He moved back as the room seemed to fill with policemen and Grant said, ‘Right then, Bluey. If you want to come out of this with a whole skin, this is what you’re going to do.’

Manton swallowed his whisky and looked at his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes. ‘He’s taking his own sweet time.’

Donner laughed harshly. ‘Maybe the scuffers have got him.’

He sat on the edge of the desk, the shotgun across his knees, a cigarette smouldering in one corner of his mouth, his good eye half closed, the other fixed, staring unpleasantly. He was more than a little drunk and he reached for the bottle to pour himself another.

‘Lay off that stuff,’ Manton said angrily. ‘You’re going to need all your wits about you if we’re to see this night through.’

‘Your days of telling me what to do are over, Mr Manton,’ Donner said, pouring himself another whisky.

Manton took a step towards him and pulled up short as someone knocked on the door. He moved across quickly.

‘Who is it?’

‘It’s me, Mr Manton,’ Bluey Squires called. ‘Jango’s back.’

Manton felt the relief surge through him in a great wave and he turned the key. In the same moment, the door swung in on him. He was aware of Grant with a face like some avenging God and Miller at his side, eyes like dark holes in a bone-white face. And beyond them, the others, big men in blue uniforms surging forward like a tidal wave, pouring over him.

Donner started to swing the shotgun too late. As it came up, Nick tossed an office stool that deflected the barrel and the weapon discharged harmlessly into the floor. Grant jumped the last ten feet, one great fist connecting solidly high on Donner’s right cheekbone.

A moment later, Donner was struggling on the floor beneath the weight of four good men. It took another two to get him down to the van.

20

As they neared the centre of the town, the fog became thicker and Garvald turned the Mini-Cooper off the main road and continued towards the river, keeping to the back streets.

‘Where did you get the car?’ Bella asked.

‘A friend loaned it to me.’

They continued in silence for a little while longer and then she spoke again. ‘It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, Ben? Since we were together like this, I mean.’

‘Too long, angel,’ he replied and there was a sharp finality in his voice.

She seemed to realize it, took out a gold case and put a cigarette in her mouth. ‘What are you going to do next?’

‘Once I have the money?’ He grinned. ‘I’m going home, Bella. Back to the old country. An uncle of mine has a farm in Antrim and no one to follow him. I’ve had enough of cities.’