‘Of course I know it isn’t fuckin’ necessary Cooper. When it gets to that, I’ll send Quinn.’

Doc was close to shouting.

‘What did you do to antagonise the prick.’

‘Do me a bloody favour Doc, I gave him tea for crying out loud.’

‘And he definitely said WHEN not IF.’

‘You think I misheard him, that it?’

‘Fuck fuck fuck.’

‘That’s a big help.’

I was round at Doc’s place. He lived off the Clapham Road in an old draughty house that never got warm. Laura, his common-law wife, was doing household shit and noisily. A small intense brunette, she’d a vicious temper. I don’t think she liked me but it wasn’t personal. She didn’t like anybody, even Doc seemed to bug her and they’d been together eighteen years. He shouted, ‘Laura, for fuck’s sake, will you stop bangin’ things.’

‘When you stop bangin’ young wans.’

He gave a huge smile, said, ‘The mouth on that woman, strip paint off a gate. Hey Laura, wet a sup o’ tea.’

‘Wet it yerself.’

They had a sixteen-year-old daughter, currently at a posh boarding school. Doc said, ‘Everyone in this house-hold does time.’

Laura sighed, ‘But I’m the only one doing life.’

Round at Lisa’s, I’d called with flowers. The logo shouts ‘Say It With Flowers’. A bunch of pink roses, they didn’t have a whole lot of chat. Lisa said, ‘They’re lovely.’

What else could she add. She’d answered the door in nowt but a slip.

‘How does the postman react?’ I asked.

‘To what.’

Well fuckit, cancel the witty repartee. She gave me a large scotch and as I got behind that, I noticed she’d a gold chain round her ankle.

‘Why do you wear a chain on yer foot?’

‘It’s called a slave bracelet.’

‘That must set women’s rights back a few years.’

Not appreciated. Anger made her face ugly, blended with the knowledge she’d suspected the very same thing.