When the phone rang it was Dom who answered it. ‘It’s your dad, Frankie,’ he said, running into the kitchen.

Frankie snatched the phone out of his hand and, as she heard what her dad had to say, dropped her glass of wine in shock.

‘What’s happened? Talk to me, Frankie,’ Joey pleaded, fearing the worst.

Bursting into tears of pure joy, Frankie began jumping up and down like a loony. ‘He’s got ’em! My babies are on their way home.’

Forever the pessimist, Eddie ended the call to his daughter and rang Stuart again. ‘Well?’ he asked. He was trying not to say too much in front of the kids.

‘Nothing to report, boss. Jed’s truck still ain’t moved, and we ain’t seen hair nor hide of Jimmy,’ Stuart confirmed.

‘Do not take your eyes off the gaff, because they’re bound to realise something’s missing soon. Don’t both fall asleep, for fuck’s sake,’ Eddie warned.

He put his phone back in his pocket and smiled at his grandchildren. They’d calmed down a bit in the past hour, but he could still see the look of fright in their eyes.

‘Want some Coke and crisps? If you promise to behave yourselves, I can untie your hands for ya.’

‘I need to go a toilet,’ Georgie said in almost a whisper.

‘Pull over, Raymondo, somewhere that’s got trees or bushes.’

Georgie wasn’t amused. ‘Why can’t I go in a normal toilet?’

‘In case you try and do a runner again,’ Eddie replied, as he undid the rope around her hands.

‘I wanna pee an’ all,’ Harry said.

‘You take him, Gal, and I’ll go with her,’ Ed ordered, as Raymond pulled the van over.

‘You ain’t coming with me,’ Georgie said, scowling at her grandad.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll turn me back,’ Eddie promised as he grabbed her by the hand.

Five minutes later, toilet duty was over and both kids were back in the van. Harry was munching on crisps and Georgie was sipping a can of Coke.

‘So, what’s our mum like then?’ Georgie asked unexpectedly.

‘Your mum’s kind, loving, generous and pretty. In fact, she looks a lot like you,’ Ed told her.

‘Have we got any more brothers or sisters?’ Georgie asked.

‘Yeah, you’ve got a little brother called Brett. You’ll meet him when we get home.’

‘We’ve got a sister called Shelby,’ Harry added in a stroppy tone.

‘Do either of you actually remember your mum?’ Eddie asked.

Harry frowned, then shook his head.

‘I do, but only a little bit. Why ain’t she ever come to see us?’ Georgie asked. She was interested now, but also very confused at the same time.

‘Tell ’em the truth, Dad. Don’t lie to ’em,’ Ricky urged.