He fed the anger for a day or two, before he sat one evening, wondering what she was doing, wanting to call with her, privately admitting that he had behaved abominably, having been played by Kelly.

He’d called to see his uncle and aunt, having promised them when he leased a flat for himself that he’d still visit once or twice a week so they could reassure his parents that he was alive and well and looking after himself.

‘You not going out with Karen tonight?’ his aunt asked him as he sat on the sofa next to her where she was watching the evening soaps, once they’d cleared up the dishes from the dinner she’d made for him.

‘No,’ Tony said. ‘We’d a bit of a row.’

‘You’ll get it sorted,’ she said. ‘You’re a good person. So is she by the sounds of it.’

‘She is,’ Tony admitted.

His aunt nodded, already turning her attention back to the drama unfolding on the TV screen. She added absentmindedly, ‘You can always spot the good people.’

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘I thought we were good people,’ Tony said.

Karen pulled open the door of the ferry to step back inside. ‘We are good people,’ she said. ‘We’re doing the right thing. We did the right thing.’

‘With Martin?’

‘With everything,’ she said. ‘You’re foundered with cold; come on inside.’

Duggan and Barr were sitting where Tony had left them, Barr staring at his mobile phone, Duggan finishing his whiskey and watching a TV show playing soundlessly on one of the ferry TV screens. ‘Do you watch these?’ he asked, gesturing with his glass, when he saw them return.

Tony glanced up at the screen. A tall blonde woman was standing with an older couple in what appeared to be a sunny Mediterranean street. The camera cut to them walking into a kitchen and looking around. Even without the sound, he could guess at the type of show.

‘Not so much,’ he said.

‘What about you, missus?’ he asked.

Karen, her demeanour restored, shook her head. ‘I’m normally working at this time of the day; with family life and that, we don’t get to watch TV until ten at night sometimes.’

‘I love them,’ Duggan explained. ‘All these people thinking they can run away from their problems, and then airing them in public instead. It cracks me up, it does.’

‘We’re going to be arriving soon,’ Karen said. ‘Should we head on down?’

Duggan glanced out through the windows to their left. ‘We’ve another ten minutes maybe,’ he said. ‘We’ll get one more round in before we go.’

Karen glanced at Tony. Duggan was already well oiled; another drink or two might push him past good humour and into belligerence.

‘Same again, Hugh?’ Barr asked. His enthusiasm had waned a little as the crossing had advanced.

‘Perfect, son,’ Hugh said, winking at the others as they sat, watching the youth cross to the bar once more.

‘Do you remember where we’re going?’ Karen asked. ‘Once we get here; do you know the way?’