Francis picked up his cigar and re-lit it with a gold Dunhill lighter, puffing on it furiously to keep it alight.

‘All right then, you’ve got it.’

‘Got what exactly, Mr Pemberton?’

‘The money for starters. We’ll see about the respect in a few months when you pay me back.’

‘I’ll pay you back, don’t worry about that.’

Francis smiled then, a real smile. ‘You’re a spunky little lady. I hope Georgio gives you your due, love.’

Donna closed her eyes with happiness. ‘He does, Mr Pemberton. I make sure of that.’

She shook hands with him and, nodding at him once more, walked from his office.

Outside in the fresh air she took a deep breath. She was pleased with herself, very pleased. Gradually, she was sorting out the mess that Georgio had left her in.

It said a lot for the distance Donna had travelled already that she now admitted her husband had left her in a mess. For no matter how she looked at it, that’s exactly what his building business was: a mess.

And the act of sorting through it all was what kept her going from one day to the next. The business would be booming when Georgio came home, she promised herself that night and morning.

She got into her car and decided to leave the phone turned off. She wanted to think, and God Himself knew, she had plenty to think about.

As she pulled away from Pemberton’s she didn’t see the navy-blue Jag pull out behind her.

It followed her back to the car lot.

Davey was like a cat on hot bricks. He chewed his thumbnail, gnawing at it as if he hadn’t eaten in a month.

Carol Jackson snapped at him: ‘For Christ’s sake, will you relax! She’s probably shopping!’

Davey stared at his wife and shook his head gravely. ‘We’re dealing with Lewis here, not fucking Boy Wonder. If he’s after giving her a little surprise, the chances are she’ll put the key in her motor and be blown sky high!’

Carol dismissed that idea with a shake of her head. ‘Look, think about it, Davey. The last thing he wants is Donna dead. If he did, she’d have been a gonner by now, mate. He just wants to scare old Georgio into opening his trap, so he’ll frighten her in some way then tell Georgio that next time he’ll annihilate her. Stop worrying.’

Davey stared out of the window at the car lot, his face tight. Carol rubbed his shoulders, trying to ease the tension.