Daniel’s mobile rang then, and he answered it as they were waiting at the traffic lights in Stepney. He didn’t even say hello to the caller. He never did – he always just listened when he was on his mobile. Tania used her phone as a social tool, as something to keep her in contact with her world and her friends; her brothers and her father used the phone as little as possible and, even when they did, they never said anything of any import. She remembered the times her father had stopped the car, annoying her if he was dropping her off at a friend’s, and used a payphone, even though she had a mobile, as he did too. He had always said that he hated them and believed that eventually the people who had them glued to their heads would end up with brain tumours or worse. She had laughed at him, thought he was sweet because of his old-fashioned ways. Now, though, she realised it was so no one could listen in to his conversations and accuse him of anything untoward.

She jumped as her father suddenly barked angrily into his phone, ‘I’m on me way.’

Tania was thrown sideways as her father rammed the car into gear and did an illegal U-turn, to the consternation of the other drivers around them.

‘What’s happened? What’s going on, Dad?’

Her father didn’t answer her; they sped through the streets, as the evening slowly drew in around them. She sensed that this was something important, and she sat back in her seat, wondering why she wasn’t feeling remotely frightened.

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-One

The scrapyard was quiet, and Danny had made sure the guard dogs were removed from the premises. The old boy who did the night watch had picked the animals up without a word; he knew better than to query anything that concerned the Baileys – especially now. Everyone knew there was a serious crisis in that family, and anyone with even a modicum of brain cells knew better than to interfere or, worse still, question a direct order. Lena Bailey’s death was not going to be overlooked, that much everyone was agreed on.