Tony flinched as Duggan pulled his gun, held it, wavering, pointed at Mullan. ‘That’s a lie.’

‘Hugh here was a Judas goat,’ Mullan said, turning to look at Tony. ‘That night you were lifted, he was in your cell, right? They’d seen us speaking to you at the funeral, wondered if we’d said something to you about what we were planning. They put him into the cell with you to encourage you to talk. I’ll guess he befriended you. Shared his smokes, maybe?’

‘His shirt,’ Tony said, nodding.

‘That was his role; convince the younger ones to say something they shouldn’t. Incriminate themselves enough that the cops could recruit them as informants.’

‘That’s lies,’ Duggan said, progressing now on Mullan, the gun pressing against the other man’s temple.

‘So now you’re going to shoot me?’ Mullan said, laughing. ‘First it was Tony, then Karen, now me? I hope you’ve enough bullets in there.’

‘I’ve plenty,’ Duggan said, swinging the gun between the three of them. Only Barr stood, silent, cautious, off to the side. ‘You’re not going to spread lies about me.’

‘You protecting your legacy, Hugh?’ Mullan laughed. ‘You don’t have a legacy. Everyone knows you for what you are.’

‘They lied,’ Duggan said, the gun turning on Tony again. ‘They set up Martin.’

‘Do you know why Doherty came across that time? We were sure you were the tout. He was coming across to finish you off. It was a surprise to all of us when this one said she saw Kelly going into that house and not you.’

‘Liar!’ Duggan said, raising the gun and striking Mullan with it on the forehead, the butt tearing the skin.

Mullan staggered a little, then straightened, blood already tracing a line down his face. He smiled. ‘Come on, Hugh. Do it. Protect your legacy before that cancer inside you eats you up completely.’

Tony stepped towards Karen, wary of Mullan, wondering why he was goading Duggan.

‘The truth is, Hugh,’ Mullan spat. ‘I don’t think you’ve the balls for it.’

Duggan looked from one face to the other, his eyes wild, his mind racing. Finally, the gun settled on Tony. His expression hardened, as his finger tightened.

He pulled the trigger and fired.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Three

The gunshot scattered clouds of crows into the night sky, their screaming in contrast with the soft grunt that Kelly made as he fell sideways.

Tony watched in horror as he dropped against the side of the grave and lay there, his mouth hanging ajar, his eyes open wide, but unseeing. He glanced across to Karen who was standing with her back turned, her hands over her face, not looking at what had unfurled.