‘The evidence coming out at the commission in London isn’t great from the government’s point of view though. They want anything they can get their hands on to tie Parnell in with the Fenians. Their strongest evidence is the letters The Times ran last year where he supposedly wrote an excuse for the Phoenix Park murders. But from what I hear from my contacts at New Scotland Yard, they’re fairly obvious fakes.’

‘He said so himself at the time, didn’t he?’ Swallow’s question was rhetorical.

‘He did. And most people believe him. But his word alone mightn’t be enough to persuade the commission to exonerate him. Those fellows are all government appointees. They know which way the wind is blowing in terms of their own future prospects, if you understand me. The senior barristers want to be law lords. The junior ones want to be seniors. It’s all to do with preferment and advancement. You know what I’m saying?’

‘I do, chief. But they must all be bone stupid.’ Swallow tossed back half of his Tullamore. ‘Jesus, the newest recruit in G-Division knows that Parnell had nothing to do with the Phoenix Park murders.’

Mallon nodded.

‘I doubt that they fail to understand. Maybe they understand it only too well. Maybe they don’t really care about a few murders and arson attacks around Ireland. It might be a price they’re willing to pay if they can take down the man they see as a threat to the unity of the kingdom.’

‘That’s a fairly cynical interpretation, chief,’ Swallow said.

‘Maybe. But those boys across in Westminster have a big view of their world, and the mere Irish are only a very small part of it. If they can’t break Parnell at the commission then they’ll try something else. They’ve known about his relationship with Willie O’Shea’s wife all along, but they’ll need some plausible proof if it’s going to be put out into public knowledge. They’ll want something better than a few forged letters. And that’s why they want our protection logs.’

He sipped his Bushmills again.

‘That is, the ones you’re searching for night and day without success, unfortunately,’ he said flatly.

Swallow stared straight ahead, trying not to think about Lafeyre’s room in the Lower Yard. He grinned.

‘Yes, chief. Night and bloody day, we’re searching.’

Mallon ordered another round before Swallow went back to Exchange Court for the crime conference. He was about to call the meeting to order when Stephen Doolan arrived.

‘I’ve just left Debbie Dunne’s bedside at the hospital,’ he said. ‘She’s poorly, but she’s talking.’

‘So what do we know?’ Swallow asked.