Eddie sat upstairs in his Auntie Joan’s house. His father had called an urgent meeting and Ed knew by the look on his face that whatever news he had was good news.

‘I heard what happened at the party last week, Gavin Smith told me. How’s Joey? Recovered, has he?’ Ronny said, laughing.

‘Joey! What’s a matter with the boy?’ Harry Mitchell asked.

Eddie shot his brother a look of pure hatred. His dad knew nothing about what had gone on at the party and if anyone was going to tell him, he’d rather do it himself. ‘I’ll tell you later, Dad. Tell us your news first,’ Eddie said, embarrassed.

Ronny was such a loudmouth prick. Now he knew, there was little point in hiding the truth from anyone else.

As Auntie Joan tapped on the door, Eddie jumped up to let her in. ‘There’s chicken and beef in the sandwiches. Now, are you sure you don’t want me to make you a nice brew, Harry?’

Smiling, Harry shook his head. ‘We’ve good news today, Joanie, so we’ll be having a little celebratory tipple instead,’ he told her.

Joan nodded and shut the door. The men had important business to discuss and they didn’t need her hanging about like a mother hen.

Harry opened a bottle of expensive Scotch and urged Paulie to do the honours. Sipping his own, he smiled at Raymond. ‘Well, Raymondo, I have some very good news that is of particular interest to you. The police yesterday arrested a lad in connection with the murder of Mad Dave. I’ve since heard they’ve formally charged him. They’d been looking for two black boys who were already well known to them. One of them is called Rowan, I don’t know his surname, but they found his fingerprints in the Portakabin. Apparently, Mad Dave reported a burglary down his yard a few weeks back, so chances are it was this Rowan kid and his mate, who are well-known thieves. I suppose the Old Bill have found the kids’ prints and surmised it was him that came back and killed him. What a fucking result, eh? Leaves the rest of us in the clear.’

Raymond lifted his glass. ‘To Rowan,’ he chirped.

‘To Rowan,’ everybody else said, laughing.

Looking at his watch, Eddie realised it was gone half-six. ‘Listen, I’m sorry to have to leave so quickly, but I’ve gotta be somewhere.’

‘You ain’t even drunk your drink yet, at least have that first,’ Paulie told Eddie.

Eddie stood up. Fuck the drink – the last thing he needed was to turn up round Jessica’s mum’s smelling like a brewery.

‘She’s got you right where she wants you, that old woman of yours,’ Ronny goaded.

Eddie chose not to rise to the bait. ‘I’ll catch up properly with you all next week or something.’