‘That suits me fine. Do you good to get away, have a break. It’s what you need.’

Donna gave her a tight strained smile, and left the offices.

On her way to the car she felt crushed by worry. Since Georgio had been sentenced, life had become one big chore. Her euphoria at the thought of him coming home, no matter what, had evaporated drastically in the full knowledge of what she was supposed to do to achieve that end. She now knew that Talkto was something Georgio had set up with Stephen as a blind. Talkto was probably the main company now that telephone sales and sex had become a part of everyday life. JCY was probably the beginning of Stephen’s little empire in Soho.

She sat in her car wondering what she should do. Should she ignore what she had found out? That seemed the most viable solution. She had lived twenty years without knowing anything and at this moment she yearned once more for her days of ignorance. The worst thought of all was that Georgio was really bent, really had been involved in a lot of things she could not even have guessed at.

She saw Carol watching her through the office window and turned the key in the ignition. Carol could cope with everything; in fact, knowing Carol, she was probably the real brains in her marriage. Donna knew instinctively that Davey Jackson would think long and hard before doing anything without her knowledge, and Donna envied Carol for that. Davey afforded her the respect she deserved.

Had Georgio ever done that for her? The question once asked frightened her, because she already knew the answer, had always known the answer, deep inside.

Well, she would show him. She would do what he asked. It could only make them closer in the long run. It saddened her that she had to break the law to prove to herself and her husband that she was worthy of him, that she would do anything for him, no matter what. Yet she was aware that it was making her more determined to do what he asked. For the first time, she really was on top where Georgio Brunos was concerned. This fact staggered her even as it frightened the life’s blood in her veins and turned it to ice water. Finally she pulled out on to the road, Carol Jackson’s angry countenance fresh in her mind. She would have to toughen herself up, and do it soon. Before the real work started. As she drove home she decided to take a leaf out of Carol’s book.

Whatever Davey was up to she made a point of being there with him, organising and taking an active part. Well, Donna decided, she would do the same.

Happier in herself, she drove home with a lighter heart.