‘Hello, Liam.’

32

His jaw tightening was the only response.

‘Do you mind telling me what I am doing here?’

He unclasped his hands and sat on them.

The river was developing into a gentle torrent.

‘Look, Liam, I….’

‘You always did talk too much, comrade.’

He moved his hands onto his lap and clasped them again.

‘I’m not your comrade, Liam. I’m a British Government minister and I’d like to know why you brought me here.’

He leaned forward so Cormac could add alcohol to his list of smells.

‘I fucking know what you are. I also know what you were, comrade.’

Cormac tried to hide his growing anxiety.

‘Liam, you’ve obviously brought me here for a purpose. Now, if you don’t mind, could you explain that purpose to me, or are you going to sit there and try and scare me for the rest of the day?’

He laughed without his features responding. And spoke as if Cormac was still in nappies.

‘Ah … there now, is the little comrade scared? Is he going to run away again? Going to promise to be a good little boy from now on and tell tales on that naughty Liam?’

They acne brigade giggled in unison.

‘Liam, I don’t know….’

‘ENOUGH!’

He bent into Cormac’s face like he intended to take a bite. He paused for a moment so Cormac could experience the full terrifying effect. By the time he retreated from the pose, Cormac was forced to wipe his forehead to prevent the salty water from stinging his eyes.

He removed his coat and moved behind the desk to signal the pantomime was over and today’s business was about to begin.

‘Here’s the deal Cormac. At five minutes past eight tomorrow night, I’m going to kill your daughter. That’s my starting point in today’s negotiations. Now I’m sure you’ll be delighted and relieved to know that, like all negotiations, I can be persuaded to adjust my terms accordingly. Now I presume you would not want that to happen, and if that is the case, the first thing I need you to do for me is to ring wee Annie and tell her to go with Maggie and Jack for a couple of days and you’ll pick her up on Saturday morning.’

‘Why would I tell her to go with Maggie?’

‘Maggie has kindly agreed to look after her for me until it’s time.’

‘Maggie is working with you?’

‘Great old couple, Maggie and Jack. Obedient servants to the cause, and not too fond of you from what she tells me.’

Cormac rubbed his hands across his wet face. Liam was going to kill Annie and Maggie was going to help him? It was too ridiculous to bear consideration.

‘I don’t believe you.’

‘Look Cormac, let me enlighten you a little. Help you understand. Make it easier for you.’

He rocked back on his chair.

‘I like wee Annie. I always have. Well, when I say always, I mean since I started taking an interest in her life. I think she was about fourteen then. Over these past few years, I’ve felt like a father figure to her, or a guardian angel, if you like. Though some of the thoughts I’ve had about that wee girl over the years, maybe father figure is not the right term, if you know what I mean?’