There was barely a scratch to show for the encounter. Experience outweighed youthful enthusiasm now: Josh assessed each opponent, sought out their weaknesses, and exploited them. Let them tire themselves out, then he’d move in for the kill. After the fight, he was escorted over to the farmer’s house, where the man’s wife cooked him bacon and eggs before showing him to the bathroom so that he could shower and make himself presentable.

Searching for his shower gel in his bag, he found a note from Shauna.

I love you, Josh, it said.

Instantly Josh was grinding his teeth in fury. Christ, she was a grown woman, not a clingy girl. What the fuck did she keep doing that for? He thought of Claire and felt such rage bubbling up inside him that he felt he wanted to just kill that slag wife of his and have done with it. He tore the love note up and flushed it down the loo. Then he went back out to the farmer’s kitchen and thanked the family for their hospitality, and said goodnight. He stepped outside, breathing in the cooling night air, and got the shock of his life.

‘Josh? Josh Flynn?’ asked a quavering voice.

‘Who the fuck’s that?’ It was hard to see clearly by the porch light. The man standing there looked like a blob, a pale face, nothing more. Could be anyone.

‘It’s me,’ said the man, stepping forward so that the light caught him.

‘Christ,’ said Josh. It was Pally, Claire’s father.

95

95

Josh’s first thought was that Pally had aged, drastically. But then, hadn’t they all? Time skimmed by, and suddenly you were a father with two kids and a wife who made your skin crawl. But Pally looked ill. He looked as though something was eating him up from inside. Weight had dropped off his frame, making it narrow, and his eyes had dark blue shadows beneath them.

‘I heard you was coming here to fight. Hoped I’d catch you,’ he said. His breath sounded wheezy, like he was nursing bronchitis or something. ‘I’ve something to show you.’

Josh frowned. Pally didn’t only look ill, he looked vague, as if he was only half-aware of his surroundings and what he was doing.

I ought to tell him about Claire, thought Josh. But he had sworn to her that he wouldn’t tell anyone where she was or what she was doing. He had promised on the Sacred Heart. And truth to tell, he thought this was a can of worms best kept shut. Too much time had passed now. It was no good to start everything up again, and maybe place Claire or her folks under threat.

‘You’re a busy man, but I hope you’ll have time for this. Come. I’ve something you should see. Something you should know.’