Sharon raised swollen lack lustre eyes to Jimmy’s white, angry face. “Oh Jimmy, I didn’t know you were mixed up with people like that, honest I didn’t. They said if you didn’t get the money they’d… that I’d…” Her voice faltered on a broken sob. “… that I’d be identifying you in the mortuary.”
The muscles around Jimmy’s heart congealed icily. “Was one of them fat, ugly with a shiny bald head, baggy suit?” he asked, musing aloud. Sharon nodded. Her lower lip trembled. Tears spilled from her eyes again. He clung to Sharon more out of support for himself than to actually reassure her. “Bastards!” His mouth worked around the one word, savouring it, tight lipped, white faced, helpless, powerless to move against any of them. Alone. Absently he hugged her, felt her body tremble against him. “It’s
