Cormac swallowed to stem the rising nausea.

‘Now, after looking out for her all these years, the last thing I want to do is to kill her. I’ve seen her develop into a beautiful young woman with the whole world at her fingertips. I even helped along the way. What was the name of that flash young fella who had the accident with his knees? Ah … never mind, but you can see I’ve no real interest in harming her. So if you’d like to take the first step to ensuring she has a future, you’ll give her a ring and tell her to stay with Maggie and Jack. Oh, by the way, give Happy Harry a call too and tell him you’ve changed your plans for this evening.’

Cormac was dismayed at how easily Annie was appeased. Harry was more difficult to lie to, but eventually backed down and wished him good luck for the evening. Liam took the phone off him and removed the gun from the spotty boy’s tired grip.

‘At this point, comrade, you’re free to come and go as you please, but understand if you choose to leave before we have reached an agreement, you’re passing an immediate death sentence on your daughter. At the moment, she’s scheduled to die at five past eight tomorrow night, unless you and I come to an alternative arrangement.’

Cormac put all thoughts of Maggie’s betrayal to the back of his mind, now a crowded place jammed full of regrets at his own stupidity which had landed him here with this unhinged madman.

‘Tell me what I have to do to save her.’

Liam leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table.

‘You have to be brave and do your duty for Ireland. Now, I know only too well, both those things don’t come easily for you. That’s why I had to involve poor innocent Annie as my insurance policy, in case you decided to run away from your responsibilities again.’

Cormac ignored the remark.

‘What do you want me to do?’

Liam opened a holdall that was positioned just between his legs. He pulled out a black Samsung mobile phone and set it carefully on the table in front of him.

‘I want you to bring this with you to Hillsborough Castle tomorrow night. If you do that and you have it with you at the official function in the banqueting suite at eight, when I call you, then at five past eight, Annie will be released from custody and free to take up her offer of a place in Edinburgh. If at any point from this moment and until then, you fail to comply, she will die!

Cormac studied the chunky little object on the table.

‘I don’t understand. When you call me, what do you want me to do?’

Liam laughed and the puppets on either side of Cormac joined in. He walked around the table and leaned into Cormac’s face, so he could inhale his stale breath. He spoke in a barely audible whisper.