‘Ya thick,’ Dave mumbled.

‘What was that, David?’ Principal Young said.

‘Nothin’, miss.’

‘That’s what I thought. Mel, you’re next up.’

One by one they all went in. Casey was only in there for five minutes but she came out in tears. Deirdre was there for ten. She came out dry-eyed but worried-looking. When Jonno’s ma arrived they were taken straight in, and when they came out half an hour later she was busy clipping him round the ear. ‘You’re dead,’ she said, as she frog-marched him out of the waiting area.

Dave was last in. Lightweights, I won’t leave you down, lads. Holding his own against the copper was the least he could do after calling Jeremy a knob-jockey. He’d only been messing but he’d never seen Rave angry with him like that.

He sat down on the chair opposite the guard and heard the door close behind him. Show no fear.

‘David,’ Principal Young said, ‘this is Detective Brennan. He has a few questions for you about Jeremy and Rave. I expect you to answer him openly and honestly.’

The copper asked him a series of questions, but Dave refused to answer. ‘I can’t answer that,’ he said, for the fifth time in a row.

‘Why’s that?’ Brennan said.

‘On the grounds that I may incriminate meself.’

‘We don’t care about the drink, son. We just want to get to the bottom of what happened to those two boys. Were you the last one of the group to see them Sunday night?’

So someone had spilled their guts about the booze. Dave nodded reluctantly. ‘Yeah.’

‘Did they say where they were going?’

‘No.’

‘Do you think Rave was drunk?’

Yes, he was high as a kite. ‘Talk to my solicitor.’

Dave later learned that Jonno had pretty much gone through the entire night moment by moment, including telling the copper that Rave said riding a girl was like sticking your mickey in a pipe full of pudding. Gobshite.

‘Fine. I think the others have given us enough.’ The copper tucked his notepad away in his jacket pocket.

Dave got up to leave.

‘One last thing, son. When you headed off, were they anywhere near the tank?’

Dave stopped in his tracks. ‘At the Old Bawn Bridge?’

‘Yes.’

Dave gulped. Ah, no. They’re not in the bleedin’ tank! ‘We spent the night mostly under the Hanging Tree so, yeah, near it but not – not near enough to … I mean, they’d have no reason to go near the water. It was dark and raining …’

‘OK. I just have to ask. It doesn’t mean anything, son,’ the copper said, putting a hand on Dave’s shoulder. ‘You can go for now.’

Dave moved to leave but turned back when he got to the door. ‘I’ve seen Rave way worse and he’s cycled home just fine.’

‘That’s good to know. Thanks, Dave.’