She scrutinised Donna then, as if seeing her for the first time, taking in the black suede shoes, matching handbag and expensive silk suit. She registered the sheer black stockings, the thick chestnut hair and dark blue eyes - and decided she didn’t like Donna Brunos one bit.

She passed her a chipped mug full of weak tea, the mug she had been going to have herself. Donna nodded her thanks and Annie ignored her once more.

‘So what brings you to this neck of the woods?’ The musical voice was turned on Alan.

‘I came to see your old man, Annie. I have a bit of a tickle for him.’

She smiled, showing even white teeth. ‘As long as it’s not a robbery, Alan. I’m nearly due and all I want is to get this bairn born with Jonnie beside me as usual.’

Alan smiled widely, his teeth sparkling in his tanned face.

‘This is as sweet as a nut, Annie. A good bit of wedge for one day’s work.’

‘How much is a good bit of wedge?’

Annie’s voice was brisk, businesslike, and Donna watched amazed as Jonnie H. waited for his wife to have her say.

‘A good few grand.’

‘And what will my Jonnie be doing for his good few grand?’

Alan grinned again. ‘He’ll be helping me to spring a mate from Parkhurst, that’s what he’ll be doing.’

Annie stared at her hands for a few seconds, digesting what he had said. Then she looked up into Alan’s eyes and said seriously, her musical voice taking on a hard edge, ‘Fifteen grand, eight up front, and my Jonnie is yours, Alan.’

He laughed out loud. ‘Your wife’s a fucking con artist!’

Jonnie H. grinned mischievously. ‘My wife knows my worth, and don’t you ever forget it, Cox!’

Alan held the small child up in the air and cooed at her. ‘Your mum’s the best negotiator in the business, sweetheart. ’

The baby chortled, her chubby legs moving in a cycling motion.

Alan placed the child back on the floor. Looking at Annie he said: ‘Fair enough. It’s a deal. Now, I want you to find me some other men I can trust. No one will know what’s going down until the day before the jump, right? I want men unknown around the south-east, men who are hard, who can take a few knocks and who can keep their traps shut.’

Donna watched Annie carefully assessing what Alan said. Despite herself she was impressed with the woman.

‘I’ll tell you what, Alan. I’ve a proposition. We give you the names and for every one you decide to take on, we get a ten percent cut for commission. How’s that? We’ll recruit them for you if you want. Jonnie’s got a few good mates up here in Govan. Christ knows, they could do with the money.’