Pushing her roughly away, he bellowed, ‘What do you mean? Do you think I had a tickle then, is that it? Fuck me, my own wife thinks I’m a blagger now! That’s all I need, ain’t it? Where you been then? Round me mother’s? I bet she’s loving this, ain’t she. Christ! I can’t believe you fucking said that.’

He stormed around the small interview room, his shoulders tense, his face a mask of hard energy and rage.

‘Will you calm down, Georgio, please? I am not trying to say anything. I just want to know what the hell is going on, why you should be blamed. That’s all.’

He bit on his bottom lip. His pupils were like pinpoints in the harsh lights of the room. He was agitated and Donna realised then that he was really in trouble. Serious trouble.

‘Get me a brief, love, a good brief. Phone that cunt Simpson - it’s about time he earned his collar anyway. Then get on to Davey and the others at the lot, tell them the score. Tell Davey I’ll be in touch whatever happens, all right?’

Donna nodded, then realised that she was being dismissed. He wanted her to leave! Standing straight, she pushed the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

‘I’ll go then. Leave you to sort this lot out, shall I? It’s seven-thirty in the morning and I haven’t slept all night, my home has been ransacked, legally ransacked, and you have the audacity to dismiss me?’

Georgio looked at her in consternation. ‘Leave it out, Donna. I’ve got enough on me plate without you crying and bawling. Laughton’s hauling me up the court this morning to get an extension, the way things are going I ain’t even going to get bail, so the last thing on my mind is you. I’m sorry if that upsets you, love, but that’s the truth of it.’

He gazed into her face and sighed once more. ‘I’m looking at a ten stretch here, don’t you realise that, woman!’

Donna nodded. ‘I do now, thank you, Georgio. Only I didn’t think people got ten years for nothing. But there, you learn a new thing every day, don’t you? Now I’ll go and get you yet another brief, shall I? Only I got you one last night in case you didn’t notice!’