‘Finn, that’s the twentieth time you’ve asked me and the answer is still the same. Like I said, I was called into Divisional HQ in Anglesea Street to see the Chief Super. And when I met her, worried sick, let me tell you, she tells me that she has a special request from DI Lenihan. And that, because of that request, she wants me to secure your co-operative attendance in Dublin today, soon as. Grand says I, as if I’m going to disagree …’

She paused, then continued.

‘So, I started tracking you down. When you weren’t at home or answering your mobile, I said I’d try Tina to see if she knew where you were.’

‘And you don’t know why he wants me?’

‘Well unless Lenihan is suddenly after taking on another case, I’m assuming it’s to do with the Macbride murder.’

‘Duh. I know that,’ I said. ‘But what?’

‘Look, with cutbacks and everything, there’s no way I’d be put doing this job unless there was something big happening. And you’ll find out soon enough. Now stop talking and let me concentrate.’

At that, she accelerated through an amber light. I shut my mouth and closed my eyes, and allowed my mind to drift. Sadie was right. There had to be a major break in the case, otherwise we wouldn’t be careering at 120 kph through Dublin’s outer suburbs.

If the case was really over, then what came next? Probably, hopefully, I’d get my job back, though there were no guarantees. And I would have a lot more time to think, no excuses left. I would have to start facing up to what I had known in my heart for a while now, that I couldn’t bear the thought of Davy and me finishing. But if what Davy and I had going on wasn’t friendship any more, then what was it?

My phone pinged – a ‘Free for a call?’ message from Marie Wade. When I’d checked my phone earlier, apart from the missed calls from Sadie and a couple from my mother, there had also been one from Marie, replying to my text message of the evening before. I hadn’t yet had a chance to reply, but I did need to talk to her.

‘Hey, Sadie, I have to make a call.’

‘As long as you’re not bothering me with questions I can’t answer, work away.’

‘Hi, Marie. Sorry we’ve kept missing each other. Have you remembered something?’

‘Not exactly. But I’ve seen something, and I don’t know if I’ve got it right.’

‘What did you see?’

‘You’ll think I’m stupid.’

‘I won’t, Marie. I promise. What did you see?’

‘I think I saw Daniel O’Brien last week. He looked different so that’s why it took a good while for me to realise.’

‘Where do you think you saw him?’