‘Apart from my confession, you mean? Is that not enough these days?’

Cormac gave a baffled shake of his head, and shifted the weight to his other foot. ‘There were injuries.’ He gestured to Matty’s torso with a finger. ‘All over.’

‘That’ll be right. I was defending my child. I’m not saying Matty wasn’t attacked. We were together that night. Family reunion. We hadn’t seen each other in quite a while.’

‘That’s not true.’

‘It’s perfectly true. Since 1985, in fact.’

‘No, I know that, but—’ He straightened, as if resetting himself. ‘Look, I know that it’s just not bloody true.’

Joe folded his arms. ‘How do you know about the injuries? All over, you just said.’

‘That’s not your concern.’

‘Isn’t it?’ Joe looked at Matty. ‘How did he know about your injuries?’

Cormac looked at the carpet and glanced up again, as if willing Matty not to say anything.

It was the only way. ‘We sort of slept together.’ Started to. Failed at.

‘Did you now,’ Joe said, only to Cormac. ‘I think that’s you off the case, pal. Sleeping with suspects.’

‘It’s … that’s really not your concern,’ Cormac said.

‘I’m not sure that’ll go down so well in court,’ said Joe.

‘This is madness. Look, I know you’ve only just met, or I think you have, but – this isn’t how it works. I can come back with more people if that’s what you want.’

‘That’s not what we want,’ said Franklin. ‘Is it, Joe?’

‘It’s fine by me,’ he said. He seemed charged, alive.

‘I’m going outside,’ said Cormac, mostly to Matty. ‘I’m not leaving. I’ll give you a minute to collect yourself.’

Joe sat down.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ Franklin said.

‘Protecting my child. What difference does it make? I’m on the way out anyway.’

‘Well, that’s just typical. You’ve got to be the hero. The martyr.’

‘Not heroic. Just doing what should have been done a long time ago.’

‘Going to jail for something you didn’t do? You think it’s not enough already, what we have to cope with? If Matty has done this, then—’ He glanced over. ‘I’m sorry – but it’s Matty who needs to take the rap. You’re being ridiculous. No one’s going to believe you’ve done that. I’m probably your damned alibi. And you heard what he said. Matty assaulted him. A guard.’

‘I’ll go and talk to him,’ said Matty, and stood up.

‘Don’t go anywhere,’ said Joe. ‘We need to get a lawyer.’

‘No. I’m going out there. Just to talk.’

Cormac was standing by the pond, his hands in his pockets.

Matty stood next to him, hood up, boots unlaced. Took another careful glance at the injury on his forehead. ‘How did you find me?’