Alan held up his hand.

‘All I can say is, Nick knew the score. He owes Georgio one and all. He knew what was going down and he played the game. Jack Coyne will not be retaliating, because Jack knows the score, too. It will all settle down in a few days, I take oath on that.’

‘So what you’re saying is, Georgio used me and all?’

‘In a way, I suppose he did.’ Alan sighed heavily. ‘Look, Ant, if anyone should have the fucking tit and bump about it, it’s me. I should have seen it coming. So don’t you get the hump and all. That’s all we fucking need now! It’s over and done with, leave it at that.’

Anthony Calder leant across Alan’s desk and said through his teeth: ‘You tell Georgio fucking Brunos that if he ever pulls a stunt like that again, Lewis won’t be in it when I fucking get going! I don’t like people using me for anything, especially not jumped-up bubbles from Canning Town who need me a damn sight more than I need them. I’m a fixer by trade, and if he wanted JoJo fixed I’d have sorted it for him. Properly, mind you. I don’t get personally involved in any of my deals. And you tell Georgio that if he ever steps on my toes again, I’ll rip his fucking head off and shove it where the sun don’t shine!’

Alan grinned. ‘In those exact words, Ant? Only it’ll cost me a fortune to get a message like that inside. It’ll be bigger than his fucking court transcript!’

Anthony laughed, but his heart wasn’t in it, they both knew why.

‘You know what I’m saying, Alan. Get it sorted. That could have caused hag for us all. I use Jack and JoJo a lot in my dealings, as I do Nick Carvello. I can’t afford them all to take umbrage with one another at this moment in time. Let’s face it, even I’m wary of Jack Coyne, and so are you if you’re truthful about it. He’s a bona fide nutcase.’

Alan shrugged. ‘Jack Coyne and JoJo have had their day, believe me. Georgio was just warning them - through Nick. It’s a personal score he wanted settled.’

Calder finished his brandy in thoughtful silence.

‘Listen, Alan, I’m a man of the world, you’re a man of the world . . . has this got anything to do with Georgio’s dealings abroad at all? I heard a whisper about them. Can I second guess from what I heard?’

Alan shook his head. ‘I can only promise you this: when I can, I’ll tell you the lot.’