Michael was baffled by Patrick, and he didn’t know what to do about him. This was something that no one could ever have planned for. Now, though, it was here, and it needed sorting out. Declan, as per usual, was leaving the real work to Michael. He didn’t want his brother’s latest escapade to become common knowledge. He also didn’t want to have to sort his brother out personally. He didn’t want any responsibility at all – especially the kind that involved him having to make decisions about his older brother. But that was understandable in a way.

‘Patrick needs to be put away somewhere – for his own good, let alone everyone else’s. He is so fucking far gone, Josephine, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. People are already talking about him. He has picked fights with men who we have dealt with for years, accused them of all sorts. These are hard men, but they’re not fucking stupid. They can see first-hand that Patrick Costello is a dangerous fuck. He always was – granted – but now he looks and sounds like a fucking card-carrying looney. It can’t go on, can it? I have to do whatever is needed to sort this situation out.’

Josephine understood that Michael was unloading his worries on to her. He had always used her as his sounding board – she knew she was the only person he trusted enough to speak so openly to. It helped that she often told him what she knew he wanted to hear.

Josephine shook her head sadly. ‘No, you’re right, it can’t go on, Michael. Patrick needs someone to take the reins for a while, give him time to sort his head out, look after everything so no one can take advantage of him. Only you can do that for him, Michael. You run everything anyway – everyone knows that. Patrick obviously needs specialist help, and I know Carmel would welcome any support she could get. Reading between the lines, I think she would leave him if it was possible. But you and I both know that is never going to happen. He would see her dead first.’