‘Well, nice old stick or not, she warned me off, Dolly. There’s some flats in Wardour Street with Chinese kids in. I know it’s kids, I have a feeling on me that it is, you know. One thing I did find out from this woman is that Georgio has nothing to do with them anyway. The flats, I mean. It’s Stephen. It’s always bloody Stephen.’

Dolly bowed her head and sighed.

‘What really gets up my nose, Dolly, is the fact that Georgio is doing eighteen years and that prat is out and about in Sri Lanka. Probably setting up more little kids. Maybe he even gets his rocks off with them, I don’t know. But I can tell you this much. As soon as I can get a flight, I’m off out there to find out the truth for myself.’

‘You’re not seriously going over there?’ Dolly exclaimed, rattled.

Donna nodded vigorously. ‘I certainly am, Dolly. I am going to see just what the hell is going on over there, in this so-called Bay View Hotel, find out once and for all if Georgio is involved. I’ll tell you something else for free. If he is, I’ll see him rot in that place, with his brother beside him. Stephen the Wonderboy is about to get a surprise visit.’

Dolly stood up and said sternly, ‘You are not going out there alone. No way. Are you bloody stupid or something! ’

Donna laughed heavily. ‘Oh sit down, Dolly, for Christ’s sake. I have to go. Who else can do this, eh? Are you going to go? Big Paddy? Who else would do this except me?’ Her voice softened. ‘Don’t you understand, Doll, I have to go. I need to know exactly what’s going on and who the hell is behind it all.’

Tears in her eyes, Dolly said sadly, ‘You’re making a big mistake. Take this lot to the police, Donna, let them sort it out.’

‘I can’t, not yet.’

Dolly sat back down, her old bones protesting at being up all night. ‘What you mean is, you have to know if your man is involved?’

Donna looked into her eyes and nodded sadly. ‘I have to know one way or another, Dolly. I have to see for myself.’

Dolly was silent for a while and then she said, ‘I remember you when I first came to work here - a pretty, quiet little thing, madly in love with her husband and trying to be a good wife. You wouldn’t say boo to a goose. I saw you overcome your natural shyness to be a good hostess for Georgio, saw you grieve over your babies, saw you keep your head held high, saw you keep your self-respect. Lately, I wonder where that little girl has gone.’