Tommy shook his head. ‘They are friends; he’s like another brother to all of us. That’s all. I’d know if not. I think he’s got a girlfriend anyway, from where he works.’ He gave a small hiccough. Alfie didn’t seem to be sitting as steadily on his stool as he had been. His outline was becoming a little blurry. The whole room felt blurry. It wasn’t unpleasant, just odd.

‘Careful now, Tommy,’ said Alfie. ‘Nearly came off your seat there, you did. Don’t want you cracking your head on the floor now, do we?’

Tommy grunted. He was feeling odder still.

‘Well, I’m sure you’re right about Kitty,’ said Alfie. He realised he’d overplayed his hand. He had planned to get Tommy on his side, maybe persuade him to report back on when Kitty’s shifts were or which friends she was seeing, so he could get a better idea of her movements, but the boy must be completely unused to drink as he was swaying where he sat. ‘Come on, best get you back. I’ve places to go, I can’t be sitting around drinking beer all evening, much as I’d like to.’ He hauled Tommy to his feet and guided him across the near-empty bar and back to the car.

Tommy gave up after a few attempts to continue the conversation and dozed off, coming to with a start as Alfie pulled up at the kerb on the corner of the dock road, just down from the junction with Empire Street.

‘I’ll drop you here if you don’t mind,’ he said. ‘Save me going out of my way. You all right to walk back from here?’

Tommy shrugged and squinted hard to make out where he was. It looked familiar. ‘Yes, course,’ he said, trying to open the car door and failing. Alfie leant across and did it for him.

‘Right you are then.’

Tommy scrambled out of the car and stood unsteadily. ‘Ummm … thanks, Alfie.’ Kitty would be pleased with him, remembering his manners like that, he thought. The cold breeze reddened his cheeks and helped sober him up a little as he turned to wave goodbye.

‘Make sure you tell Kitty I was asking after her,’ called Alfie as he sped off.

Tommy wasn’t sure he would say anything of the sort. He would have to explain where and how he’d been talking to Alfie, and he knew that would be a bad idea. He made his way along the main road and turned up into Empire Street, his feet unsteady. He wove along, narrowly avoiding falling over his shoelaces.