Raymond smiled. He had already got over the shock of what he’d done, but the adrenalin was like a drug and he felt high with all the excitement. His parents had been shell-shocked yesterday when he’d moved most of his stuff out.

‘What will you eat? Who’s gonna cook for you and wash and iron your clothes?’ his mother had said.

‘He’s moving out to become a proper villain. He’ll be locked up for murder before you know it,’ he’d heard his father shout.

Raymond smiled to himself. If he had the choice of killing people and making loads of money or killing his own soul by driving around in a bus, then he’d definitely choose option A.

As Ronny counted the money, the Scotch flowed around the room. ‘There was two grand in each bundle, there’s twenty grand here, not ten,’ Ronny shouted out.

Eddie filled Raymond’s glass right up to the very top. ‘I think you should come and stay with me and Jess for a few days, just in case the Old Bill come sniffing around.’

Raymond agreed immediately. He’d already been given an alibi and he knew exactly what to say. Auntie Joan was covering for him and she had already been briefed to say that he’d been round at hers.

A knock on the front door spelled the arrival of Harry Mitchell. Hearing the story in full, Harry shook Raymond’s hand and hugged Eddie. ‘I told you throwing him in at the deep end was the right thing to do,’ he told his son.

Eddie laughed. ‘So you’re taking all the credit for our new addition, are you? I don’t think so, Dad – in your dreams, mate.’

As the jokes and drinks flowed, Eddie stood up and ssshed everyone. ‘Let’s have a toast to our wonderful new family member.’ He smiled at Raymond. ‘I’m gonna change your name for you, boyo. Raymond don’t really suit you, it sounds too wank. From now on, after your performance today, you are officially called Raymondo.’

Raymond laughed as all the men stood up. ‘To Raymondo,’ everybody said, toasting him.

Raymond’s smile lit up the room. He may not have made it as a rock star, but life was all down to fate, and he had certainly made it now.

ELEVEN

Jessica did her best to avoid attending Uncle Reg’s surprise party, but Ed was having none of it.

‘Why don’t you just go with the boys and Raymond, Ed? I’ve got a bit of a headache and if we’ve got that party on Sunday, I’ll be shattered.’

Eddie poured himself a Scotch. Jess pissed him off at times. For years, he’d fallen over backwards to entertain her family, yet when it came to his, it was an effort for Jess to give them the time of day.