‘Still the ice lady, eh? My God, you make me laugh. Georgio’s little virgin to the last. Do you know something, Donna? He fucked everything that walked. It was common knowledge to all and sundry. Alan Cox could have enlightened you, Georgio took enough of them to Amigo’s. Tall, blonde bimbos were his forte. Oh, don’t look so shocked. You must have known, must have guessed.’

Donna watched him with fearful eyes. Stephen was thoroughly enjoying himself, relishing seeing Miss High and Mighty brought so low.

‘Georgio masterminded all this.’ He lifted his arms to encompass the room. ‘It was after he visited Thailand with me the first time. I took him all over. As you know I love the place, always did. He loved it as well. Loved the girls. “They’re like pieces of meat,” he said. “Faceless, nameless, you can just do what you like and they don’t mind.” He bought bar girls at a dollar a time, three and four in bed at once. He loved all that, old Georgio, it appealed to him. Some were only twelve or thirteen. He drew the line at the really young ones. Always had that Victorian streak, did our Georgio.’

Donna put her hands over her ears. ‘Shut up! Shut up, Stephen!’

He dragged her hands down and held them firmly on her lap.

‘You know it’s true, Donna. You were the best front he could have for years, and you never realised it. He used to laugh at you behind your back. We all did, even Big Paddy. He’s in on all this as well as Davey Jackson. You thought they were all protecting you from me and the likes of me, and all the time they were protecting me and Georgio from you. Funny when you think about it, eh?’

Candy came back into the room with three glasses on a tray. She passed one to Stephen and one to Donna. Donna took hers but didn’t drink from it.

Stephen sipped his and then gave it to Donna.

‘Don’t worry, we’re not going to poison you.’ He laughed and shook his head. ‘You read too many fucking books.’

Donna sipped the Arrack and Coke then gulped at it, her throat swollen and sore, needing the coolness of the drink.

‘You must get that child to a hospital, Stephen, otherwise she’ll die.’

He laughed again and Donna saw the insane glint in his eyes. She realised that Stephen was over the edge.

‘Oh, I must, must I? You have no authority here, Donna. You are in deep shit, lady. It’s you who’ll be going to the hospital, love. Not the kid. You’ll be in the mortuary by morning!’

He saw the fear in her eyes and savoured the sensation it gave him. To see her brought low was like balm to his ego.