For a moment, Zara was perplexed. It was a side to Neil that she’d never witnessed. Neil had been so full of vitality years ago, a bit of a risk-taker, like herself. But she was a pragmatist by default, and she accepted that the serious injury Neil had sustained was a warning shot across the bows to all of them that they needed to lance the Hadlow boil once and for all – and fast – if they were to re-establish their reputation as serious Faces in the manor.

‘I don’t want anyone looking in,’ said Davey, as he closed the curtains at the front of the restaurant.

The others then took a seat and faced Neil, ready to discuss the plan and likely consequences again.

‘So, do you have a better plan than mine?’ she asked, with an air of antagonism.

Neil didn’t answer right away; he pulled out a chair and sat dead opposite her. ‘It’s always going to be your call, Zara, but why don’t we cash in on their business, let them think they’ve taken over and then—’

A sudden screeching of tyres and car doors slamming made the men jump from their seats. Like a well-planned defence army, defending their position, they unexpectedly darted in different directions. Shamus ran to the side of the window and pulled a gun from the back of his jeans. Davey did the same but went to the other window. Minty, the tallest man, built like a gorilla, charged towards the side door. Zara shook all over; she wasn’t prepared for this. Trapped inside her own restaurant with God knows who surrounding them, a pre-emptive strike on their business hadn’t been predicted at all.

Neil pulled her over towards the toilets and pushed her through the door. ‘Wait inside. Leave this to us,’ he demanded.

With so much happening at once, there was no time to think, so she allowed him to take control.

The ladies’ toilets had only two cubicles and a frosted side window. She kept the light off, but luckily she knew her way around in the dark. Listening outside, she could hear men’s voices, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Slowly, she lifted the window latch, and carefully, she pushed the window open just enough to be able to hear. Next, she heard footsteps moving away from the window. She slid her hand down inside her boot and pulled out her gun. With a quick shove this time, she pushed the window fully open, so it was wide enough for her to climb out and land safely on the ground. She guessed the potential intruders had made their way to the side door, the only entrance that led straight into the kitchen; the other door led into the restaurant itself.