Nancy sat as close as she dared, watching Ged through the gap in the seats as the train moved off. His mobile started to ring; she could see the panic in his eyes as he fumbled in his pocket trying to find it. She could hear every word: ‘Yeah, I’m on the train now, tell them to meet me at the other end,’ he said. The call went on for a few minutes. He looked nervous, couldn’t keep still, fidgeting.

Half an hour later and he’d still never looked up. Nancy was bored. She stuck her head between the seats; she’d had enough of being by herself and she knew him, so why wouldn’t she say hello? She stood up and made her way down the carriage.

‘Where you off to then?’

Ged nearly choked as he spotted her. ‘Fucking hell, Nancy, what are you doing here?’

She sat down next to him.

‘I always take myself off to different places when I’m bored. It’s just something I do. I go all over.’

Ged had gone pale and he checked around to make sure no one was watching them.

Nancy asked him again. ‘So, where you off to?’

He swallowed hard and she could tell by his body language that he was up to no good.

‘I’ve just got to take some stuff to someone. I’m coming back later tonight. It’s just a favour for a mate.’

Nancy looked him right in the eye; did he think she was green or what? She knew what was what – he needed to stop trying to pull the wool over her eyes. She was way more intelligent than he was giving her credit for.

‘Ged, stop talking out of your arse. I’m not daft you know. If you don’t want to tell me then that’s fine, but don’t lie to me.’

Ged cracked his knuckles, looked around again to make sure nobody could hear them. He wasn’t going to admit he was shitting himself and seeing her made him feel a bit better. And could she be trusted? He reckoned she probably could. He kept his voice low. ‘If you have to know, I’m dropping some stuff off for Frankie. He’s been great with me and sorted me out with some new gear and that so it’s the least I can do to pay him back, isn’t it?’

‘Stuff like what?’

‘Just a few parcels,’ he whispered.

The penny dropped. ‘So you mean drugs?’

Ged’s eyes opened wide as he nodded slowly. ‘Yeah, fucking hell, keep your voice down will you?’