Eddie handed the binoculars over to Ricky and stood up again. Debating what to do for the best, he ran his fingers up and down the stubble on his chin. ‘I don’t think we’ve got a lot of choice but to go in there like headless chickens. I mean, I can’t exactly imagine, by looking at Georgie and Harry, that they go skipping out the fucking site hand in hand together, can you?’ Ed replied.

Raymond shrugged. ‘Can’t we just watch their movements for a couple of days? They can’t spend their whole lives cooped up in there, surely, so perhaps we’re better waiting for either of ’em to go out and snatch ’em individually.’

‘Fucking hell, Dad, our Georgie’s only got a boyfriend. Look, they’re going for it hammer and tongs behind the beige trailer next to Jimmy’s,’ Ricky said.

Eddie grabbed the binoculars off his son and stared through them in complete and utter horror. Having seen enough of his thirteen-year-old granddaughter’s breasts being groped, he threw the binoculars onto the ground in disgust. ‘Right, seeing that has fucking made my mind up. Let’s get back to the van and as soon as Jimmy goes out, we’ll give it ten minutes or so, then in we go. Them kids are coming home with me today, ’cause if they don’t, I’ll end up killing every single pikey cunt that raised ’em.’

Frankie glanced at her brother as their nan took the embroidered handkerchief out of her handbag and began dabbing her eyes with it.

‘Truly hurt, me and your grandfather were, weren’t we, Stanley? Feeling unloved and unwanted at our age is enough to kill the pair of us off,’ Joyce said in a sorrowful voice.

‘Frankie wasn’t being horrible, Nan. She didn’t even really want me and Dom to come over today. Surely you understand what a difficult time this is for her?’ Joey said, sticking up for his sister.

‘It’s a difficult time for all of us. Georgie and Harry were my Jessica’s grandchildren and she’d want me to be here for their homecoming,’ Joyce replied stubbornly.

Not wanting a full-scale argument to ensue, Dominic stood up. ‘Now who would like a drink? Tea, coffee, something stronger perhaps?’ he asked brightly.

‘I’ll have a cup of tea, please,’ Stanley replied.

‘And I’ll have a large brandy and Baileys. After feeling like some decrepit outsider, perhaps it will cheer me up a bit,’ Joyce added sarcastically.

Fuming with her grandmother’s insensitivity over her plight, Frankie grabbed her brother’s arm and dragged him out of the lounge. ‘Nan is really getting on my tits, Joey, so either shut her up or get rid of her,’ she hissed.

‘I can’t just sling her out, can I?’ Joey replied uncomfortably.