Jamesie’s kennel maid stepped nearer and the bitch snapped at her, showing dangerous teeth, growling, making to lift herself up.

‘Keep back, Janet, the dog’s not herself! Go and make me a hot toddy, and one for the dog here. Put her a large drop of Glenfiddich in warm milk, it’ll settle her down. The birthing’s nearly over.’

Janet left the warmth of the kennel gratefully. She didn’t trust that bitch, never had. But Jamesie could always do what he wanted with the dogs. It was as if they felt he was one of them, as if he had the same smell.

Jamesie saw the last head appearing and grinned. Six little beauties. He was over the moon.

Ten minutes later the bitch was being fed the hot milk and whisky and he was sipping on his toddy, admiring the newborn babies, when his mobile phone rang.

He turned it on and beamed as he spoke.

‘Hello there, Alan. I’ve got six beauties here, newborn and as handsome as anything. Yes, don’t worry, everything is ready and waiting for you. I’ve got a paraffin budgie on standby just in case you change your mind. I’ve got to go, man. Speak to you tomorrow.’

He turned off the phone and stroked the bitch’s head again, settling her down.

‘There, my beauty. You just relax and I’ll be back in a short while.’

Ten minutes later, he was in the cellar of his house; it was like a military arsenal down there. He picked up an Armalite and checked it over, then he began preparing the other weapons that would be needed for the jump.

He was humming with happiness while he worked.

Jack Coyne was visiting JoJo. He listened in silence while JoJo described in graphic detail exactly what he was going to do to Nick Carvello once he was on the mend properly. Jack sighed heavily.

‘What you sighing about, Jack?’ JoJo’s voice was harsh.

He slumped even further down in the uncomfortable hospital chair. ‘Did they find your fingers?’