Tina knew she had her in a corner. But she needed time to think. Chris would go ballistic if he found out there was someone else who knew about what she’d done. Let alone knowing she’d caved in to a blackmailer. He’d make her come clean before the shit hit the fan. This was turning into a nightmare.

‘I’ll meet you later after work to talk about this. I have things to do now, so please, just get out of my way.’

Rita stepped to one side and opened the door to let Tina go past. ‘Remember, four grand and your secret is safe with me. No funny business or I’ll be straight to the dibble and tell them everything that I know. I will, go on, test me.’

Tina stormed out without a word.

Rita smiled and rubbed her hands together. Today was going to be a good day after all.

Donny sat at his desk staring blankly at his computer, the way he always seemed to when he had something lying heavy on his mind. He was in no mood for work today. He looked out of the window, his eyes following a black and white magpie that was jumping about in the car park. He saluted it and mumbled something under his breath. He’d always been superstitious, and he blamed his mother for bringing him up that way. Don’t walk under a ladder, don’t put new shoes on a table, don’t smash a mirror otherwise you get seven years bad luck, the list was endless. He spotted Frankie coming across the car park. Was he limping?

Donny got up and walked over to the window to take a closer look. Yes, definitely limping. His black eye from the other day had barely healed and now he looked like he’d been in the ring.

‘Frankie, come straight up here and see me,’ Donny shouted from the top window

The student kept his head down and carried on walking. Frankie had changed. Maybe it was the weed. He never sat and joked around with his classmates anymore, just kept himself to himself. Donny stayed by the window. He saw Ged’s dad sat in his car parked up across the road from the school. He was a shady one for sure, dodgy. Donny checked the clock and then hurried down the stairs to try and catch Frankie before he went into the rec room. He got there just in time.

‘Oi, Frankie, wait up. What’s up with your leg? I saw you limping. Have you fallen or something?’

Frankie’s cap was pulled down low and he made no eye contact whatsoever. ‘Like you care. I fell off my bike last night. I’m just a bit bruised that’s all.’

‘You and me need to have one of our little talks. My office. Lunchtime.’