‘From one of Lewis’s friends - a man called Greg Gordon. He was Lewis’s right-hand man in more ways than one for years. When he got too old for Lewis he was dropped as a boyfriend but kept on in the business. He runs a club called The Pink Paradise in North London. It’s a gay club obviously and I met him there. I was amazed when he knew my brother Stephen. Even more amazed to find out he had had dealings with him in a work capacity. They even collaborated on putting together the deal for Lewis and Georgio.’

‘But Stephen had nothing to do with that. Georgio worked that one by himself, didn’t he?’

‘Precisely. I nipped over to Donna’s today and against poor old Dolly’s wishes went through the papers in Georgio’s office. There’s nothing there linking Stephen with the hotels from Georgio’s end anyway, so something much more sinister is going on.’

‘This is getting a little too deep for me, Mario. What you’re saying is, when Georgio went into the hotel business, Stephen was working against him?’

Mario shrugged. ‘You know as much as I do. Maybe before it all fell out of line he was working with Lewis for Georgio. I don’t know, the possibilities are endless, ain’t they? Maybe he was Lewis’s ears. All I know is, Stephen isn’t a man to trust and if Lewis has sent him out there then you bet he will not want Donna breathing down his neck. Whatever he’s there for, it’s trouble for Donna Brunos. She will steam in and cause him hag, and he’ll retaliate.’

‘That much is certain, son. You book me the flight and I’ll be off tonight.’

Mario stood up. ‘One thing, Mr Cox. Why are you going out there yourself?’

Alan got to his feet and peered down at the slight young man before him. ‘Let’s get something straight here, shall we? My name is Alan or Al, take your choice. As for me going out there, I think my face will be just about the only thing that will stop your brother doing something silly, don’t you? Stephen knows me, my reputation, and he also has a small inkling of what I’m capable of. Plus, me and Georgio are like that.’ He crossed his fingers. ‘Everyone knows that much. Stephen will be very wary of starting anything while I’m there. I only hope I get there in time.’

‘If only we knew exactly what was going on?’

‘Believe me, son, we will know. Because I am going to make it my business to find everything out. No good having a dog and barking yourself, is there?’

Mario smiled. ‘Well, that’s true enough anyway.’