Now the sounds from Danny’s throat were fuelled by rage. It shook him in his seat and the ropes flexed a little on one side but there was no real give. He was wasting his time. He fell still, only his chest rising and falling with the exertion. He could feel his pulse beating in his head and he shut his eyes as the light still flickered above to dazzle him. The light jogged a memory, the last one he had. He was in the hotel bar, drinking in the afternoon, trying to wash away the memory of what he had done. The man in the suit had turned up. Danny had taken the gun with him when he had left and it was still in the boot of his car. The man wanted it; it was part of cleaning up. Danny had been glad to give him the keys but the man had stayed. Danny didn’t know why, it was all so hazy. He remembered a bright light. White, just like the one that flickered at him now. Only this one hadn’t flickered, this had been a block: a doorway! He remembered walking out the door, into sunlight, the suited man supporting him because he couldn’t walk on his own. There was nothing after that.

‘I bet I know what you’re saying!’ The man’s voice had a chuckle as he spoke, tearing Danny away from his memories. ‘You’re trying to tell me that this isn’t true at all, aren’t you? I know that, Danny! You didn’t run some old woman down or kill her dog. You didn’t steal a car either, well, that I know of! But what does that matter? Just think how you’ll be doing your bit for this poor old man who was facing going to his grave without his moment of vengeance. It’s eating him alive, too. But now he can have it. The fact that he is shooting the wrong man in the roof of the mouth won’t matter because he’ll never know. But he will know freedom. Freedom from what holds him back every day of his life. You know what that’s called, Danny? Pay it forward. A good deed for your fellow man. A sacrifice. There are worse ways to go.’

The light’s flicker seemed quicker than ever, the pinging sound that accompanied it louder. But Danny was still able to make out the sound of footsteps moving away. He tried to call after them, but all he got was a pain in his jaw.