I clicked the safety back on the gun and stared at the plant I had hit, still swaying in the breeze. I shot it again and it completely exploded, roots and all, out of the earth.

‘It’s OK,’ I said. ‘I know how to handle him.’

Friday, 5 April – Hacienda Santuario

1. Anyone who drives a car in Mexico – complete nutters
2. DJs who talk over the end of the song and don’t say who sang it
3. Broadband providers in Mexico – it’s all shit
4. Celebrities who crave fame at all costs one minute, then have the cheek to ask for privacy the minute they have kids
5. Infomercials. They’re like the fucking mosquitoes. Everywhere.

‘Hey, gatita, that your boyfriend?’

Tenoch was at his desk in the office when I walked past, dripping wet from the pool. He turned the laptop towards me – the screen showed Sky News UK – Craig had been released from jail.

Kay Burley was outside the prison in a pink anorak, screeching down the mic in the howling wind. Jim and Elaine were there too, Tink was in Jim’s arms, wearing a little Arran knit. My heart pulsed.

‘Your old man, eh?’ said Tenoch.

‘Yeah,’ I said, moving closer to the TV.

Elaine was clutching Jim’s arm and a load of other people were standing behind them wrapped up in coats and scarves, holding up signs saying things like, Innocent of all charges and Let Him Out!

Finally, the tall heavy doors of the prison slid open and out walked Craig. The Pink Anorak went into full screech meltdown.

‘Here he comes now, this is it, this is him – Craig Wilkins finally, after so many months of agonising wait and stress for him and his family, here he comes, a free man at last!’

They got the money shot of him with his bulky plastic bag of clothes and his grey face awash with tears, trundling towards the gates and all the adoring people cheering and About Time-ing. Cut to Elaine, sobbing. Cut to Jim, biting his quivering lip. Cut to Tink, shivering in her Arran knit in Jim’s arms. Cut back to Jim saying to her, Look, there’s your daddy.

That’s what broke me, Jim calling him Daddy. And as Craig walked closer to the camera, I saw his face but he didn’t look sad. He looked… dismantled. He practically fell into Elaine’s arms and she cradled him like a large baby. Tink licked his cheek, Jim mouthed the words It’s over, It’s over, You’re safe, You’re safe. The Pink Anorak screeched on in the punishing wind.

‘Well, it’s a momentous day here where a man finally gets the justice he’s waited so long for. Craig! Can you give us a few words? How are you feeling? What’s it like to have your freedom back?’