Delroy couldn’t help it, he started to laugh. ‘Do you mean to tell me that the money’s been here all this time? You never even tried to hide it?’ The incredulity in Delroy’s voice was evident to everyone there, as was the complete disgust written all over his face. ‘Are you having a fucking laugh?’

Peter spoke to Delroy. ‘Go inside, get my Petey and Liam. Tell them to get on the blower and get a couple of drivers – we need to get rid of the motors and the poke as soon as. Tell them to have everything delivered to the scrapyard, and then they can do the necessary.’ He turned to Daniel’s boys. ‘In the meantime, you lot get back in there and make a point of having a fucking good time. If anything does get a bit iffy, I want people to remember you lot at this fucking Communion, all right?’

The younger men went back inside, grateful to be away from Daniel who looked as if he was ready to explode.

‘Fucking useless ponces. I can’t believe they were that fucking stupid. Haven’t they learned anything from us?’

Peter shrugged. ‘Well, they are young, and when you’re young you think you’re invincible, that you won’t ever get a capture, and everything you do will miraculously turn out all right.’

Daniel nodded sadly. ‘I bet they’ve still got the guns and the balaclavas in their boots as well. Fucking pair of tossers! My Danny is fucking fuming with the Daly brothers. I told him to keep well away – I know him, he will see this as a personal affront. Neither of them saw fit to mention it to him, and that is what will be really gnawing at him. He feels like they have mugged him off, and I can’t say I blame him. I feel exactly the same way.’

Peter Bailey laughed, a long, low, sarcastic laugh. ‘You’re a fucking piece of work, Daniel. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! At least they didn’t shoot a fucking bloke with his little kid in the car, or batter an old bloke nearly to death. They were trying to get an earn – they thought that the hundred grand they cleared would make you see them as men in their own right. Whereas you nearly fucking destroyed us on a whim on more than occasion. So get off your high horse. With a bit of luck they are home and dry. Yes they fucked up, but at least they didn’t take it on themselves to go on the rampage for pennies and halfpennies. You’re a fucking hypocrite, do you know that?’