As he left the toilet he smiled a goodbye to Beth. There was no rush, it would take at least two minutes for the cigarette to burn down far enough to set the matches alight. He walked slowly down the stairs and into Donegall Square. Overhead a helicopter hovered high in the air like a bird of prey searching for a victim.

The intercom on Beth’s desk buzzed and Hennessy’s voice summoned her into the office. From their sofas, Kavanagh and Murphy watched her hips swing as she walked to the door.

‘I would,’ said Murphy, whispering because he knew what a tongue-lashing he’d get if she heard him.

‘Who wouldn’t?’ replied Kavanagh. ‘But her old man’d focking kill ye.’

Hennessy was standing by his window watching Nguyen walk down the road, swinging his carrier bag full of shopping.

‘I’m sorry, Liam,’ she said, before he could speak. ‘He caught me by surprise. Next time I won’t let him disturb you.’

‘That’s all right, Beth. Just tell Murphy and Kavanagh to take care of it if he turns up again.’ Nguyen stepped off the pavement, crossed the road and disappeared into a side street. Hennessy turned his back on the window. ‘I think that man is going to be trouble,’ he said.

‘Don’t be silly, Liam,’ she said as if admonishing a child. ‘What can a man like him do?’

The sound of the explosion made them both flinch, Beth putting her hands to her face and Hennessy ducking away from the window. Through the open door they saw Kavanagh and Murphy dive to the ground. ‘Keep down!’ Murphy yelled at them.

‘What’s going on?’ Hennessy shouted. They didn’t answer. They were as confused as he was.

Beth was already on the floor, crouched by the side of the door. Hennessy went over to her and put his arms around her.

Murphy and Kavanagh were crawling over the carpet to check out the corridor. Kavanagh nudged open the door. The corridor was empty, then a pale-faced young man in a three-piece suit nervously appeared from an office further along.

‘Mother of God, what happened?’ said the young man.

Kavanagh got to his feet. Smoke was billowing out of the Gents, acrid-smelling and burning as he inhaled. He coughed and his eyes watered as he gingerly pushed open the door to the toilet. Fumes billowed out and the sprinklers in the corridor hissed into life and he ducked back into the office. In the distance he heard a police siren, and then another. He told Murphy to guard the door while he went back to Hennessy’s office and helped him and Beth to their feet.

Beth flopped on to a chair and Hennessy went over to his drinks cabinet and poured two Irish whiskeys. He didn’t offer one to Kavanagh, who was teetotal. Beth gulped hers down and Hennessy followed her example.