Michael could see how hurt Christie McCarthy was about his son. He didn’t like to see the man so upset, but he wasn’t going to sugar-coat everything; the man knew he had spawned a fucking moron of Olympian standards. He attempted to swallow his anger once more, and said gently, ‘Look, Christie, I can’t really apologise for what I did, all I can say is, I hope you can let this go. I don’t want to fall out with you about it. I have no fight with you – I had no fight with him till he brought one into my club. But if you can’t get over this, then tell me now.’

It was a threat, and Christie recognised it. Michael Flynn was getting bored, he wanted this over. He had apologised in his own immutable way, had tried to explain his action, and given Christie the respect he was due.

Christie had far more sense than his son – he knew when to let things go. Michael Flynn was also the main employer for many of the men he had to deal with on a daily basis – he was his bread and butter, really. It rankled – the death of a child wasn’t something to be forgotten overnight, even if that child had been on a death wish for many a long year – but his earlier anger had diminished.

‘I don’t want to carry this on. You’re right, Michael – my son should have known better. I knew he was a fucking waster. He broke my heart. I gave him every opportunity to work for a living, to have a life in the real world, but he fucked it up every time. I don’t want to fall out with you over this. It is hard to say it, but he ain’t worth all this. He never was.’

Michael smiled widely. He could be generous now, magnanimous. He had got what he wanted. ‘I’m glad to hear that, Christie. I would have hated to have us at each other’s throats. When I saw you two in my hallway, and my poor wife looking so fucking frightened, I was all for killing you both, just for the piss-take. I really didn’t think we would get this far. It shows you how wrong first impressions can be, eh?’ He held out his hand and Christie McCarthy shook it heartily. Then Michael turned to Sam Dunne, and did the same. It was all friendly now, the atmosphere lighter, and both Christie and Sam knew they had dodged a bullet. Michael was relaxed, acting like he was relieved that they had understood his terrible predicament and forgiven him.