Contents ( 84)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- Acknowledgements
‘May I ask, sir, if you’ll be Nizar Mansour’s lawyer through this case?’
‘I’m sorry but who are you?’ Michael asked.
‘That’s not important, sir.’
The man in black thrust out a hand as he spoke. Thick fingers. Battered knuckles. The strong, rough hand of someone who used it as a tool. Now offered in greeting.
He seemed entirely unconcerned when Michael did not take it.
‘So the answer, Mr Devlin? Will this be your case?’
‘I don’t know who you are, sir,’ Michael replied. He kept his voice firm, but it was an effort. There was something about this man. Michael was not easily intimidated, but right now that was exactly how he was feeling. ‘And even if I did, I would not discuss any aspect of Mr Mansour’s defence.’
‘It’s just a simple question, counsellor.’
‘So was mine. And I suspect we’ve both had our final answer.’
Michael straightened his back and shoulders to show his full height as he spoke. An unconscious display of strength. A survival instinct.
It didn’t work. The man in black took a half step forward. When he spoke again, his tone was flat.
‘Your attitude, counsellor. It’s a mistake.’
‘I’m sorry, is that a threat?’
‘Take it how you want. All I’m saying is that it would be better for you to cooperate with us.’
‘With us?’ Duffy stepped between them. If he was intimidated, he was hiding it well. He just sounded angry. ‘And who’s “us”, eh? You and Romeo Meyer, is it? You’re in this with that Romeo guy, eh?’
Michael felt himself wince at Duffy’s mention of Romeo Meyer. By the look and sound of this man, Michael had assumed a Secret Service connection. But there was value in keeping those details to themselves. Still, he couldn’t dwell on it. What’s done is done. And he had to admire the solicitor’s complete lack of fear.
The man in black seemed less impressed. Michael watched a smirk evolve as he slowly turned towards Duffy.
It was a mistake. The arrogant response only seemed to rile Duffy further. The Scotsman took his own half-step closer.
‘What, you think we’re as easy to push around as Nizar Mansour? You think youse can frighten us like you frightened him? Well, don’t make that mistake. We know what you’re at, son.’
The man in black did not move an inch. His smirk broadened into a smile. It was no more attractive.
‘And who might you be?’ he asked.
‘I’m Nizar Mansour’s solicitor,’ Duffy replied. He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a business card as he spoke. ‘So if you have any questions about this case, you ask me. And you stay the hell away from Mr Devlin. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got another appointment.’
Duffy slotted his business card into the breast pocket of the man’s black jacket, patted it hard with his open hand and walked away, their shoulders colliding as he passed. Intentional by Duffy, Michael was sure. And hard. But the impact did not seem to have bothered the man in black. The unattractive smile remained fixed as he turned his head to watch Duffy go.