr Mortimer’s office. The back door of the Angel is several steps further down the street.

So Mr Mortimer, as well as supplying flats, keeps stolen goods, or whatever was in the boxes, in the back of his office.

She turns the corner and continues to the Angel. The man at the door lets her in without question, barely acknowledging her.

The lobby is almost empty, but she can hear the music and knows that the club will be lively by this time of night.

‘Evening, Ruby.’ Daniel, the spindle-limbed young man at the cloakroom, greets her as an old friend. ‘Welcome to the family. Mr Lazenby said you’d be in tonight.’

Of course she is expected. She puts a hand to her throat.

‘Is Mr Lazenby downstairs?’

‘He’s in his office. He’s not to be disturbed.’ Daniel’s eyes flick to the stairs.

‘Who’s he meeting?’ It can’t be Billy and Moss. She’s just seen them leaving. It might be the General.

He shakes his head quickly. ‘I don’t know.’

He does know, she can tell, but he won’t say.