‘Today’s the day and Larry reckons I’ll definitely win. He says that social worker has got it all sewn up.’

Kerry was thrilled that Frankie looked so happy and enthusiastic. They had been through the mill together while living with Sammy and Jed, and Kerry couldn’t imagine how awful it was for Frankie to have no contact with Georgie and Harry. Just knowing they were living with the O’Haras was awful in itself. However, Kerry was extremely aware of Jed’s cunning nature and she didn’t want Frankie to build her hopes up too much in case it all went wrong.

‘I so hope the court lets you see Georgie and Harry, but you know what Jed’s like. He’s a born liar, Frankie, and he’s bound to have made up some cock and bull story to tell the judge,’ she warned her friend.

Frankie shook her head confidently and leaned across the table. ‘I couldn’t tell you this on the phone, but I sent a threat to him. I’ve warned him, if he fucks this up for me, I’m gonna tell the Old Bill everything.’

Kerry was stunned. ‘How did you manage that?’ she whispered.

Frankie explained how she had met Katie in prison and then befriended her so she could get the message to Jed. ‘I bet the evil bastard is shitting himself as we speak,’ Frankie said, grinning.

Kerry wasn’t quite so convinced. Jed and Sammy were a law unto themselves, but, not wanting to burst Frankie’s bubble, she smiled and nodded in agreement.

Over in Essex, Jed was anything but shitting himself as he spoke calmly and politely to the woman judge. His solicitor, Malcolm, had already said his piece, and Jed was pleased that he’d now been allowed to speak, too.

‘That’s why I brought my children here with me today, your honour. They might only be young in years, but Georgie and Harry are both very wise for their age and they certainly know what they want. Since living with myself and my parents, the children have flourished and I’m worried that seeing their mother in prison will upset them and disturb their young minds all over again. It was only recently that they witnessed the murder of their half-brother, Luke, and I don’t think they could cope with any more upheaval.’

Larry, Frankie’s solicitor and Carol Cullen, the social worker whom Larry had employed to take on this case, glanced at one another in disbelief. Scared of losing his rag, Eddie Mitchell had decided not to attend the court case, but, had warned them about Jed’s cunning nature and had also said. ‘He’s a thick, uneducated pikey. He won’t come across well in front of a judge.’