She faced him and said in a low voice, ‘You knew what he was and you never told me, never even gave me a hint. I must have been stark staring mad to believe all I did over the years! When I think of all the people who were in the know, and I had no idea about any of it. He used me, Alan - you all did in one way or another. Now I have to face my mother-in-law, and tell her that her son is not coming home and her other son is going to be on the run all his life. And it’s all my fault, my fault . . .’

Alan stared at her in disbelief. ‘How the fuck is it all your fault?’

‘Because if I hadn’t gone to you,’ she wailed, ‘Georgio would still be hoping for an appeal. As soon as I gave him the message to say you were willing to help, everything started to go wrong.’

Alan laughed bitterly.

‘So it’s all my fault now, is it?’

‘Alan, go away. Just go away. I need to think this thing through and then decide what I’m going to do.’

He stood up abruptly. Bending over he said to her, ‘I’ll go away, love, if that’s what you want, but first let me give you a word of warning. Think long and hard about who you’re going to grass up to keep that geek locked in jail. Because I am telling you now, your life will be worth shit if you grass. No one likes grasses and this little lot affects more people than even you know about. So think on that one, Mrs Squeaky Clean.’

She watched him walk away from her. She could see the anger in him, in the straightness of his back, in the tilt of his head.

And on top of all her other feelings another one was telling her to call him back.

But she didn’t.

Eric was running through the jump once more with Jonnie H. and the McAnultys.

‘You’ve made sure the skip lorry is running properly?’

Jonnie H. nodded happily. ‘I went over it myself this morning, Eric. It’s running as sweet as a nut. It will be reported stolen after the jump from a site in Kent owned by an old mate of mine. Stop worrying.

‘The Merc is in pristine condition enginewise, but it’s battered to fuck outwardly. No one would take a second glance at it. The bikes are in the back, ready and waiting. Two Kawasaki 250 trail bikes, and a 125 in case we have to ride over the fields. The car for the chop is already in Kent as we speak, waiting to be driven to its destination. Machinery wise, we’re all set.’

Eric smiled. He was only really content when he was working, then he became almost light-hearted, whether it was a pull, a jump or a kidnapping.