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flush, she was always open-handed and willing to share her good fortune, even if it was earned on her back.
    But now the police were involved, Eileen Riley was seen as the victim not the aggressor. A tall man with a bald head and a drinker’s belly shouted angrily, ‘Let her go!’
    Billings retaliated by dragging her forcefully towards the patrol car, shouting over his shoulder loudly, ‘You want to fucking join her, mate? Because that can be arranged.’
    Jenny launched herself at the man who was trying to force a kicking and fighting Eileen into the patrol car. Without thinking she jumped on to his back and, using all her strength, she dragged him away from her mother. Letting go of Eileen, Billings turned around and pushed her forcefully to the ground. Eileen, seeing this, launched herself once more at the officer, knocking his hat off and grabbing at his hair, cheered on by the crowd of onlookers who wanted to see Pissy Bill get his just deserts. Which he did, with honours.

Chapter Ten
    Cain Moran had driven to Stratford for his meet and, as he parked outside The Highwayman, he saw a sight he didn’t think he would ever see. The lovely − quiet − girl of the night before was having a fight with a policeman.
    Johnny Mac laughed. ‘That’s that little bird, ain’t it?’
    Cain sighed. ‘So it would fucking seem. Not such a wilting violet after all.’
    Cain and Johnny got out of their car and made their way over to the foray. Cain grabbed PC Billings and pushed him away from the fighting women. The man actually looked relieved.
    Then he realised who had dragged him away and wished he had never answered the call.
    ‘What the fuck are you doing? Fighting with women? Get in your fucking plod car and leave.’
    The crowd were thrilled. This was added excitement. A local Face turning up was the icing on the cake as far as they were concerned.
    The two policemen did as they were bid and left the scene quick sharp.
    Jenny was mortified that the man who had been her saviour the night before had once more come to her aid. She could feel the burn of humiliation on her face. She must look like a complete headcase. One minute she was being groomed as a prostitute, and the next minute she was brawling in the street.
    ‘Hello, young Jenny. You do have a flair for the dramatic, don’t you, darling?’
    Jenny Riley was so mortified she burst into tears. Eileen, who was sobering up by the second, was amazed that her daughter, her lovely looking Jenny, could know someone like Cain Moran. Especially on a first-name basis.
    Cain put his arm around Jenny’s shoulders and, motioning to Johnny, he walked her back to his car. Johnny Mac grabbed Eileen and they all left the scene together. Eileen Riley had once more provided the general populace with not just excitement, but also gossip. She was a girl all right.

Chapter Eleven
    Cain looked around Jenny’s home and his heart sank. It was a typical Tom’s house − empty bottles everywhere, the residue of half-eaten food and overflowing ashtrays. He should know; he had grown up in a place just like it. He could see there was an underlying cleanliness that he guessed, rightly, was from young Jenny trying to bring some normality to her surroundings. He felt heart-sorry for the girl. What chance did she have with loony Eileen, as she was affectionately known, as her mother?
    He felt a deep sadness settle over his heart. He had suffered the humiliation of a mother on the game, and he had learned to fight at a young age. Whatever his mum might have been she was still his mum, and no one was going to say anything detrimental about her, even if it was true. Most soft Toms like his mum, Eileen, and Johnny Mac’s mum, were victims of their own looks and apathy. It was easy money, and you could drink and smoke into the bargain. It was a social job in a way, where you were out with other people. And it helped pay the bills and put the food on the table.
    Johnny put the kettle on and hunted