Frankie stood open-mouthed as her brother and Dominic pushed past her. When the door slammed, she turned to Babs. ‘I knew something would go wrong. I thought it was all too good to be true,’ she shouted tearfully.

Babs hugged her. ‘You don’t even know that anything’s wrong yet. Perhaps your dad has to go somewhere afterwards.’

Frankie shook her head furiously. ‘If my dad has involved my gay brother in all of this, then something is very fucking wrong.’

Jed looked at his fuel tank and ordered his brother to ring their father and pass him the phone.

‘What’s up?’ Jimmy asked.

‘I’m nearly out of juice. I reckon the cunts will take the next turn-off, but even if they don’t, I’m gonna have to fill up. There’s a garage not far past the Post House, ain’t there? I’ll fill up there, then catch you back up. Don’t lose ’em, for fuck’s sake.’

Jimmy chuckled. ‘Me and Mickey are right behind ’em. The only place Mitchell’s going is inside a coffin, boy.’

* * *

Georgie and Harry looked startled as their grandfather ordered their hands to be tied up again. ‘What have we done wrong?’ Georgie complained.

As Gary did the deed, Eddie looked around and leaned over the seat. ‘In a minute you’re getting out the van. Your Uncle Joey is picking you up and he’s taking you home to your mum. We’ll be round to see you again either later tonight or tomorrow.’

Feeling his chance of escaping slipping away, Harry glared at his grandad. ‘What you gonna do to my dad? If you do anything bad to him, I’ll tell the gavvers and get ’em to lock you up.’

‘And if you ain’t nice to your mother, I’ll have you locked up an’ all. Your mum loves you very much and once you get to know her properly, you’ll love her as well,’ Ed replied.

‘Are you gonna hurt our dad and grandad?’ Georgie asked nervously.

‘No. I’m gonna send ’em back to Glasgow, that’s all,’ Eddie lied.

‘Right, we’re only five minutes from the garage now, Ed. We’ve definitely lost one of ’em and he ain’t reappeared yet,’ Raymond said.

‘Bats ready boys, just in case we need ’em. Raymondo reckons they won’t follow us ’cause of the cameras, hence the change of plan,’ Ed explained.

When Gary and Ricky grabbed the baseball bats, Harry looked fearfully at his sister and began to cry. He’d always got annoyed with his Nanny Alice for fussing over him like an old mother hen, but he wished he could have a big cuddle from her now.

Georgie winked at her brother as reassurance that everything would be all right. For now it was the only comfort she could offer him.