‘Jesus, Jack, are you all right?’

Jack’s tiny red eyes flicked between Cormac and the rear of the car.

‘I’m sorry, Cormac.’

‘Sorry for wha….?’

Both rear doors opened and shut in an instant. He felt the cold steel of the muzzle on the back of his neck and in his bowels. He glanced at Jack, who was already making his way out of the car. The owner of the revolver spoke with a broad Belfast accent.

‘This is the situation, Minister. You’re now the property of the True Irish Republican Army. It’s my orders to escort you to a meeting with our Commanding Officer. I’m also instructed to shoot you, if at any point, I feel you’re not compliant or present a risk to myself or my fellow officer. Do you understand, Minister?’

Cormac meant to say, yes he understood, and yes, he would comply.

‘The True Irish Republican Army? You must be fucking joking?’

The blow to his left temple sent his head crashing against the door window and quickly focussed his attention.

‘Do you understand, Minister?’

He rubbed his temple to check for blood.

‘Fully.’

‘Now slowly move to the passenger seat.’

The back door behind the driver’s seat opened and closed, and a skinny, spotty teenager slipped behind the steering wheel. The youthfulness of the driver gave Cormac a false sense of courage. How naïve were these people to let him see their faces? Surely they were nothing more than stupid kids? His next thought was not so comforting. How naïve was he, a government minister gallivanting around Killane with no security and no thoughts for his or his family’s safety? If they were naïve, what did that make him? He was the one sitting in a graveyard in Killane with a gun at his head and an underage fanatic about to drive him to God knows where. The driver started the engine and reversed out past Jack, who was sitting with his head bowed behind the wheel of the Mercedes. Cormac’s nervousness would not allow him to remain silent.

‘Aren’t you going to blindfold me or something?’

The voice with the gun sniggered.

‘I don’t think that will be necessary in the circumstances, but if you don’t mind, could you pass me your phone, thanks.’

They turned left out of the graveyard and headed back the way he’d come. Cormac’s thoughts turned to Annie. What would happen to Annie if he were never to return? How would her life turn out? The thought he might not be there for her made him shiver uncontrollably. He talked to the gun in his neck.

‘Where are you taking me?’

He got an instant reply.

‘Home, Minister, we are taking you home!’

31

They drove past Maggie’s house and he thought he saw Annie at the window. For a moment, he thought about throwing himself out of the car as it travelled past the house. Maybe they’d drive on and leave him there on the road with nothing more than a few bruises. Annie and Maggie would hear the commotion and come out to tend to his minor wounds. He could get inside and make one call and they would be arrested before he’d been to casualty to have his minor cuts and bruises seen to. He and Annie would be on a plane out of Aldergrove before nightfall. The cold steel jammed into his neck ensured the thought passed as quickly as it had entered his head. He watched old Fr. Mackie close the door of the chapel behind him as he went to bring God to the congregation who’d stopped bringing themselves to God. The car slowed as it approached his childhood home. The gun jammed into his neck as the boy’s heavy foot hit the brakes.