As Raymond did so, Ed leaned towards him. ‘We can’t drop the kids off at the slip road. It’s too dodgy and I don’t want Joey and Dom getting hurt. Think of somewhere we can meet up where they’ll be loads of people milling about.’

‘It’ll be gone ten by the time we get back, Ed, so there ain’t many places gonna be busy. Surely we’re better meeting Dom and Joey at a garage. I can’t see the O’Haras pulling onto the forecourt, ’cause they’re all camera’d up,’ Raymond suggested.

‘But what if they do?’

Raymond shrugged. ‘It’s a chance we’re gonna have to take. Get Joey to make sure Dom parks up away from the pumps and turns the headlights off. I’m sure the O’Haras won’t pull in behind us; they didn’t at the service station, did they?’

Eddie rubbed the stubble on his chin. ‘What garage do ya reckon’s best to stop at? We can’t use the one near Brentwood nick, as it’s too near to Frankie’s gaff.’

‘I reckon we’re better taking the 127 turn-off. If we stop at that garage opposite Palms Hotel, the O’Haras will probably pull up near Ardleigh Green lights and wait for us there. They definitely ain’t gonna wanna create a scene where there’s cameras, Ed.’

Eddie took his phone out of his pocket. ‘Let’s hope you’re fucking right, Raymondo, ’cause if you ain’t, Joey and Dom might be in shit street an’ all.’

As the evening wore on, Frankie was becoming more suspicious by the minute. Joey’s behaviour was odd, to say the least, and even though he was trying to join in the conversation, Frankie knew him well enough to know that something was wrong. Everybody had gone to bed now apart from Babs, Joey, Dom and herself and as her brother stared at his phone again, Frankie felt her hackles start to rise.

‘Whaddya keep checking your fucking phone for? I know something’s wrong, Joey, so you might as well just tell me what it is.’

Eddie had ordered Joey to say nothing to Frankie until he’d picked the children up so, as he was just about to lie, Joey was relieved as his phone burst into life. ‘We’ll leave now,’ he said, after listening to his father’s instructions.

‘You ain’t going nowhere until you tell me what’s going on,’ Frankie yelled, blocking the doorway with her body.

‘I won’t be long and as soon as I get back I’ll explain, I promise.’

‘You fucking tell me now, Joey, else I’m coming with you.’

‘I’m going to pick the kids up, if you must know. Now, get out the way, else we’re gonna be late.’