‘I am on a short fuse, and you’d better all get that in your heads.’ Then he straightened his shoulders and marched out of the room.

Lewis held up his hand to stop two of his men following. ‘Leave him be. This is what I wanted. Exactly what I wanted. Brunos needs to be put under pressure. I want him to blow.’

Turning up the TV, Lewis went back to watching Fifteen to One. No one took any notice of Marchant, who pulled himself to his feet and slowly staggered out of the room.

Dolly was making a cake, a cigarette dangling precariously from her lips as usual. Georgio used to joke that the ash from her fags enhanced her recipes.

Putting down the mixing bowl and spoon she flicked her cigarette butt into the waste disposal unit. She was about to pick up the bowl once more when she heard a car on the drive. Turning to the young man at her side, she pushed him unceremoniously out of the back door.

Donna had pulled up outside the house. Picking up her handbag, she got out of the car, pressed the automatic lock on her keyring and waited as the lights on the car flashed. She heard the soft clicking noise as the car locked itself.

Opening the front door, she walked through the large entrance hall to the kitchen.

Dolly greeted her with a smile. ‘Hello, love, I’m making a nice cinnamon cake for us. There’s a goulash that’s only got to be popped into the oven to warm, and coffee on the stove. Why not go away up and have a shower, while I finish here.’

Donna put the kettle on and waved her hand dismissively. ‘I need a strong cup of tea, Dolly. Do you want one?’

Dolly replaced the bowl and spoon on the worktop and, walking over to Donna, took the two china mugs from her hands. ‘Go on up and have a shower,’ she repeated, ‘and I’ll make you that cup of tea.’

Donna felt a moment’s irritation; she quickly suppressed it. Taking the mugs back from Dolly, she said firmly, ‘No thanks. I don’t want a shower yet, Dolly, I want to make a cup of tea.’

Seeing the hurt look on the older woman’s face she softened and said gently, ‘I don’t want to be rude, but sometimes you treat me like a little child. “Go and do this, go and do that.” Honestly, it gets a bit wearing at times.’

Dolly bit on her lip for a few seconds. ‘I’m sorry, Donna love. I’m only trying to help . . .’

Donna hugged the woman to her, smelling the cigarettes and cooking smells that always surrounded Dolly.