Alan laughed. Then a good-looking blonde woman of about thirty-five walked into the hallway. Her hair was immaculately brushed, her clothes cheap but well-pressed. She had on impossibly high heels, and Donna was amazed to see that under her leggings and the big shirt, the woman was heavily pregnant.

‘Hello, Alan.’ Her voice was pure Scots. She smiled at him seductively, even in her advanced state of pregnancy.

Donna was ignored, and knew instinctively that she would always be ignored by this woman while there were men about. All Annie offered her was a perfunctory glance.

‘I’ll make the tea.’

Her voice didn’t have the harsh tones of most of the Scottish people Donna had encountered, but was soft and musical.

Donna walked after the men into the small front room and was shown to a seat on a surprisingly good leather sofa.

The front room was Annie’s pride and joy. It was filled to capacity with what she termed ‘good stuff ’. There was a thirty-two-inch TV and state-of-the-art video, the leather suite was black, the walls painted white and hung with pen and ink drawings depicting different scenes from the Clyde. A thick Axminster carpet covered the floor, and the fireplace was Adam style with a black marble hearth. Tables abounded, and a large black ash wall unit dominated the back of the room, covered in all sorts of blue-painted plates, jugs and glassware. Donna secretly abhorred the style but was admiring of the fact that it had been done at all. After seeing the outside of the flats and the hallway, she was pleasantly surprised to find herself in relative comfort.

Alan and the man settled themselves. A small child crawled into the room and Donna was amazed to see Alan pick it up expertly and cuddle it.

‘She’s got big, Jonnie. How old is she now?’

He shrugged. ‘Nearly a year. She still ain’t attempted to walk. Justin and Wayne were both early walkers but she’s a lazy cow.’ He pushed his face close to his daughter’s and the child grabbed at his nose, laughing. ‘Aren’t you, my little darling? Who’s Daddy’s best girl then, eh?’

The child crowed with joy and Donna felt herself relax. If children were in the house then at least this wasn’t going to be dangerous. She felt hypocritical to have judged this man by his home after spending the previous night in the palatial residence of an arms dealer.

‘This is Jonnie H. Jonnie, this is Donna Brunos, Georgio’s wife.’

As he spoke Annie walked into the room with a tray of tea. She looked at Donna with new respect.

‘You’re Georgio’s wife? Well, well, well. I always thought him having a wife was just a vicious rumour. So you actually exist? Wonders will never cease.’