Blinks looked out along the dock and towards the long, low hut. ‘Fecking hell. That’s all we need. Conor, we can’t be caught on our first night home, you’ll have a mutiny on your hands. This lot will string you up. They think you risk too much for this lot as it is; you know this cargo should have been dumped.’ Blinks had tipped his head first towards the crew, who were in the hold, and the men on the four streets who were in the dock.

Conor held up his hand. ‘Our men needn’t worry. We can hide on the ship and on the first bore we can sail out – they can’t. Every one of them would be in a cell tonight and up before the magistrate tomorrow if there is someone out there.’

Callum appeared at the top of the gangway. ‘What’s going on? Why have we stopped?’

Blinks sounded rattled. ‘Because Conor saw a torchlight in the administration building. It seems our plan of getting rid of Frank the Skank hasn’t worked.’

‘What shall we do then?’ said Callum, who was more afraid of being sent back to prison than he was willing to see the load make it to the top of the steps. He would never be able to win Mary over if that happened. He wanted to get away from the dockside as fast as he could. ‘Shall I go and fetch Jerry? Maura told me she had a message for him when we were pushing Peggy back up. She said they had a visit at the house from Frank the Skank and Heartfelt. They didn’t see her, but she wanted me to tell him.’

‘Good lad, Callum,’ Conor said. ‘There’s something going on down here and I don’t like it. The coast is supposed to be clear and it isn’t. I’m half-expecting to see a fleet of Black Marias coming along the docks. Run as fast as you can, lad.’

Callum grinned. ‘That’s what I do best, Conor.’

*

Tommy and Jerry ran down the steps together, giving instructions to each man as they passed him. ‘Don’t light up your ciggie until we tell you. Don’t move or talk, just wait.’

Jerry gave Conor the whistle once they reached the bottom of the steps. Both men crouched down onto their haunches and made their way like crabs until they were on a level with the administration building. They both stared until their eyes watered, but they saw nothing.

‘Conor is seeing things,’ whispered Tommy, ‘there’s no one there.’

Jerry agreed. ‘I think you’re right but let’s just give it one more minute.’

Just as they were about to leave, their legs aching from crouching in one place, they both saw the dim sweep of torchlight.