I suppose even though he is now a grown man, he believes he saw with his own eyes just exactly what Jamesy Harte is supposed to have been capable of.

‘He’d be lynched as soon as he hit the city limits.’ Niall swallows hard and puts his teacup back on the table.

‘I don’t think he has any desire to come back, but that doesn’t explain why Liam Doherty has been targeted. That’s the bit I can’t get my head around. Maybe I have Jamesy all wrong. I know you don’t agree with me, Niall, but from talking to him, I couldn’t help but believe there was some truth in what he was saying. I just never took him to be the vengeful type.’

‘Or the murderous type,’ Niall says, ‘but believe me …’ His voice trails off.

An awkwardness has opened up between us, a divergence of opinions that can’t easily be brushed over.

‘Anyway, look, I’ve taken up enough of your time,’ I say. I’m embarrassed now. Now that the fear has left. I just want to get to my car and go home. ‘I really appreciate you being there for me just now. Let me cover the cost of the tea and scones.’

He pulls a face, his expression laden with ‘don’t even think about it’.

‘Okay, then,’ I concede. ‘Next time.’ But of course, I’m not sure there will be a next time.

I stand up and gather my coat and scarf.

‘Let me walk you to your car at least,’ Niall says unexpectedly.

I shake my head. ‘You’re very kind, but I’m grand, honest.’

He shrugs off my reply.

‘Ingrid. I’d feel a lot better if you just let me make sure that you get there safely.’

I’m about to object again, when his mobile phone rings.

He glances at the screen and scowls. ‘Declan,’ he mouths in my direction before answering the call. ‘Declan, what I can do for you?’

I, of course, can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but it isn’t hard to pick up the general gist of it.

‘I’m in town just now. Yes. With Ingrid, as it happens. We were just having a cup of tea together.’

Niall rolls his eyes in my direction. He’s clearly not enjoying getting the third degree from his brother.

‘Yes, she’s fine.’

Declan says something and I see the expression on Niall’s face change. He looks at me with an intensity that wasn’t there before. It passes as quickly as it arrives, replaced by a quizzical look instead.

‘Okay, I’ll tell her. Yes. And will you tell Mum not to put any dinner on for me. I’ve plans.’

He ends the call, slips his phone into his pocket.

‘Declan says to ask if you’re okay. You seemed upset when he was at your place last night.’