God alive, was he planning on murdering her, too?

‘I know it was Cole who did me over,’ said William. ‘I been remembering things. For a long time I couldn’t, but now I do. I saw the snake ring he wears. It was him all right. Good job for him he is in the nick, cos my brother would kill him for sure if he wasn’t.’

Dora stared in horror as his face twisted in a bitter smile.

‘Oh yeah – and I told your folks all about it,’ he said. ‘I’ve told ’em everything.’

15

When Dora got inside, the atmosphere in the house was charged with tension. Mum was sitting in the kitchen, Lil pinch-faced on one side of her, June on the other. Dad was pacing the floor; Alec, Lil’s husband, was propped up against the sink, arms crossed, looking uncomfortable. Upstairs, the new baby was wailing its head off, but no one seemed to be taking any notice of that. All eyes were glued to Dora as she stepped into the room.

‘You! Where you bloody well been?’ burst out Dad.

Dora froze. ‘Um. Out. Down the shops.’

‘You fucking little liar. We heard all about what you really been up to from the Maguire boy. Came round here, the poor little bastard, and told us you were courting that arsehole Dickie Cole what he reckons busted his legs up for him. Over you. Told us Cole’s been banged up on a murder charge, too. Got in with the gangs. They’re all bloody scum, I told you that, we all know that. What the fuck you playin’ at, girl?’

Dora stood there while it all rained down on her head. She saw the smirk on Lil’s face, the satisfied spite in June’s eyes. Mum looked tearful. Alec looked like he wished he was somewhere –

anywhere – else.

‘He confessed,’ said June, malice gleaming in her eyes. ‘That Dickie Cole. He murdered one of the gang bosses. Tony Dillon.’

‘But he . . .’ Dora gasped out. Maybe that had been Dickie’s intention, but she’d been right there, on the spot; he hadn’t done the deed. Frank had. But she didn’t dare say so.

‘Steady on, Dad,’ said Mum, wringing her hands.

‘Steady on?’ He rounded on his wife. ‘This is all down to you, all this, you realize that, don’t you?’

Mum said nothing.

‘Spoiling the daft little tart. Praising her when she was prancin’ round the livin’ room, saying how clever she was, how pretty, how smart.’ Dad shook his head. ‘You’re a bloody fool. I told you where it would all end up, turnin’ her head like that. I warned you, but would you listen? No. You would not.’ Dad turned from Mum and took a step toward Dora. ‘What’s been goin’ on then, Dora? You been seein’ that arsehole, have you?’

Dora could only nod in fright. ‘But not any more,’ she said quickly.

‘Hard to see how you could, now he’s been hauled off down