Donna rolled her eyes to the ceiling. ‘If we had a penny for every time they said that!’

Carol laughed with shock. Donna was talking like any villain’s wife. Carol wasn’t sure if she liked the change.

‘Can I help you at all?’ she asked tentatively.

Donna surveyed Carol carefully before answering. Her make-up was as bright as usual, her hair backcombed to its limit and gold jewellery very much in evidence . . . but Donna saw the softer side of Carol looking at her through all that and so she took her courage into her hands.

‘What’s going on in Sri Lanka, Carol?’

She saw Carol lick her lips nervously and drop her eyes. ‘I dunno. You tell me, Donna.’

Donna took a deep breath, feeling a chill come over the room at her next words.

‘Come on, Carol, I’m not a fool. What’s going on in Sri Lanka? You know more than Davey, probably. I’m well aware you make a point of knowing everything - so why don’t you share that knowledge with me? I am supposed to own the land out there, after all, ditto the land in Thailand. I think I have a right to be told what’s going on.’

Carol lit a Rothman’s and stared into Donna’s face.

‘You want the truth, Donna? The truth is that I don’t exactly know what’s going on out there. Stephen looks after that end, and Davey. It’s one of the few things he has never discussed with me.’

Donna heard the underlying worry in Carol’s voice and probed deeper.

‘Do you think it’s illegal then, whatever all this is about?’

Carol laughed wryly. ‘Everything they touch is a bit dodgy. It’s Stephen being involved that really bothers me. Once he gets into things, they tend to get dirty.’

Donna looked her in the eye. ‘Dirty? In what way?’

Carol smashed her cigarette into the ashtray and said through her teeth, ‘Just dirty. Filthy rotten dirty. What made you ask about Sri Lanka, Donna? What have you heard?’

Donna swallowed deeply. ‘I just found some papers in Georgio’s safe and wondered what they were about, that’s all. I haven’t “heard anything”, as you put it.’

Carol lit another cigarette. ‘You look rough, girl, really rough. Like a woman with a lot on her mind.’

Donna smiled. ‘I didn’t sleep much last night, Carol. And I have got a lot on my mind.’

‘Missing Georgio?’

Donna nodded faintly. ‘Sometimes I hate him, Carol, for what he’s done, for what he wants me to do. But even knowing that, underneath it all, I know I’ll do what he wants.’