‘I … I live n-near here,’ Charlie stammered, as red blotches broke out on his face. He shook his head. ‘Sorry, I wasn’t expecting that. Can you handle the jeep?’

‘We’ll be grand. Try to stay off the road and if you hear any vehicles speeding towards you, take cover, okay? We’ll get the car back to you.’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ the other man said. He shook Tom’s hand. ‘Good luck.’

With that, he jumped out of the car and broke into a sprint.

‘Jesus, who knew Usain Bolt was driving us?’ Ray said. He climbed into the front and familiarised himself with the jeep’s controls. ‘Not being funny, Tom, but I’ve never been so thankful for your dodgy car. If that chap hadn’t been with us and kept this car running we’d never have got out of there alive.’

Tom kept his eyes focused straight ahead. His hands were covered in cuts and grazes, the only damage sustained in the attack.

‘Didn’t you find anything odd about what just happened, Ray?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, he’s either a terrible shot or he was just firing to scare us. He missed four times.’

His deputy snorted. The shots had been close enough for him.

‘Tom, if he doesn’t come barrelling down this lane and we resolve this without either of us copping it – I’m asking Laura out on a proper date.’

‘Your life flashing before you, is it?’ the inspector said, but he was only half-joking. He’d have been happy himself to be home with Louise right now.

They heard the first siren after twenty minutes, with no sign of anyone or anything emerging from the Carney property. The cars started to arrive – the Emergency Response Unit and the regional support teams. Joe Kennedy had already rung Tom in full support mode. The inspector was short with him, his memory long. He knew how much Kennedy would enjoy all this excitement and it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He’d turn up when the situation had been brought to a conclusion and none of the viewers of the Six One news that night would know that the chief superintendent had been cosy and safe in his office when Tom and Ray and some innocent bystander were being shot at.

The inspector was engaged in conversation with the head of the ERU, Jim Knowles, when Sergeant Healy turned up.

‘Harmless, you said,’ Ray snapped, as the man approached.

Healy held his hands out in a conciliatory manner, his face wan and worried.

‘I’m sorry. I truly am. I’d no idea he was capable of this. Can I help at all?’ he addressed this to the ERU chief. ‘I know him.’

‘Is he likely to talk to you? We’d prefer a family member if possible.’

‘He has no family left.’ Healy shook his head.

Knowles looked to Tom.

The inspector shrugged.