Now embarrassed, she slid her false hand out of view. ‘Oh, that? Yeah, well, er, a few days ago. It’s just a temporary one until my doctor has the real thing made up for me. I just thought it would stop people staring.’

‘Zara, you’re probably imagining that because I should think anyone looking at you would be drawn in by your eyes alone.’

There was an awkward silence as she stared ahead. She didn’t want to be sucked in by Eric’s affections, not now. So she changed the subject. ‘I didn’t know Mike was back with Jackie.’

Eric felt a sudden rush of excitement. He had to think carefully before he spoke. ‘Well, stranger things can happen. Anyway, how did ya know?’

‘I stupidly let myself in to see if I could help Mike in any way. What with Ricky being in hospital, I dunno, I thought that I should put behind us what happened after the party and go and give my support, but, well . . . I guess, I left it a bit too long and . . . ’ Her voice cracked.

Good. This was his chance to put the boot in. ‘Well, I’m not surprised. He took up with Jackie right after you left the first time, all those years ago. Our Mikey ain’t one for hanging about, ya know. Anyway, what happened? Did ya just leave?’

A sudden concern gripped her throat. ‘Oh, fuck no. Jackie was taking the piss, so I gave her a swipe and cut her face. Maybe it was a bit OTT, but it made me feel a lot better! Anyway, Mike was still asleep, so I just left. I bet the bitch grasses me up, though.’

Eric gasped. ‘Shit! Yeah, she fucking will. Listen, you can’t go back home. Ya need to keep low for a while until I get a chance to talk to her. She’ll listen to me. She always has. How badly did you swipe her?’

‘I think I’ve taken half her face off.’

A short chuckle left Eric’s mouth. ‘That’ll teach her for being two-faced.’

Zara smiled. ‘Really, Eric, that ain’t funny.’

‘Yeah, it is. She’s a right horrible woman. She deserved that, but, anyway, I’ll take you to mine, and we can figure it out from there.’

Zara needed time to think things over and decided his place was probably the safest for the moment. However, she had to know what Eric was up to. He seemed to know more about her business than he really should. And there was one burning question to which she needed an answer. ‘Eric, the other day, when I left you on the Old Kent Road, I need to know something, and I trust you will be upfront with me.’

In a panic, his mind went back to what he may have inadvertently let slip. ‘Yeah, go on,’ he said, determined to keep his tone as even as possible.