‘You’re bang on there. He has about as much sense of humour as a bed of nettles. But come here, DS Maguire – do we have a deal? I’ll give you the letter that you want, and a copy of Billy’s interview, so long as you promise that my name is never made public in connection with either of them. There’s nothing in the interview to identify me… it’s like Billy talking in a monologue. The letter… I know you may have to show it to Chief Superintendent O’Kane, but hopefully he’ll believe that you have it and you won’t have to. But it can’t be seen by anybody else.’

‘Very well, Owen. If you stick to your side of the bargain, I’ll stick to mine. But I have to warn you that I have no idea how Chief Superintendent O’Kane is going to react. He’s fierce unpredictable and he may tell me to do my worst. In which case I’ll get back to you. We’re both taking a desperate risk by agreeing to this arrangement. Both of our jobs are on the line. But it’s the only way forward.’

Owen finished his beer. ‘My mouth says have another one, but I have a deadline to meet. I trust you, DS Maguire. Actually, I always did. Please accept my apologies for all those malicious stories. I was in the height of loberty and it seemed like a way to get back into the black without doing too much harm. I promise you that every story I write about you from here on in will praise you up to the heavens.’

*

When Katie returned to her office she found Kieran there, talking to Moirin.

‘Kieran… how was your day?’

‘Long – and tedious – and procedural. We were hearing applications in that Gallagher Finance fraud case. How about you?’

‘Fraught, to say the least. But at last I’m beginning to feel that I’m getting my ducks in a row. This last week has been a pig’s dinner from beginning to end.’

‘So long as it hasn’t been a dog’s breakfast. Listen – I guessed you’d be after having a hard day so I thought you might like to join me for a quiet dinner somewhere, or maybe just a drink.’

Katie could see Moirin smiling. She smiled back at her and then said, ‘Yes. I was planning to head straight home but it would be great to chill out and have a talk. Moirin? Is there anything that needs my immediate attention? Any phone calls?’

‘Mathew McElvey rang you because he had a question about Mrs Quinn’s arrest, but he said it could wait until the morning.’

‘Grand. Let’s go then.’

They were about to leave when Kyna came in, with her coat on.