Alan shrugged the statement off. ‘That’s his prerogative. He’s a ponce and I don’t like him and he’s stepping on a dear friend of mine’s toes, which means he’s stepping right on one of my corns at the same time. So you tell me who to see and where to see them and I’ll do the actual negotiating. That way you’re not too involved.’

Anthony sighed deeply. ‘I’ll have to have a think about all this, mate. It’ll take some arranging.’

‘I’m well aware of that.’

Anthony was nonplussed for a few seconds.

‘I thought you was straight these days,’ he said eventually. ‘I heard you was raking it in with legitimate businesses? ’

Alan grinned. ‘I am. But like the old saying goes, yours is not to reason why. Especially where I’m concerned.’

He took a thick envelope from his inside pocket and placed it on the bench beside him.

‘There’s fifteen grand in there in fifty-pound notes. That’s just for starters. There’s plenty more where that came from. I want this arranged with the best of care and money’s no object, OK?’

Anthony picked up the envelope in his meaty fist and weighed it in his hand before he answered.

‘Fair enough, but I must warn you, Alan, Lewis’s arm is long.’

Alan shook his head slowly.

‘And so, my dear Tony, is mine.’

Donna had just emerged from the shower when the telephone rang.

‘Hello?’

‘Hello, Donna, just a quick call to let you know the books are ready for your perusal.’

‘Fine. I’ll be over about nine tonight.’

‘How’s Georgio?’

‘Bearing up. Will you try and get in for a visit?’

Stephen’s voice was clipped. ‘It’s difficult, his VOs to me are few and far between. I expect you’re the one he wants to see.’

Donna felt the animosity coming in waves down the telephone. ‘I am his wife Stephen.’

‘Of course you are. It’s just I was supposed to be helping you run the businesses and now it seems you don’t want to know. I feel very upset at you checking up on me . . .’

Donna’s mouth was a perfect O as she listened to her brother-in-law’s voice.

‘Checking up on you? Now come on, Stephen, I am just exercising a right. I am a partner in your business, naturally I want a working knowledge of it.’ Donna’s voice was rising and she forced herself to calm down.

It was Stephen’s turn to sigh. ‘You own a twenty-five percent share, that’s all. I have the controlling interest. I think you have a bloody bare-faced cheek, to be honest, and I’m only humouring you because you are my brother’s wife. Now let’s drop the subject, shall we?’