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lifestyle had come between them. In her heart of hearts she’d felt only half-alive during the years spent with Terry, and that was harder than anything to admit to herself. Only when she wore the mantle of Maura Ryan, dangerous lady, did she feel truly herself, tingle with anticipation at the start of each new day. She knew she was not cut out to be a housewife; her only chance at motherhood had been ruined in a dingy flat with the abortion of her child. Her child and Terry’s.
    She knew deep inside she had never forgiven him for abandoning her then, in favour of his job. His precious police career. But it didn’t stop her from loving him, even while she resented him. Now she had to bury him. Or what was left of him anyway.
    Marge and Carla packed for her and talked to one another with their eyes. When Maura went to the bathroom to wash her face, Marge whispered to Carla, “One or other of us needs to stay with her at all times.”
    Carla nodded.
    “I’ve never seen her like this before.”
    Marge shrugged.
    “I have. When Michael died. There’s been too much death in her life.”
    Carla didn’t answer her. She didn’t know what to say.
    Maura walked from the bathroom with full make-up and a smile plastered on her face.
    “Come on then, girls, let’s get home, eh?”
    Carla watched her aunt acting as if nothing had happened. She was putting it all out of her head as usual and wouldn’t allow herself to grieve properly.
    But trouble was on the way, Carla was sure of it.
    In more ways than one.
    Benny, Garry and Roy met Lee at a lock-up in Camden. As they closed the door behind them Benny checked the road to see if anyone outside was watching them.
    “Who moved the car out?” Garry said.
    Benny answered.
    “Abul. He’s taken it for a jaunt.”
    Garry grinned. He loved his nephew Benny, they were of similar temperament.
    “Good boy. Now, there’s a few interesting bits under here. A couple of Armalites. A rocket launcher. The spades are in the corner, you’d better get digging!”
    Lee laughed.
    “What are you going to do then?”
    Garry shrugged.
    “Get the teas, of course. I’ll let you work up a sweat first, naturally.”
    “Naturally!”
    Benny, always hands on, started to dig with a vengeance. The others watched him for a while, marvelling at the strength of him.
    “How’s Maura?” Garry’s voice was low.
    Roy sighed.
    “Not good. Reminds me of how she was after Micky went. She’s bottling it all up as usual.”
    “Fucking good riddance to bad rubbish if you ask me. That Petherick was a ponce. For a shrewd bird she was blinded there.”
    “Ain’t we all where lovers are concerned?”
    Garry laughed.
    “Not me. I never met anyone I cared about. Wanted to fuck, maybe take out now and again, but people who get too close can own you. They make you stupid, make you do stupid things.”
    Lee knew Garry meant him and Sheila and he reacted angrily.
    “Not everyone is just after what they can get, Gal. Not all women are slags.”
    Garry raised his eyebrows in an expression of disbelief.
    “They are. Show them a few quid, a big cock and a nice motor, and they’re yours. Look at Joliff’s old woman, a slag of the first water.”
    “Not any more, Uncle Garry.”
    “Not so much of the “Uncle” if you don’t mind, young Benny. Garry will do.”
    “We’re blamed for that, and you know what it means, don’t you?” Roy sounded worried.
    Garry nodded, irritated by his brother’s reaction.
    “It means we have to strike first, that’s what it means. So hurry up and dig, boys. Let battle commence.”
    “Maura wants us all to go to her flat over the club at lunchtime.”
    Roy still sounded unsure and Benny picked up on that fact.
    “Do you think she’s up to all this?” He gestured with the spade into the hole.
    Garry laughed and Lee joined in.
    “Maura would shoot you if you annoyed her enough, boy, remember that. She’ll bounce back. She is the only woman I know who thinks like a bloke.