‘I’m meeting him tonight actually, at the Irish club in Ilford. You’d like him Daniel, he’s a lot like you – what you see is what you get. Bring Lena and Tania, it’s a good night there on a Thursday.’ Theresa wanted things to get back to normal with Lena. She might annoy her but she was still her daughter-in-law.

Daniel shrugged happily. ‘OK then, Lena could do with a night out, she’s too insular really, she needs to get out more, Mum. I reckon Tommy Barker could do with an earn, don’t you? And I could do with someone who has a good rep with the public as such. I hear he’s honest and trustworthy.’ He knew his mother understood exactly where he was coming from. That was one of the reasons she was so well respected – she saw the crux of the matter in seconds and age had not dampened that skill at all. ‘You know what, Mum? I think little Tania will enjoy it as well. She’s doing so well with her Irish dancing, she’s a right little performer. Also, you can talk to Lena about the Communion. She’s nervous about it, you know what she’s like. I would also appreciate it if you could see yourself fit to sit with my Tania at the actual Communion do. Lena will need someone to take her mind off the underlying aggro.’

Theresa shook her head at her son’s obvious skulduggery. He wanted her sitting with his family, not his brother’s. ‘You’re a slippery fecker, Daniel.’

He laughed and, making as innocent a face as possible, he said jovially, ‘I had a fucking good teacher, didn’t I, Mum?’

‘I’ll do it, but only because of Lena and the situation between you and Peter. You might as well know, I told your wife to open her fecking eyes, and see what is going on around her, especially where you’re concerned. It’s ridiculous, Daniel! She’s still acting like a fecking teenager. Well, her sons are part of it now and she needs to make sure they are protected, like I did with you and your brother.’

Daniel shrugged; he made sure his mother did not see the anger she had caused in him. Lena had not said a dicky-bird about it.

‘You know my Lena, Mum, she will never have a word said against me. The less she knows the better, as far as I am concerned.’