‘My nephew is no concern of mine, or yours come to that.’

Tommy smiled widely then, opening his coat, waited until O‘Connor was watching this action before punching him with all his might in the solar plexus, driving the man on to his knees. Dragging him up by his shirt, he looked once more into his face and said: ‘If you know where your nephew is, you’d better fucking tell me because the wrath of God is nothing compared to mine.’

Padraig weighed up his chances. His bible was lying in a small puddle, the pages open and getting soaked with dirty water.

‘I’ve nothing to say to you.’ Tommy began working him over then. Kevin held Padraig’s arms behind his back and Tommy pummelled him in the stomach and head. Five minutes later, his face was bloody, his eye swollen.

Tommy looked at the man’s destroyed face and said, ‘I can keep this up all night if needs be. It’s no skin off my nose. Now then, where’s your nephew? He’s hurt a woman I care about deeply. Sent her off her head, in fact, beaten her up and broken her heart. You’re not telling me you’ll hide someone like that?’

Padraig was shocked at the charges against his nephew. He had never cared for his sister much. They had tried to outdo one another on the religious front since childhood, but her husband had been a fornicator and a drunkard. Now it seemed the son was the same.

‘Hurt the woman you say? Beat her?’

‘Black and bleeding blue. I’ll take you to her, if you like?’

‘No... no. Joshua is at my coal yard in Shepherds Bush. At the corner of Scrubbs Lane. They’re both in the shed at the back.’

Tommy smiled then, sorry for what he’d had to do.

‘Thanks, mate. You can get on with your holy work now. We won’t keep you a moment longer.’

Padraig wiped a hand across his mouth. ‘The Lord is slow but he’s sure, young man. “What ye sow shall ye reap.”’

‘God also has another little saying. It’s: “An eye for a fucking eye.” Well, tonight your nephew’s going to find out exactly what that means.’

With that Tommy left the man and climbed into his car. He saw Padraig pick up his bible and wipe the pages lovingly before walking back into the foetid warmth of The Green Man, and in a funny way Tommy couldn’t help but admire him and his principles.

‘Come on, Kevin, let’s get moving. All this do-gooding is making me feel ill!’

Joshua was chewing his thumbnail, a habit that had always annoyed the life out of his mother.