‘I’d fucking love to work for you, Ed, and I truly mean that. Things have been tough workwise for me the past year or so and I ain’t exactly rolling in it at the moment.’

Eddie leaned across the desk and held out his right hand. ‘We’ll have to make sure the filth don’t come sniffing around ya first over Jed’s murder. As soon as we know everything’s kosher, you can start. It won’t be nothing iffy, you’ll just be collecting dosh and threatening or roughing up any one who don’t pay on time.’

‘If I ask you a question, will you be honest with me?’ Terry asked.

‘Go on.’

‘Why are you doing this for me after what I did to your brothers?’

‘Because I know what it’s like to have your daughter’s life ruined by some little cunt like Jed. I also know what it’s like to have somebody you love brutally murdered. I will never rest until I find out who killed my old man. I want revenge for that so much, I can almost fucking taste it.’

‘Thanks ever so much, Ed. I dunno what else to say to you, mate.’

‘Don’t say nothing then. Go on, you can fuck off now. I’ll be in touch as soon as we’re sure the coast is clear. Until then, don’t contact me, OK? And if I need to speak to you at all, I’ll get Stu to call you with a time, then we’ll meet at the Leonard Arms in Rainham.’

Terry Baldwin smiled gratefully and as he walked away, Eddie felt a slight twinge of guilt run through his veins. He just hoped all that life after death shit was a load of old cobblers, because if it wasn’t, his father would currently be turning in his fucking grave.

‘Morning everybody,’ DI Blyth shouted to her colleagues as she walked into her office.

‘The superintendent from Arbour Square rang up about half-an-hour ago. He wants you to call him back,’ said Julie, her young assistant.

Blyth shut the office door, put her takeaway coffee on the table and immediately picked up the phone. ‘Good morning, sir. DI Blyth here.’

Blyth listened intently as the superintendent told her the results of the DNA test. He then explained to Blyth what would happen next. Blyth thanked him, ended the call, then immediately rang up Holloway Prison. She would need to speak to Frankie face to face, and the sooner she got it over with, the better.

Eddie Mitchell arrived at Joanie’s house at quarter to two. He was early for once, and had purposely got there before Gary and Ricky did.