He regularly had to catch himself. He had been very lucky and, if he played the game skilfully, there was the chance to recover at least some of the extravagant lifestyle that he had enjoyed before. The long years he had spent hiding in the jungle would soon be nothing more than memories. It was difficult to ignore the feeling he had put one over on the rest of the world.

Living with Joseph made a good situation better yet. Joseph was enjoying his company although Edward was careful to keep out of his way when he sensed he wanted time to himself. Joseph was similarly accommodating. They ate out most nights but, on the occasions that they did not, they cooked for each other and then sat around smoking, listening to records on their new gramophone and reading. They both became familiar in the upmarket bars and restaurants in the streets around their apartment, two likely fellows who did not fit the accepted mould––that of the independently rich dilettante, usually funded by a generous trust fund––yet they were clearly well off, too, and Joseph, at least, was not shy about spending. He was frivolously generous, standing drinks and buying dinners with seemingly no concern as to the cost. Edward knew that he was more difficult to assess than his friend, an impression of opacity that he was keen to foster. He was quieter, and less flashy when it came to laying out his money, but his air of reserve helped to increase the mystery that had already settled over the pair. Affluence, mystery; these, together with their good looks, made both popular with the local women and they brought a series of eager debutantes back to their luxurious apartment when the restaurants and night-clubs closed.

As they entered the week leading up to his birthday, Joseph said that he wanted to mark the occasion with a meal. Edward naturally recoiled from drawing too much attention to himself but Joseph would not be persuaded and, eventually, he conceded. Apart from Joseph, Edward had come to know and like Jack McVitie and Tommy Falco. They all made regular jibes about Edward’s education but he knew quite well that they appreciated the different approach that he brought to the planning of their jobs. If relations were good between them, his acceptance was far from universal. Billy Stavropoulos remained surly and uncommunicative and, although the outright hostility that had marked the first few weeks of their acquaintance had been reduced to a constant, low buzz of disapproval, he was under no illusions about the way he still regarded him. One had the impression that Billy was good at bearing a grudge, nurturing it just beneath the surface, feeding it, just waiting for the opportunity for it to catch flame again. Outside of what they jokingly called “work”, Edward avoided Billy and Billy avoided Edward and, on that basis, they were able to function. But since Edward had invited Joseph and Jack he could not very well ignore him. He had hoped (and expected) that Billy would decline and so it was with surprise and a little dismay that he received the news that he was coming, too.

They chose a restaurant with a small private dining room. The table had been laid with expensive crockery and decorated with party hats and balloons. Joseph, Tommy and Billy arrived together and they were not alone. To Edward’s surprise, Joseph’s sisters accompanied them. Sophia and Evie were dressed ostentatiously, as before. Sophia wore a three-quarter length evening coat in Shantung silk over a chemise dress with a high belt. Evie wore a Bolero jacket over a chiffon cocktail dress. Chiara was more reserved in a simple dress with a sweetheart neckline, her sleeves puffed up a little with gathers at the top that extended to just below her elbows. They each gave him a kiss on the cheek, Sophia’s lips straying dangerously close to the corner of his mouth.

“Happy birthday, handsome,” she said, mischief glinting in her eyes.

Edward thanked her. “Good of you to come.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

They settled around the table, Joseph taking the place next to Edward. They had robbed a shop two days before and the evening was the first time since that they had all been together. That, at Edward’s suggestion, had quickly become their routine. An enforced absence of a few days after the completion of each job would insulate the others should one of them be apprehended by the police. They were all in high spirits. It was a festive occasion, certainly, but their moods had been lifted by the knowledge that Joseph shared as he sat down. The last robbery had been particularly profitable, with a necklace that they had stolen to order worth even more than they had anticipated. They would each make four hundred pounds, comfortably their best haul to date.

Joseph leaned across and whispered into Edward’s ear, “Hope you don’t mind the girls coming.”

“Course not.”

“Afraid you’ve made a bit of an impression.”

“Sophia?”

He chuckled. “No, don’t worry, not her––she’s like that with everyone. Chiara.”

Edward looked across the table at the youngest of the Costello girls. She noticed his attention and smiled, a little shyly.

“I don’t know what you’ve said to her. She’s always been a bit of a closed book when it comes to chaps.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“Well, whatever it was, she’s taken a shine to you. She’s never been like that with any of my mates. It was her who insisted they all come.”

Edward told him he was flattered, and he was. Chiara was easily the most attractive of the three sisters. Her quiet reticence––a marked contrast to her boisterous siblings––leant her an enigmatic quality that made her even more beguiling.

“I don’t know if it’s mutual,” Joseph went on, “but, if it is, you know you’d have my blessing. Not that she’d care about that––she never listens to a word I say.” He reached into his pocket and took out a wrapped box. “Happy birthday, Doc,” he said, laying it on the table.

Edward sliced the paper open with a knife and withdrew the box from within. Inside it was the most beautiful wristwatch he had ever seen. It was a Cartier, made from gilt silver with a rectangular black face, silver Roman numerals and hands and blue cabochon on the stem. He turned it over and saw that Joseph had had it engraved:

TO DOC – A TRUE FRIEND – JOSEPH.

He closed the box before anyone else around the table could notice it.

“Do you like it?”

“Of course I do,” he said. His cheeks were beetroot red. “I love it. It must be worth fifty quid. Is it––you know..?”

“Stolen?” Joseph opened his mouth in an exaggerated ‘O’. “What do you take me for?” he said, in mock outrage. “You think I’d give you a moody watch for a bloody birthday present? Give it a rest, Doc. I’m hurt.”

Buying it with money made from a robbery was just one step removed from reaching into a broken shop window and grabbing it, of course, but it seemed churlish to bring that up. “You shouldn’t have,” Edward said, taking Joseph’s hand and shaking it firmly.

“There’s something else,” he said, reaching into his inside pocket. He took out a thin envelope and laid it on the table.

Edward picked it up. The envelope was inscribed with the logo of British European Airways. He took up the knife again and carefully sliced it open. Edward took out two tickets to Paris. “I say,” he exclaimed.

“It’s a bit of a cheeky gift,” Joseph explained. “It’s almost as much for me as it is for you. You’re always going on about how much you want to go to Paris. I thought it might be fun for the two of us to go and have a look. What do you say?”

Edward brimmed with happiness. “You’re much too generous,” he said.

“I can take them back,” Joseph teased.

“No, don’t worry,” Edward grinned. “It’s a splendid idea.”

Edward really did think it was splendid. He loved Paris, although it was the kind of city that one could only enjoy properly with a full wallet and the right companion. He was very familiar with the city and his French was excellent. Joseph had no idea that he had been there before and Edward would have to make sure that he kept that quiet. He would just have to pretend that his knowledge was derived from his Baedeker. He would show him all the best spots, mixing the tourist traps with the secret treasures hidden in the back streets, the cafes and little galleries. He grinned with excitement at the thought of it. “When shall we go?”