‘Nah, ’course not. All we have to do is rough up a few dealers and find out who’s behind it all. I think I can handle that.’ He gave Ricky a cheeky grin, hoping to put his mind at rest.

The truth was, he could easily handle a few scallywags; he’d never had a problem in getting info before, so why should this be any different? Ricky did have a point, though, and if he found out the Commissioner was holding anything back, he would take him down and think nothing of it.

He also had to put Zara to the back of his mind and take his mother’s advice. ‘She’ll come back, once she’s got herself together,’ she’d said.

***

By the time Saturday night arrived, Ricky was almost hyper. This was the first time he’d actually been to a pub, and, more importantly, with his father. All those years of living with Jackie, he wasn’t invited anywhere unless Tatum was going to use him to earn money, and that was generally in the form of housebreaking.

He entered the lounge, smelling of expensive aftershave and wearing his new Levi’s and a white designer T-shirt. His floppy fringe was gelled back, and his tanned skin made his teeth look whiter than ever.

Mike gawped at the transformation. ‘Well, look at you, matey. You’re a right handsome fucker.’ He laughed. ‘Like your ol’ man in fact.’

Ricky blushed. ‘Do I look all right, Dad?’

Mike pretended to size him up. ‘There’s something missing.’

Ricky looked down and checked his new trainers and his jeans and then lifted his head with a quizzical expression. He thought he looked pretty good. ‘What? Dad, I don’t need a coat. It’s still warm.’

Mike pulled a box from his jacket pocket. ‘’Ere, Son, I’ve got you a present. I can’t make up for all those missed birthdays in one go, but this is a start.’

Ricky looked at the name on the box and gasped. ‘What? No way!’

Mike could feel his emotions rising and coughed to clear the lump in his throat; just seeing the joy on his son’s face melted his heart.

Ricky was shaking with excitement as he removed the lid to find a stunning gold-faced Rolex watch. As he gently removed it from the box and turned it over, a sudden tear fell down his cheek. Engraved were the words ‘RICKY MY BOY’, in the same style as the tattoo on his father’s arm.

‘Dad, oh my God. I love it. It’s so classy.’ He quickly strapped it on his wrist and moved his arm to see the diamonds catch the light.