Two miles down the M6, Ed’s wise words were proved right, as Raymond recognised the Land Cruiser sitting on the hard shoulder. ‘What’s the plan now?’ he asked his boss.

‘Turn the radio up,’ Ed ordered. He had some ideas, but didn’t want the kids to hear what he had to say. He leaned towards Raymond’s left ear. ‘It’s gotta be Jed and Jimmy in that motor. I reckon we should lead ’em over to the salvage yard and finish the job tonight.’

‘Do you still keep the shooters there? ’Cause I’ve a feeling the O’Haras might be armed,’ Raymond whispered.

‘Let me make some phone calls and I’ll talk to you in a sec,’ Ed replied.

He rang Gina first. ‘You all right, Ed? Not at a disco, are you?’ Gina joked, as she heard the sound of Destiny’s Child blaring out in the background.

‘I need you to pack some stuff for you and the kids and go and stay at your mate Claire’s for a couple of days.’

‘What?’ Gina asked in amazement.

‘Look, we’ve got a problem this end. Nothing serious, but I don’t want you in the cottage alone tonight.’

‘I can’t go now. I’ve just bathed the kids and Rosie’s in bed already. I’ll go first thing in the morning,’ Gina said.

‘No you won’t, you’ll go tonight. Get your stuff packed and get out of there ASAP! Understand?’

‘OK,’ Gina replied. The seriousness of Eddie’s voice told her all she needed to know and she began to panic. ‘You will be all right, won’t you?’ she asked, trying not to cry.

‘Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. Just do as I told you and ring me as soon as you get to Claire’s, OK?’

Gina told Ed she loved him, ended the call and burst into tears. If anything happened to her wonderful husband, she just knew she would die of a broken heart.

Stuart was next on Ed’s must-ring list. ‘I take it there’s no movement your end?’ he asked, knowing deep down it was a dumb question to ask.

‘Nope, been sitting ’ere like two stooges, me and Tel. Jed’s truck ain’t moved and Jimmy still ain’t back.’

‘Right, change of plan. Head back to Essex as fast as you can. I’ll give you more instructions on the way,’ Ed ordered.

‘I thought you wanted us to stay up ’ere and follow Jimmy and Jed,’ Stuart replied, bemused.

‘Too late. They’re already following us.’

The hardest phone call for Eddie to make was the last one. ‘I wish I hadn’t told Frankie I had the kids with me. She’s fragile enough as it is and if she hears we’re being followed, she’ll lose the plot,’ Ed whispered to Raymond.