Emmanuel had been on his own all morning and was exhausted. Tony hadn’t even bothered to ring him to say when he would arrive. The only high spot had been two definite dates for later that night from two rather well-dressed city gents. Tony hated him procuring from the shop, even though it brought in business. He heard rather than saw Kelly and Willy come in. The door flew open, sending a display of Masochist Monthly magazines flying all over the floor.

‘Where is he?’ Patrick Kelly’s voice was low and Emmanuel felt his fury.

‘Who?’ The boy’s voice was high and squeaky.

‘Tony fucking Jones, that’s who. Who else would we come in here for? Princess Diana?’

‘I don’t know where he is. He didn’t come into work today.’

Willy grabbed Emmanuel round the throat and shook him. ‘Where’s he live? I want his address now.’

A big man in working clothes walked into the shop and Patrick grabbed the front of his overalls and threw him out on to the pavement with such force he careered into some passers-by. By now the other shopkeepers had noticed what was going down and were watching the action from strategic points.

Emmanuel wrote down the address with shaking hands. His mascara was running into his eyes and making them sting.

Patrick took the proffered paper and nodded at Willy, who promptly set about tearing the shop apart. Emmanuel watched in terror.

Whatever Tony had done it must have been bad. He wondered briefly if he should start looking for another job.

When Willy had finished the two men left. Emmanuel looked at the debris around him and began to cry again. The other shop owners came in when the coast was clear and, under the guise of helping Emmanuel calm himself, tried to prise some gossip from him. He thought it was to do with the time Kelly came in looking for the rent boys and told them so. But it was obvious he didn’t really know too much about anything.

The story hit the streets in Soho within the hour, it was the talking point of the day.

People nodded their heads sagely. Tony Jones had always courted trouble and now it had knocked on his door.

Tony himself heard the news ten minutes before Kelly and Willy arrived at his house. While they banged down his door, Tony and a very frightened Jeanette were on their way to their eldest daughter’s in Brighton.