Ged walked into the terraced house cautiously. It stank of wet dog. The wallpaper was hanging off the walls and the paintwork was yellow. Mathew had gone in ahead of him and now stood talking to another man in the dark hallway. ‘Ged’s here for the night, make sure you look after him and his girl. I don’t want to hear you’ve been trying to have his eyes out, because you know what will happen, don’t you?’

The guy seemed to be propping himself up against the wall with his hand. He was skin and bones, so thin that if a gust of wind come along it would have swept him away. His voice rasped. ‘As if, I’ll look after him like one of my own. I wouldn’t mess with you lot, you know that. You just keep me sweet like we agreed, and it’ll all be good.’

‘Squeaky, I always look after you, remember that.’

Squeaky chuckled, showing off his stumpy teeth. Ged shuddered; the guy was rancid. He reeked. Nancy, as ever, not shy at coming forward, decided to make herself at home. She went straight into the front room and threw herself down on the sofa, taking in her surroundings. It was clear this wasn’t going to be the cleanest place she’d ever stayed, but it was better than sleeping on the streets like she’d done before. The sofa arms were ripped and stained, overflowing ashtrays littered every surface, and the dark brown curtains hung precariously from a piece of string across the bay window. Ged sat down next to her and whispered under his breath. ‘Fucking stinks in here.’

Mathew just nodded across at Ged.

‘Right, I’ll be back later. Here’s the phone. Make sure you answer it and tell them where to go. Don’t fucking fall asleep either, because if the phone’s not being answered then none of us are earning any money.’

Ged caught the phone in his hand; he was about to say something but thought better of it. This was a piss-take. It was not what he signed up for.

Squeaky followed Mathew back into the hallway and let him out. Once the front door slammed shut, he came back into the room and sat down to make a roll-up. His fingers were yellow at the end – you could tell just by looking that the guy was rotten inside and out. Ged watched him like a hawk as he slid his tongue along the edge of the Rizla.

‘You know how all this works, don’t you?’

Ged was on the spot. He didn’t have a clue – but he didn’t want to show it, wasn’t going to let this clown, this tramp, call the shots.

‘Yeah, so don’t be trying to have me over or I’ll cut you up.’