Within seconds of Larry leaving the room, Frankie gave her father what for. ‘This is all your doing, ain’t it? What did you do? Go round there yourself and shoot the wrong person like you did with my mother? Or send someone else to do your dirty work instead?’

‘What the fuck you on about? Whatever happened round the O’Haras’ is sod-all to do with me. I swear on my life, I’ve been nowhere near their poxy house.’

‘Well, I don’t believe you,’ Frankie spat.

‘You can believe what you want, but don’t be blaming me. Do you think if I was gonna hit on Jed or Jimmy that I’d be stupid enough to do it at their house in front of my own grandchildren? And as for bringing your mother into this conversation, that’s well below the fucking belt, Frankie.’

The fire left Frankie’s eyes and she immediately burst into tears again. ‘I’m sorry, Dad. I’m just so worried about my children, I don’t know what to say or think.’

Eddie held her in his arms again. ‘I need you to be strong for me, Frankie, ’cause if you ain’t, then I ain’t gonna be able to cope either. I love you so much, girl, and I know you’ll be OK because you’re a chip off the old block, ain’t ya?’ Eddie remarked, drying her eyes with his handkerchief.

‘Larry’s gonna need to ask you some questions. We need to give the Old Bill as much information as we can to help ’em find Georgie and Harry, OK?’

Frankie nodded. ‘OK.’

‘Have the kids got passports?’ Eddie asked.

‘No, but Jed can get hold of anything like that. He used to get dodgy insurance certificates, tax discs, MOTs, even driving licences.’

Eddie stood up. He would have liked to have told his daughter that he knew Jed was dead, just to ease her worry, but he daren’t in case the police questioned her and she put her bloody foot in it. ‘I’ll go and get Larry,’ he said.

‘Dad, can you ask the screw if I can have some painkillers and a glass of water? I really don’t feel well,’ Frankie said.

Eddie stood up. He hadn’t even reached the door when Frankie let out a painful yelp. ‘Whatever’s wrong?’ he asked, running to her aid.

Frankie was holding her stomach, her face contorted with pain. ‘Get the screw, quick. My waters have broken.’

Over in Essex, Joyce and Stanley were car hunting and hadn’t stopped arguing for the past couple of hours. Joycie was insisting that they purchase a brand, spanking-new motor and Stanley was trying to make his obstinate wife see sense.