She nodded, but her eyes were gazing around the room like one of those estate agents. Nothing had changed except for the updated décor, which no doubt his parents had been fussing over while he was away in stir. She’d actually forgotten how big and beautiful this house really was.

Staffie was appraising Jackie. He could even read her thoughts. He knew her brain was in money calculator mode. Staffie glared at her. ‘If you so much as pop a fucking fork in your bag, I will promise you this. I’ll cut your cold heart right out of your chest. You’re only here to see Ricky at Mike’s request, so don’t go getting ideas above your station.’

He might as well have been talking to someone in the next room: Jackie wasn’t listening. She was back home, where she should be – in her eyes anyway.

‘Do you think it’ll be all right if I take a shower and get cleaned up ready for Ricky?’ She tried to put on a sweet, demure voice but it wasn’t washing with Staffie.

‘Don’t put on an act, Jackie. I know you and what you’re all about, girl. Go and have ya shower, but if you touch anything, there’ll be hell to pay.’

‘I’m not going to, I promise.’

Arthur huffed. ‘Liar! As if you would ever keep a fucking promise. Just go and get yaself sorted. I’ll be back later.’

No sooner were they out of the door than Jackie went mooching around the house. The first stop was obviously Mike’s bedroom. She opened the drawers to see if he’d any money stashed away. Nada. There wasn’t even a single gold watch lying about either. Then she heard a sound downstairs and so she hurried into the shower; she thought perhaps Arthur had returned.

***

Unbeknown to anyone, not least Jackie, Gloria had called Zara and filled her in about Ricky. She was so concerned about him that she forgot to tell Zara that Arthur had gone to find Jackie. Gloria did, however, inform Zara that Mike was on his way home for a nap.

Aware of how badly Mike would take it, Zara hurried straight over to be by his side to show her support. Their squabble was nothing compared to this situation, and so she put her grievances aside and used the spare key Mike had given her to let herself in.

She didn’t know exactly how she felt as she entered the house. She was nervous, certainly, after the frosty encounter a few days ago, but the overriding emotion was disbelief and horror at the news about Ricky. It was wicked what had been done to him.