‘That’ll be gone by tomorrow,’ Joey whispered to Dom as his nan turned her back.

‘Now what do you want? Beer, wine, coffee or tea?’

‘Just a coffee for now, Nan. Where’s Grandad, by the way?’ Joey replied.

‘Where do you think? Out in the garden fiddling about with his cock, as per usual. I’ll give him a shout in a minute and let him know you’re here. Now, when do you want to open your present, Dominic? Now, or after dinner?’

Remembering the ‘Gay and Proud’ t-shirt his nan had bought him a while back, Joey couldn’t help but burst out laughing. ‘He’ll have it later. He needs a couple of glasses of wine first, Nan.’

‘What are you both laughing at?’ Joyce asked in a displeased tone.

Joycie’s annoyance only made Joey and Dominic laugh all the more. ‘You ain’t bought him a t-shirt, Nan, have ya?’ Joey asked, holding his sides.

‘Gertcha, you ungrateful little bastards,’ Joyce replied. Pretending to be furious, she stomped out of the room, shut the door, and then burst out laughing herself.

Eddie Mitchell had chosen the Leonard Arms for a reason. Big Pete who ran his salvage yard drank in there, and over the years Ed had often popped in for a bevvy or two, so his face was known. Also, if they were going to investigate for themselves, they needed to be somewhere near where O’Hara lived.

‘Did you get hold of him?’ Eddie asked hopefully as Stu got back in the motor.

‘Yep. I said exactly what you asked me to and he just said, “OK.” Fucking hell, Ed, that phone box has really turned my stomach. It reeked of piss and sick.’

Eddie chuckled, then drove towards the pub. ‘How’d it go with the bird last night? Do you like her?’

Last night was the first time Stuart had had sex since he’d got out of prison, and the thought of it made him break into a smile. ‘Yeah, Emma’s a very pretty girl.’

Eddie glanced at his sidekick and smirked. ‘I can see by the look on your face you got your nuts in, boy.’

Stuart laughed. ‘You’ve a charming way with words, Ed.’

Five minutes later, Eddie pulled up in the car park of the Leonard Arms. ‘Right, come in for a beer with me, then at quarter to one, go outside and sit in the motor. As soon as Baldwin turns up, ring me and I’ll come outside. If we’re standing in company, say you’re goin’ outside to ring your bird, OK?’

Gary and Ricky had already bagged a table in the corner of the pub. Apart from them, there were only four other punters in there and no sign of Big Pete.

‘Get a round in, Stu, and get one for Raymondo an’ all,’ Ed said, handing Stuart a twenty-pound note.