Declan let this information sink in. The Cornel brothers had been a thorn in everyone’s side for a long time. They were without scruples, devoid of even the most basic of social graces, and they had taken over the North East almost by accident from the Dooleys. Jack Cornel had shot one of them over a debt and, as the older Dooley brothers were on remand, he had not yet been challenged about his foolishness. The Cornels were relatively new to the real game – up to now, they had been no more than cannon fodder. It had been assumed that they would be removed tout suite. But it had not happened. No one had ever seen the Cornels as a serious threat; now, it seemed, they were under the misapprehension that they were hard enough to take on Michael Flynn and the whole South East. What planet they were inhabiting was up for debate all right. It was ludicrous, and it could not have come at a worse time. Jack Cornel was a natural-born fighter, but his younger brother, Cecil, was a fucking looney. He was definitely two bob short of a pound note. He didn’t fight as such – he just attacked with whatever weapon came to hand. Jack Cornel was a fucking exhibitionist; he would love nothing more than to cause a row with Michael in public. He was too thick to see the folly of his actions – all he would see was the glory of people knowing he had dared to do such a thing. As for Cecil, an original thought in his head would die of fucking loneliness; he would follow his brother’s lead. It was a fucking abortion. Of all the times the Cornel brothers could have chosen to get themselves killed stone dead, they had to go and pick now, when Michael Flynn was negotiating the biggest deal in criminal history.

‘Oh, Jesus Christ. Michael will go fucking apeshit when he finds out.’

Peter Barker grinned. ‘I had worked that one out for myself, Declan.’

Declan Costello held his head in his hands; he was absolutely mortified. ‘Round them up, Peter. But try and keep it on the down low.’

Peter took a deep toke on his joint before saying huskily, ‘It will be a fucking pleasure, Declan, believe me. It’s already in hand actually – I took it upon myself to presume!’ He shook his head in wonderment. ‘It never ceases to amaze me, Declan, just how fucking thick some people actually are. But as my old nan used to say, you can’t educate a fucking haddock.’

Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-One

Jessie was pleased to see her mum waiting outside her school, and she jumped into the car happily. She knew how hard it was for her mum to drive at night; she had guessed far more about her mum and her problems than she let on.