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smiling slightly, and Davey wondered just how Georgio had landed a stunner like her and kept her all these years.
    ‘I suppose you’ve heard?’
    Lighting a cigarette, he took a deep drag on it. ‘Slags they are, especially Laughton. He prides himself on being the dog’s gonads and everyone knows he’s a prize prat. He came after me a few years ago. He’s renowned for fitting people up.’
    Donna sat on the edge of the desk. ‘Dolly says the same thing.

    them Everyone does. But why Georgio?’
    Davey shrugged nonchalantly. ‘He’s a face, Donna. He might have a little tickle now and again, nothing too elaborate like. It’s par for the course in this game, we don’t even entertain ringers. He’s done well, he looks like he does well. That’s enough for that ponce Laughton. Georgio knew it was only a matter of time before someone had a sniff, only we thought it would be the big boys, the Revenue. So there you go, love. What’s the score anyway?’
    They’ve been to court and got the extension, another forty-eight hours, then they have to charge him or let him go.’
    ‘He’ll be home before you know it, love. Carol was only saying this morning, when he gets back we’ll have a night out, eh? Just the four of us.’
    Donna nodded, wishing she was as sure of everything as Carol and Davey Jackson.
    ‘How’s his mother took it?’
    ‘I haven’t told her yet,’ Donna confessed. ‘I don’t know what to say. So far the News has only said they’ve pulled in two people for questioning. No names, nothing. I’ll wait until he gets home before I start worrying them. After all, what’s the point? If he comes home, we’ll be all right.’
    Davey smiled sadly. This woman in front of him wasn’t geared up for all this. It was unfair.
    ‘He’ll be home, darlin’. Laughton’s a prat. Everyone has a bit of hag off him at some time or another - it’s par for the course.’
    Donna smiled, a tiny restrained smile, and Davey felt his heart melt in his chest.
    ‘So everyone keeps saying. Georgio told me to tell you to carry on as normal.’
    Davey swept out his arms in a gesture of good will. ‘That’s exactly what I am doing, my lovely.’
    ‘Can I do anything?’
    Davey laughed then, a deep belly laugh. ‘Go home and get yourself tarted up for the conquering hero. That’s all you need to do, Donna love.’
    She didn’t smile back. Instead she slipped from the desk and nodded. ‘Of course it is. Now why didn’t I think of that?’
    Turning abruptly, she walked from the tiny office and slammed the door behind her. Davey watched her walk stiff-backed towards her car, and he tapped his teeth reflectively with the end of a biro. There was more to Donna Brunos than met the eye. Now why had he never realised that before?
    Thoughtfully, he picked up the phone and began dialling.

    22

    Maeve Brunos was reading the Sun and drinking a large mug of strong black coffee. It was a ritual she enjoyed every day. Her husband was at. work in the restaurant downstairs, preparing the evening meals, and her children were out and about. Bringing up six kids in a small flat made you very aware of quality time. And this was her quality time, her time alone. ‘Maeve’s half-hour’ they called it, and she loved every second of it.
    She read the leader on the front page and tutted. A photograph of the young security man who had died the day before in an armed robbery was emblazoned across the front page. It had been taken on his wedding day; the caption read: FIND THE KILLERS.
    Maeve sipped at the strong coffee and lit herself a Benson & Hedges Light. Drawing deep on the smoke she began to read the story, her eyes darting continually to the photo of the young man and his pretty, plump wife. Tragedy was always a decent seller of newspapers and Maeve lapped it up, getting her excitement in the comfort and security of her own home. When the doorbell rang she sighed and heaved herself out of her seat, and lumbered down the steep