Eddie walked over to the table where Bev’s pisshead friends had sat down. He told them the score, then walked back over to Gary and Ricky, who were standing in the corner looking melancholy. ‘Come on, boys, let’s get out of this dump and go and get pissed somewhere decent.’

* * *

The following morning, Alice dressed Harry in his new, smart suit, which Jed had purchased especially for the occasion, and Georgie in a pretty pink corduroy pinafore dress. The children hadn’t been expected to attend the court hearing, but both Jed and his solicitor, Malcolm, thought it was a good idea that they went.

‘It’s important that these do-gooding cunts listen to what them chavvies have to say and Malcolm reckons that it will be good for the judge to see how happy and well-kept Georgie and Harry look. Remember, it won’t be long till that slag gives birth to another one, and when she does, I want custody of it. No chavvie of mine is gonna be brought up by some psycho in prison,’ Jed told his parents.

Alice was no Naomi Campbell in the fashion stakes and usually spent her days dressed in black leggings teamed with baggy t-shirts. Today however, Alice had made an effort and had chosen to wear a smart black suit that she usually only reserved for funerals. Her thick, dark, long hair she wore up in a bun and as she walked into the lounge, Jimmy wolf-whistled and Jed grinned.

‘You really look the part, Mum,’ Jed said, impressed.

‘You look a million dollars, love,’ Jimmy told her. He had also made an effort and both he and Jed were dressed in grey suits with shirts and ties.

Jed crouched down in front of Georgie and Harry, who were sitting quietly on the sofa. ‘You’re not nervous, are ya?’ he asked them.

Both children shook their heads.

‘Now, remember everything Daddy told you to say, won’t you?’

‘Yes, Daddy,’ Georgie said grinning.

‘You told us to say that we don’t wanna visit Mummy in prison,’ Harry said, proud that he’d remembered his father’s exact words.

‘And we gotta say it ’cause if we don’t the nasty people will take us away from you, Nanny Alice and Grandad Jimmy and make us live somewhere else,’ Georgie said, remembering the rest of her father’s speech.

Jed ruffled his children’s hair, stood up and smirked. He’d brainwashed the little ’uns and now it was time to head to court and break Frankie’s fucking heart in two.

Unaware of Jed’s malicious plan, Frankie hugged her friend Kerry and sat down opposite her with a big smile on her face. Frankie had already told Kerry on the phone all about the civil court case and she could barely contain her excitement at the thought of seeing Georgie and Harry again soon.