‘I have to say, I’m glad you came. I think you made the right decision.’ The man spoke instantly, still facing forward, and his words came out as tight balls of mist. He rubbed gloved hands together. A quilted jacket was tight round his shoulders but the knot of a tie was still visible. The buttons on his sleeves flapped open with the movement where his forearms were too thick for them to fasten. Danny wasn’t sure if he was wearing layers against the elements or if he was a larger build than Danny had remembered. Danny hadn’t really taken much notice of him before. The first time they had met he had dismissed him as a crackpot trying to get a rise out of him. The second time he had been more concerned with the other people around them. Now there was no one else to worry about and Danny understood this man better. He understood him to be a threat to him – to everything.

‘I don’t really have a choice. You made sure of that.’

‘I suppose you could say that.’

‘What do you want from me?’

‘For what it’s worth, this isn’t me. I’m a mouthpiece. I’m sorry I had to be so … persuasive in our phone conversation earlier. I don’t have the time to make you see the advantages, to make you understand how this is in your best interests, in the best interests of everyone, in fact. I had to be a little direct and I apologise if that has damaged our relationship in any way.’

‘You mean by threatening me with prison unless I do as you ask?’

‘Not me, Mr Evans. Again, this is not me asking. I may agree with the thinking behind what is being asked here but my method would be quite different.’

‘But you will still make sure I go to prison?’

‘Of course. And I will make sure I don’t. I’m very good at what I do. But this can be over for you soon. You just need to do the right thing.’

‘I’m not sure I know what that is anymore.’

‘Yes, you do. There’s a bag under the bench. I’m going to get up and walk away in a moment. You will need to stay here long enough for me to get clear and then take the bag. Do not inspect the contents here. Drive out of the town.’

‘What’s in the bag?’

‘Instructions. And the means to get the job done. A pistol. It’s loaded so don’t go having a look down the wrong end. Simple operation: point and squeeze.’

‘Jesus …’ Danny said, ‘just like that.’