Jessica was frantic. She had been constantly trying to call her husband’s mobile for the past three hours and was still unable to get hold of him.

‘Try not to worry too much, Mum. Dad’s battery is always flat – they don’t last very long on them mobiles, you know,’ Joey said soothingly.

Stanley and Joyce glanced at one another. Christmas was absolutely ruined and they didn’t know what to do or say.

‘Why don’t I warm up some mince pies and pour everyone a drink?’ Frankie said helpfully.

Jessica looked at her in amazement. She was surprised her lazy daughter even knew how to use the oven. ‘Go on then, love,’ she told her. Until they knew what had happened, they had to try and carry on as normal.

The shrill of the phone diminished any hope of normality. ‘Eddie, where are you? What’s happened? I’ve been so worried,’ Jessica asked frantically.

Her husband’s reply knocked her for six. Feeling the colour drain from her face, she clung on to the armchair to stop herself from falling.

‘Listen Jess, I’ve got to go. The police want to speak to me again. I’ll call you back as soon as I can,’ Eddie told her.

Unable to breathe properly, Jessica felt her legs buckle underneath her. Joyce and Stanley leaped off the sofa and rushed to her aid. ‘Go and get your mum some water, Joey,’ Stanley shouted.

‘What’s the matter, Mum? What’s happened to Dad?’ Frankie asked.

Managing to sit up, Jessica sipped from the glass that her mother was holding.

‘Don’t just stand there, Stanley! She’s in shock, go and get her some brandy,’ Joyce bellowed.

Not able to cope with all the dramatics, Joey burst into tears.

Desperate to pull herself together for the sake of her children, Jessica downed the brandy in one. ‘It’s OK. Dad’s OK,’ she told the twins.

‘What’s happened, Mum?’ Frankie asked fearfully.

Urging her father to top her glass up, Jessica took a deep breath. ‘It’s G-g-grandad, he’s been m-m-murdered,’ she stammered.

Relieved that it wasn’t their father, the twins breathed a sigh of relief.

Raymond walked towards Eddie and grabbed him in a bear hug.

‘You didn’t have to come straight over, Ray. I bet your girlfriend weren’t too pleased,’ Eddie said to him.

‘Her parents didn’t look too happy, but Polly was OK. Now, tell me everything from the start. I loved your old man, Ed, I can’t fucking believe this has happened.’

With tears in his eyes, Eddie repeated the story. ‘He was bludgeoned to fuck, Ray. Paulie thought he’d been done with a hammer, but I’m sure it was a baseball bat. I could see the marks engraved on his face.’