‘How did you know that Frankie and Jed were in Tilbury?’ Raymond asked, sipping his pint.

‘I hired a private detective. I need you to go and pay her for me tomorrow. She’s got the hots for me, so I ain’t going meself. I can’t anyway – I’ll be too busy indoors sorting Frankie out. I’ll ring Jess tomorrow morning, get her to come home. She’ll know what to do.’

‘Are you gonna tell Jess the same story as you’re telling Frankie?’ Raymond enquired.

‘Of course. No one must ever find out the truth. I’m not even gonna tell Gary or Ricky. The less anyone knows, the better with this one.’

‘Do you want another pint?’ Raymond asked.

‘Nah. I’ll just have an orange juice. We’ve got a big night ahead of us and we need our wits about us,’ Ed replied.

Raymond felt himself shudder. Kidnapping Frankie, murdering Jed – something didn’t feel right. Even the weather seemed against them. ‘Be careful, Ed. Something feels wrong about all this to me.’

Eddie laughed. ‘You know your trouble? You worry too much, Raymondo.’

Jessica sat in Vicki’s house drinking a strong black coffee. Her nerves had been shattered last night, which had led to her feeling faint and weak.

‘So, is Joey at home?’ Vicki asked concerned.

‘No, me dad picked him up earlier. He didn’t want to go – he wanted to stay with me – but what could I do, Vicki? It’s not right, him being in the house with all this going on.’

Vicki gave her best friend a hug. Jessica told her everything and vice versa. They trusted one another implicitly and what was said between them, was never repeated to either of their husbands. ‘So, how exactly is Ed going to get Jed to stay out of Frankie’s life?’

Jessica shrugged. ‘Ed says he’s going to offer Jed money to stay away. The thing is, Vicki, I think Jed and Frankie are truly in love. If Jed knocks back Eddie’s offer, then I’m petrified of what might happen next. I need to sort it, but Jed said I can’t take my own car.’

Vicki said nothing. She had heard loads of rumours about Eddie Mitchell over the years and knew he was ruthless and dangerous. ‘Look, you can take my car. If anyone can sort this mess out, then it’s you, Jess. And don’t worry too much about Eddie – he’ll be too frightened of losing you to do anything stupid.’

Jessica’s face momentarily lit up. ‘Do you really think so, Vicki?’

Vicki smiled. ‘Of course I do.’

Lying was Vicki’s only option. She could hardly tell her best friend that Eddie would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. What Jessica didn’t know couldn’t hurt her, and as her friend, it was Vicki’s job to protect her from the awful truth.