‘Of course I have, Mr McNee, I ain’t never let you down, have I?’ His voice was nervous. The feeling of foreboding was back. Declan and Porrick McNee smiled at the twins in a friendly manner and Seamus rolled his eyes.

‘All right, Declan? How’s it going, mate?’ Daniel’s voice was low.

‘Oh, not too bad. What one are you? I always get you two mixed up.’

Boysie laughed as he watched the owner hand over a roll of cash to Seamus.

‘That’s because you’re as thick as fucking shit.’

Seamus turned to face them, dropping the money into a pool of beer on the bar.

‘What did you say?’ His voice was outraged.

The twins laughed together.

‘What, you deaf as well as stupid?’

Seamus stood erect, his face growing red with temper. As he drew back his fist the twins looked at one another and stepped away from him, then together they put their hands inside their overcoats and took out sawn-off shotguns. The four men playing snooker all dropped to the floor.

Boysie took the money off the bar and laughed as he put it in his pocket.

Then he pointed the gun at Seamus McNee’s legs and pulled the trigger. The explosion as the gun went off shook the small club. The owner crossed himself before running out through the back of the bar and locking himself in the toilet. Declan and Porrick looked at their brother writhing on the floor in agony as if they had never in their life seen him before. Boysie and Danny laughed out loud.

‘Get your brother to the hospital, lads. I think his little legs is hurting him.’ Then they tossed back their drinks and walked towards the door.

Daniel stopped and looked back. ‘Oh, by the way, tell Seamus we’ll be picking up all your rents in future, OK? And if he causes any more bother, the next shot goes right into his head. Tara.’

Porrick, never noted for his brains at the best of times, waved and said tara back.

Outside, the twins laughed and joked with each other all the way to the car. They were high on adrenaline, both feeling the rush of pure pleasure that their violent act had produced.

The story hit the streets within hours.

The Cavanagh twins were well and truly on their way.