‘Come on, love, your time’s up.’

She held on to her husband tighter, unable to break the embrace. Frightened to stop holding him in case she never held him again.

Georgio pushed her away from him gently. ‘Promise me, Donna? Promise you won’t leave me.’

She smiled bravely. ‘Never. I love you too much, Georgio.’

‘You’re a good girl. You were always a good girl.’

‘Come on, love. I’m sorry but you have to go now.’ The policeman’s voice was kind.

Donna turned and felt her skirt bunched up over her thighs. Hastily tugging it down, she sniffed loudly. ‘They’re taking you to Wormwood Scrubs. I’ll visit you as soon as I can.’

Georgio nodded, unable to speak.

Her head held high, Donna walked out of the cell. Georgio had always liked her to look as if she was in control. At the doorway she turned and smiled at him tremulously. Suddenly he looked much smaller, vulnerable, and that was the hardest thing to take. Her Georgio, her big strong husband, looked broken. Something she had never expected to see in her lifetime.

The officer closed the cell door gently, but the sound of it was like a thunderclap. She followed the man slowly out of the cell area, her head low now, tears raining down her face.

Inside his cell, Georgio Brunos threaded his hands through his hair and pulled it hard, then he began to groan low in the back of his throat, the desolate sound gaining in volume as he pulled harder and harder on his hair.

Detective Inspector Frank Laughton opened the small metal window in the cell door. He smiled grimly as he watched the antics of Georgio Brunos.

‘Open the door.’ His voice was clipped as he addressed the young policeman beside him.

Stepping into the cell, he smiled widely. ‘Eighteen years, Brunos. Gutted or what, eh?’

Georgio stood staring at the man in front of him, his face hard. ‘I’ll see me day with you, Laughton, you see if I don’t.’

Frank Laughton stopped grinning. It was as if a hand had wiped the expression from his face.

‘I promised myself I’d give you a visit on the day you were sent down. It gave me something to look forward to. I’ve got you now, Brunos, and I won’t ever let you go. I’m still investigating you. I know you could hold your hand up to a lot more robberies, and when I have the evidence I need, I’ll haul your arse back into that court so fast you’ll burn a fucking great hole in the carpet!’

‘Tell Wilson he’ll be seeing me.’

Laughton laughed. ‘I think he’s sussed that one out for himself. Well, I’m off home. I’m taking my wife out tonight to celebrate.’

‘Did you book your trough in advance?’