‘I am not accusing you of anything, but as you seem to be a member of the Soho élite I just thought you might know what it was all about, that’s all. I am not, I repeat not, accusing you of anything untoward.’

‘I should fucking hope so and all! Let me give you a bit of advice. Whatever Stephen Brunos is doing is his affair, all right? Not yours, mine or anyone else’s. That’s one of the first things you need to know. Don’t judge anyone, don’t question anyone, and never, ever under any circumstances ask anyone what they do for a living. Even a peepshow hostess. It’s the unwritten law, love. Keep your beak out of everyone’s affairs. It can become very unhealthy if you know too much about anyone, do you get my drift? If Stephen Brunos is running a few toms then that’s his affair, not yours, and fucking certainly not mine.’

Donna lit another cigarette and said in a trembling voice, ‘Why are you so aggressive towards me? Swearing upsets me.’

Alan really did laugh now.

‘Swearing upsets you and you want to be my number two!’ His voice was incredulous. ‘Darlin’, swearing around this gaff is like “God bless you” in a vicarage. Said all the time without a second thought. So get used to it. Now, let’s look at all this from Stephen Brunos’s point of view, shall we? I reckon he went to Georgio and said, “Right, got a bit of collateral, bruv?” “Yeah,” says Georgio, and bungs him a few grand. He’s a sleeping partner now, ain’t he? In fact, he wasn’t just a sleeping partner; if I know Georgio he was in a fucking coma! Which is exactly how I like my sleeping partners, how everyone likes their sleeping partners! That, my little love, is why they’re called fucking sleeping partners!’

Donna sat upright in her chair, her face flaming red with embarrassment.

‘I just wanted some advice—’

Alan cut her off. ‘And that is exactly what you got. And I’ll give you another bit of advice while you’re here. When we get going with this little lot, I hope you don’t intend to pull any more stunts on me like this. Checking up on me, trying to be Girl Wonder, because if you do, me and you will have a little falling out. If I tell you to jump off a cliff, then you jump. No questions - nothing. Your job is to do what the fuck I tell you and relay the messages back to Happy Harold on the Island. That’s it. I am in charge, let’s get that straight once and for all.’