‘A while back, Paddy got wind from some loudmouth pikey in here about a deal going down at some rich prick’s shooting box on the moor. We didn’t know what kind of deal, just assumed it 200was drugs or something. Didn’t matter. What mattered was the money. This pikey, he didn’t know exactly how much, but said he’d heard it was enough fuck-you money to disappear for ever. That night over a few jars, me and Paddy, we thought, you know what, we’re not getting any younger, and while we’re working here as wage-slaves, we’ll never have any of the finer things in life. Day after day in this fucking hole surrounded by scum. This looked like a way out. No offence.’

Lynch said nothing.

‘Anyway, we decided to hit this place, hard. We were going to walk right in, guns blazing, and take whatever the fuck we wanted. I mean, it wasn’t a bank, no ordinary people. Who gives a shit? We studied the land and the roads, the sunset times, the weather. Everything. We even went hiking round there to get used to the terrain. That night we waited about a hundred yards back behind some rocks and then sat there watching all these shit-hot cars and bikes pulling up. Then this flatbed truck appeared loaded with big steel oil drums.’

‘What was in them?’

‘Fuck knows. Everything was unloaded around the back. Anyway, once everyone’s inside, we’re putting on gloves and ski masks and loading these sweet Remi shotguns Paddy’s brother got us, when we hear shooting. We look up and this fella’s standing in the doorway just unloading on some pink-haired woman who’s running out into the moor. Then he goes back inside, cool as fuck.’

‘What happened to the woman?’ Blood had drained from Lynch’s face and pooled heavily, revoltingly in his stomach. ‘Did you ever find out?’

‘No idea. She just limped off into the dark.’ The officer lowered his eyes and sipped his whisky. ‘Anyway, next thing, war breaks out inside. Lights flashing in the windows. Fucking bang, bang, 201bang. Nonstop. About a minute later when everything’s calmed down, we see this same fella come staggering out carrying this bright orange case. He’s reeling towards the cars parked around the side, his legs going from under him, and he’s about to get in one of the Audis when he falls flat on his face, dead.