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  Horace’s mouth opened and then closed again.

  ‘Now, I know Sylvie’s wanted a nipper for a long while, only there’s no one to run the salon if she ’ad to leave, so why don’t you get yourself down the Technical College and enrol for a GNVQ in ’airdressin’ - soon as possible.’ Horace ran his hand over his bald head and opened his mouth to protest but Molly was unstoppable. ‘So that just leaves the rest of you.’ She looked from Tone, to Kev, to Gary. Sid was noticeable by his absence. ‘If my grandsons ain’t paying you a wage you can live on, tell ’em for Gawd’s sake - or even withhold your labour...’

  ‘Jeez!’ Frankie interjected.

  Molly raised an eyebrow to silence him. ‘Don’t forget, Frankie, Old Gaffer Spinks’ lad might be goin’ down for the Boreham’s job but Merce ’ere’s got the evidence that would alter that, so you’d better watch your Ps and Qs.’

  Mercedes picked up the photographs from the table. ‘Thanks, Nan.’

  ‘Yeah, but what about Harry Spinks?’ Chubby asked. ‘Ain’t ’e gonna point the finger?’

  Mercedes shrugged. ‘I’m sure he’ll try but with his record I’ll bet a pound to a penny he goes down.’

  Zak interrupted. ‘But is that fair? He didn’t actually do it.’

  ‘True,’ Mercedes reflected. ‘But the intention was there and he would’ve gone down two weeks ago if he hadn’t nobbled all the witnesses, so in the long run I think he’s got what’s due to him.’ She felt a sudden wave of relief that it was all over. ‘Zak and I have a function to attend with Zak’s family - but just before we go, there’s one more thing, Frankie.’ Her brother groaned again. ‘There’s a girl in my class, Fern Simmonds. Her parents died a few years ago and her aunt can’t afford her school fees. I’ve been running a sweepstake to subsidise her but I think it would be nice if you started to give something back to the community. Take care of it till she leaves, will you?’

  ’Course ’e will, babes,’ Molly said, kissing her granddaughter on the cheek. ‘Now, be off with you and ’ave a nice time. You done good, Merce.’

  Zak grinned. ‘Nice meeting you all,’ he said and they made their way out of the lock-up.

  ‘ ’Ere, where you off to? You can’t just call a meet then swan off like that,’ Laverne called after them. ‘You come back ’ere.’

  ‘Leave the gel alone,’ Molly cut in. ‘She done what you and me should’ve done years ago. You raised a good ’un there, ’Verne,’

  Laverne cocked her head on one side, thinking about her mother-in-law’s words and then decided to agree with her. ‘Yeah, I ’ave, ain’t I? She done us proud - bless!’

  Once in the car Zak put his arm round Mercedes’ shoulder and kissed her. ‘I am so proud of you.’

  Mercedes smiled. ‘Thanks - I couldn’t have done it without you.’

  ‘What do you think’ll happen to Harley Spinks if her dad goes down?’ Zak asked, slipping the car into gear.

  Mercedes shrugged. ‘I haven’t a clue, but her mum’s not so bad. Maybe they’ll have the chance to get to know each other a bit better with Harry out of the way.’

  Zak smiled. ‘Could be your chance to win the tennis cup, if she’s out of sorts.’

  Mercedes shook her head. ‘No way! Harley’d still be favourite if she had three left feet and one arm tied behind her back. But either way, when I do beat her, I want it to be fair and square.’ She squeezed Zak’s hand and returned his smile. ‘Anyway, I don’t want to talk about Harley Spinks - tell me about this party we’re going to.’

  The car pulled away from the lock-up. ‘It’s another of my cousins. He’s a futures broker in the city.’

  Mercedes thought for a moment. ‘A futures broker? What’s that?’

  ‘He invests other people’s money in things that he thinks might happen in the future - stuff like whether or not it’s going to be sunny in Guatemala next month or how much oil a certain country might produce.’

  Mercedes nodded. ‘And he does that for a job?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘With other people’s money?’

  Zak eyed her questioningly. ‘What’s going on in that head of yours?’

  Mercedes grinned. ‘I’m just thinking that it sounds like my kind of job. I’m wondering why the old bird didn’t fix me up with a futures broker for work experience.’

  ‘Good job she didn’t,’ Zak chuckled. ‘I might never have met you. But, if you want to talk futures, what odds are you offering on ours?’

  Mercedes leaned back and gave him a satisfied smile. ‘Oh, I think it’s definitely worth a flutter.’

  A Note from the Author

  When I first began writing Blaggers I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, because foiling a bank robbery wasn’t something that had ever featured on my ‘things-to-do-before-I-die’ list. I knew absolutely zilch about criminals and crime fighting. But doing the research has been one of the most interesting and enjoyable parts of creating Mercedes’ story. In fact, I probably now know more than is healthy for an ordinary, law-abiding citizen!

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