‘Anyway, one day we went to see this Hep Keng or whatever his name is, and walked into serious aggravation. Jack Coyne shot him, he shot him in the face. It was fucking pandemonium. There was shooters going off all over the show.’ Alan was quiet for a moment, remembering.

‘Well, the rub is, we were all right. The only real casualty was a Scottish bloke who was shot in the back. We all scooted off before the Old Bill arrived. Then as we were all mustering up for the next round, I go in a club in Soho.

‘There was a little bird I used to see called Minerva of all things. A right funny little bird she was and all. She really made me laugh. Anyway, I’m looking for her, and the next thing is I see her mate Jacqueline something or other - last names ain’t a must in Soho, as you know. It turned out that a Chinese guy had cut Minerva’s throat with a Stanley knife - beat the shit out of her first, like. I heard that every time her heart beat, the blood shot three foot into the air. He stood and watched her die. All over me, because she was my little bird and I was one of the men treading on his toes.

‘Minerva was seventeen, full of life, a great little kid. I found out who he was and, well, you know the rest.’

Donna was quiet, drinking in all he had told her. ‘What happened then?’

Alan shrugged gently. ‘I was nicked, got sent down, and the others sorted it out. JoJo O’Neil done a deal with them, the ponce! That’s why I never liked him. He’s always dealt with them. And that was it. I never regretted one day what I did for her. It was the least I could do really. If it wasn’t for me she’d probably be married now with a load of kids somewhere. Worrying about paying the mortgage like everyone else.’

Donna kissed him gently on the lips, and he whispered, ‘Rough justice, that’s what we call it.’

She kissed him again. ‘I wish I could tell a story like that about Georgio. You’re worth ten of him.’

Alan didn’t answer; he didn’t want to break the spell. Instead he gathered her into his arms and kissed her properly.

Pulling away, she looked over the sea and said to him, ‘I feel as if a veil has been lifted from in front of my eyes, as if I can really see the world properly for the first time in years. I hate him now.’

The words were like music to Alan’s ears.

Sadie came into Georgio’s cell in full sail. After being told by Lewis that she was once more a free agent, she had gone to town.