Overcome by anxiety, Eddie got himself another pint and a whisky chaser. He didn’t know what he was going to say to Jessica. With everyone due around for dinner, she was bound to go apeshit at him.

As Buster and Bruno tried to clamber up his leg, he sipped his drink and stroked their heads. ‘Why is my life so fucking difficult, boys? Yous two have got it easy. When I die, I’m coming back as a fucking dog!’

Jessica basted the roast potatoes and slammed the oven door shut. Where the bloody hell had Eddie got to?

‘All right to get another beer, Jess?’ Gary asked.

‘Help yourself, love. Can you make sure everyone’s got a drink for me? Christ knows where your father is. He was only taking the dogs for a run and he’s been gone nearly two hours. I can’t do everything, Gary. I’m trying to cook the bloody dinner.’

Gary squeezed Jessica’s arm. ‘You just concentrate on the food and I’ll deal with everything else. Once I’ve sorted the drinks out, I’ll give the old man a ring, see where he’s got to.’

‘Thanks, love. I already tried to ring him twice, but he’s not answering his phone,’ Jessica said gratefully.

Shouting at the dogs to stop yelping, Eddie sped down the A13. Aware that his phone was ringing yet again, he answered it. ‘Where are you, Dad? Jess has got the right needle,’ Gary informed him.

Eddie didn’t want anyone to know where he was going. ‘I’ve lost one of the dogs, Gal. Buster bolted into the woods and I’m hunting for him now.’

‘Me and Ricky’ll come and help you find him,’ Gary offered.

‘No, don’t worry. I’ve got a couple of dog walkers helping me. Look, do us a favour, son. I don’t wanna upset the kids, so tell Jess on the quiet. I won’t come back till I’ve found him – he can’t have gone far.’

Gary ended the call and went to find Jessica to explain.

‘I can’t understand why he took ’em out in the car in the first place. We’re inundated with fields around here. Where has he taken them?’

Gary shrugged. ‘He didn’t exactly say, but he mentioned the woods.’

Jessica thanked Gary and began cutting the meat. Her husband’s story sounded a little bit too far-fetched for her liking.

Not sure where they were supposed to be meeting, Eddie rang Gina as he drove into Benfleet.

‘Follow the road straight down and the pub comes up on your right. I’m sitting in the car park in a black Nissan Micra,’ Gina told him.

Eddie spotted her immediately and parked right next to her. ‘What have you got?’ he asked, as he squeezed his big frame into her small passenger seat.