Dolly nodded and watched Donna slip from the room. She listened out for the car’s engine before going to the back door. Outside was Terry Rawlings. He was smoking a roll-up and sipping a mug of tea.

‘She’s gone to her mother-in-law’s, and will you stop coming so close to the bloody house! She’ll suss something out. Come in, I’ve got a plate of breakfast for you.’ Terry grinned. Taking out his mobile, he rang through to Big Paddy to inform him of Donna’s destination and then sat down to a large plate of bacon and eggs.

‘Everything all right last night?’

Terry nodded, his mouth full of bacon. ‘Not a whisper, Mrs Parkins. I think that Lewis has made his point now, with the car lot like. I reckon she’s safe as houses.’

Dolly made a snorting sound. ‘I don’t trust that bugger as far as I can throw him!’

Terry grinned. ‘Neither do we, Mrs Parkins, so stop worrying.’

Dolly made herself another cup of tea and lit her fifth cigarette of the morning. She wished to Christ she had as much faith as this lot.

‘Well, you tell Paddy that she’s cute, my Donna, and she’ll suss you lot out sooner or later.’

Terry didn’t bother answering, he just carried on eating his breakfast.

Maeve was happy. Her sons were all out, Pa Brunos was at the wholesalers, and she could sit down and read the paper in relative peace. In the middle of the problem page, her favourite part of the paper and the only reason she bought the Sun, there was a loud banging on her front door.

Annoyed, she got up to answer it, clumping down the stairs of the flat in a huff. Seeing Donna’s outline her spirits soared. Flinging the door open, she shrieked, ‘Hello, darling! Come away in. I wasn’t expecting you today!’

Donna smiled. ‘I thought I’d give you a visit before I went into work.’

She followed Maeve up the steep flight of stairs to the flat. While Maeve busied herself making another pot of tea, Donna took off her jacket and settled herself at the kitchen table.