Lewis stared coldly at Georgio, the insult taken on board and filed away for future reference.

‘How’s your wife, Georgio? Well, is she?’ The smugness of the voice made Georgio feel sick with apprehension. He was convinced Lewis knew something he didn’t and struggled to keep his voice under control.

‘You tell me, Mr Lewis. You seem to know everything else.’

Lewis sipped at his fresh Colombia coffee and sighed. ‘Be a right shame if anything was to happen to her, wouldn’t it? I mean you hear of these things, don’t you? Did you read in the paper the other day about that bird who had a bomb under her car? Her old man made it, it was a nail bomb. She didn’t die but she was pretty badly cut up. It went off right under her seat. Ripped her to pieces. The things people do, eh?’

Lewis shook his head at the malice of other people. ‘Makes you sick to your stomach, don’t it? I’d hate anything to happen to little Donna. You live out in Essex, don’t you? A nice drum, I heard, tennis court, the lot. Must have cost a few bob, your family pile. No children though, shame that. I’d have liked you to have had children at this point.’

Lewis knew that the thought of a child being hurt brought most people round to his way of thinking.

‘Remember Danny Simmonds?’ Georgio nodded, dreading what he was going to hear. ‘Terrible about his boy, wasn’t it? Only sixteen, got knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while doing his paper round. No one ever found out who did it either. Tragic that. The boy would have been better off dead really. He’s a vegetable, waiting out his days in hospital. I hear that Danny’s old woman flipped her lid. Poor cow. Only child and all, weren’t he? What was the kid’s name?’ Lewis made a show of thinking.

‘That’s it - Eric. What a bleeding name, eh? Eric.’

Georgio closed his eyes for a few seconds then stood up. ‘Look, Lewis, is there any point in this conversation? Only I don’t know about you but it’s beginning to bore me rigid.’

Lewis stared at him with a tight frown. ‘Sit down and shut your trap. When I want you to leave I’ll tell you to, all right? Until then, button your mutton and listen to what I’m telling you.’

Georgio sat down heavily. ‘Let’s get this over with, Mr Lewis, only I ain’t got time for all these fun and games.’

Lewis grinned. ‘You got eighteen years to listen to them, sonny boy, and listen you will, if I tell you to.’ He called out over his shoulder: ‘Harry, bring in some fresh coffee, and a cup for Mr Brunos.’

Harry popped his head round the door. ‘Righto, Mr Lewis.’

Lewis grinned again. ‘There, let’s have a nice cup of coffee and resume our little chat. Have you had any more thoughts on where the money is?’