Seeing her husband and Dougie walk into the kitchen, Jessica quickly changed the subject. ‘The twins want to go out to see their friends, Ed. I think it will do them good to get out of the house, don’t you?’

Eddie nodded. He had been so wrapped up in his father’s death, he hadn’t given Frankie and Joey much thought. ‘Me and Dougie are gonna pop out to see a few people, so I’ll drop ’em off on the way. You’ll be OK here with your Mum, Dad and Vicki, won’t you? If the Old Bill turn up, just fuck ’em off till later. If Gary and Ricky ring, tell ’em to get the first flight home.’

Jessica was worried. She knew how hot-headed Eddie could be and she didn’t want him doing anything stupid. ‘Where are you going? You won’t be long, will you?’

Eddie shook his head. ‘Couple of hours, tops. Gonna go for a couple of pints with Dougie and Pat Murphy.’

Relieved that he was only going to the pub, Jessica called Frankie and Joey. ‘Your dad’s going out and he’s gonna drop you off at your friend’s,’ she told them.

Frankie and Joey glanced at one another. Friend’s my arse – they were going straight to the pub.

Opening the front door, Eddie spotted a geezer in a bush with a camera. Furious, he lost his rag and chased him. ‘Get off my land, you cunt. I told you earlier, this is private fucking property. You step one foot in here again and I’ll chop your fucking bollocks off.’

‘I just want to ask you a few questions, Mr Mitchell. Is it true that –’

Picking the paparazzo up by the throat, Eddie snatched his camera from him and jumped up and down on it. The petrified man fell to the floor and curled himself up in a ball. ‘Please don’t hurt me – I’m sorry,’ he pleaded.

Dougie grabbed hold of Eddie. There were flashbulbs going nineteen to the dozen and his pal wasn’t doing himself any favours. ‘Get back indoors, kids. Come on, Ed, leave it – he’s not worth it,’ Dougie urged.

Hearing the commotion outside, Jessica let out a scream. Stanley tried to comfort his daughter. ‘Ssh, Jess, it’s all finished now, love. Eddie’s coming back inside,’ he told her.

‘Good for Eddie. They want locking up, them press,’ Joyce said boldly.

Dougie dragged Eddie into the house and told Jessica to pour him a strong drink. ‘He don’t need all this shit with them knobs out there,’ he said, sticking up for his friend.

Stanley put on his jacket. ‘I’ll drop the kids off at their mate’s. I’ve got to go home to see to me pigeons,’ he offered.

Jessica nodded. The further away from all this upset the children were, the better.