‘You’ll love Stuart. He’s a great lad and a real gentleman. He’s the sort of geezer you should have ended up with. He’s coming back to Joey’s for some grub, so I can introduce you to him properly.’

Frankie looked at her father in horror. ‘Don’t you dare start all that! I’ve had enough of blokes to last me a lifetime, and all I’m bothered about from now on is my children. If you want to help me, then concentrate on finding Georgie and Harry for me, rather than finding me a husband.’

Eddie chuckled. Frankie might have lost her liberty for a while and had temporarily lost her kids, but she hadn’t lost her spirit, bless her.

‘So who else is gonna be at this meal at Joey’s? You haven’t invited all and sundry, have you?’

‘Nope. There’s just me, you, Lal, Dom, Joey and Stuart. Gary, Ricky and Raymond ain’t coming back. The boys said they’ll take you out for lunch once you’re acclimatised to the outside world once again.’

‘What about Nan and Grandad?’ Frankie asked.

‘Joey didn’t want to tell them about your bail hearing just in case it all went tits-up. They don’t even know that Georgie and Harry are missing yet. Joyce rang me up to tell me she’d seen the Old Bill at the O’Haras’ house, but I played it down ’cause I didn’t wanna upset her. Joey thought it best to wait until you got out and then tell ’em. At least then he’d have some good news to tell ’em as well.’

‘I wish I knew if Jed was dead or not, Dad. I wouldn’t worry quite so much if I knew Alice was looking after the kids. Jed’s pure evil, no one knows that more than me and that’s why I’m so concerned for their safety,’ Frankie said, her eyes brimming with tears.

Larry glanced at Eddie in his interior mirror. They locked eyes and Larry nodded his approval.

Eddie moved his daughter’s hair out of her eyes. Now he had the OK from Larry, he could sort of tell her the truth. ‘Don’t cry, angel. I’m gonna tell you something now, but you mustn’t tell anyone, OK? Can you promise me that?’

Frankie nodded.

‘Now I swear on my life this has nothing to do with me, but Larry heard through the grapevine that it was Jed that got killed and that’s why the O’Haras have bolted.’

‘How do you know?’ Frankie asked in shock.

‘A little birdie told Larry, but if you tell anyone, Frankie, you’ll get us all banged up, because Lal got the info off an insider, if you know what I mean?’ Eddie lied.