Ria was sorry for her daughter; she knew that she was hurting over her brother, but so was she – and far more than Imelda would ever know. But Jack had brought this on himself and, even though she loved him with all her heart, the family as a whole was what was really important.

Imelda looked into her mother’s eyes, saw the hurt there, coupled with resignation, and she knew then that her lovely mum was far more aware of the pitfalls of the Life than she would ever be. Imelda understood now that her mother was willing to overlook anything – even the death of her youngest child – if her husband deemed it necessary. Imelda could not believe that she had never understood the true impact that the Life actually had on the people involved in it.

The realisation that her mother was willing to overlook the murder of her own child was an outrage that Imelda was unable to comprehend. That her mother was so entrenched in the Life that she could accept her youngest child’s murder as no more than an occupational hazard was fucking outrageous! Imelda was absolutely horrified by the realisation that her own mother could not see how wrong this was, let alone how vicious and cold blooded it proved them all to be. And her own husband more than any of them.

Imelda saw the Life in stunning clarity for the first time and wondered how she could have been a Bailey for so long without understanding it.

Just then, her father returned and she watched as he came into the bedroom, and pulled his wife into his arms. He held her gently as she cried, assuring her all the while that everything would be all right now that he was home, and he would look after her.

Smiling at his daughter, Peter Bailey motioned with a movement of his huge dark head for her to leave them alone together.

Imelda left the room quietly, with a heavy heart, knowing that, after this night, nothing would be the same for any of them ever again.

Book Three

There is power in the blood, justice in the sword

When that call it comes, I will be ready for war

Alabama 3, ‘Power In The Blood’
Album: Power in the Blood, 2002

You prayed at the holy shrine

Still the guru wouldn’t receive you

You’ve seen so many signs

Still they call you a non-believer

Alabama 3, ‘Come On Home’
Album: Power in the Blood, 2002

Lousy but loyal

Anon, London East-End slogan at
George V’s Jubilee, 1935

Chapter Eighty-Five

1997

Lena yawned noisily and stretched her arms above her head. She was glad to see the sun beaming through her bedroom window. Daniel was already up and about, she could hear him pottering about in the kitchen and, pulling on a dressing gown, she went downstairs quickly.

He looked up as she came into the kitchen. ‘You can smell a cup of tea from two miles, you!’