‘In my job,’ Tony muttered through clenched teeth, trying to keep his voice down, aware that others might overhear what they were discussing.

‘You may as well go over and tell off the barmaid for selling them booze. It’s a drug, kills hundreds of people every year, you’ve no problem with that.’

‘Alcohol’s legal,’ Tony said.

‘Yeah, you know why? The government’s the dealer wi’ that one. All that tax. And you judge me? Go fuck yourself.’

‘I’m not judging you. I’m judging what you do.’

‘What I do is none of your fucking business,’ Kelly said. ‘Hugh needs us to work together and that’s what we’ll do, but you keep your nose out of what I do. I’ll keep mine out of what you do.’

‘Will we go?’ Karen said. Tony only briefly became aware of the fact she had not spoken for some time.

‘Sure,’ he said, draining his drink. ‘Tell Hugh I’ll owe him a pint.’

‘Yeah, whatever,’ Kelly said, his face flushed with anger.

‘Goodbye,’ Karen said, lifting her coat and walking out. Tony moved to follow but Kelly stopped him with an outstretched hand.

‘Wee Shauna’s not the only one knows a trick or two,’ he winked with a grin, then moved away so quickly, Tony had barely time to react.

They went back to Karen’s flat for a while after they left the pub but, despite Tony’s evident willingness, Karen did not bring him into the bedroom. They kissed on the sofa and, when he began reach under her top to peel it off, she placed her hand on his and directed him away from doing so. Finally, a little frustrated, Tony sat back on the sofa, ignoring the confusion he could see building in her eyes.

‘What’s the story with Kelly?’ he asked, trying to raise the issue of what Kelly had said to him as he was leaving, but reluctant to ask straight out. After all, despite a few dates, their relationship had remained chaste. He found himself seething a little at the idea she had been more sexually active with Kelly than she was being with him. And he was simultaneously aware of just how unreasonable was such a feeling.

‘He’s a dealer,’ Karen said. ‘And a scumbag. There’s not much else to it.’

‘You got very quiet,’ Tony said. ‘I thought maybe the two of you had a history.’

‘What kind of history?’ Karen asked, her voice steely.

‘Did you go out with him?’

‘Would it matter?’

Tony shrugged. ‘I just want to know.’

‘I think it’s time you went home,’ Karen said. ‘I’ve work in the morning.’

‘So that’s a yes?’

‘That’s a go home, before this gets out of control,’ Karen said, firmly.

‘Fine,’ Tony said. ‘There’s nothing happening worth staying for anyway.’

Hurt flickered momentarily in Karen’s eyes, and then her expression hardened. ‘Just leave then.’

For a second, Tony regretted ever starting the row, though could find no way to stand down now and save face. Then his own anger grew and he stormed out of the flat.