As he pokes his fingers around to locate it, I notice that the soles of his work boots are covered with what looks like confetti. The stupid thought that he has forced Emily to marry him crosses my mind. McCoy and Peterson as bridesmaids and Emily in tears as the ring is forced onto her finger. Stupid thought.

Tommy raises himself up off the grass with the dongle in his hand. ‘Take it back to the office,’ instructs McCoy. ‘Check that it’s legit.’

Tommy gives me another grin.

‘SEE YOU SOON, LAD. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. HA HA HA.’ I watch as Tommy goes back to his car and drives away from the estate.

‘Thank you,’ says McCoy. ‘I hope for Emily’s sake that it’s the genuine article. Listen, you’ve done the right thing and, provided we never hear from you again, and you don’t ever mention these events to anyone, you will be left in peace. You might get a kicking from Tommy, but you’ll survive, I’ll make sure of that.’

‘Do you not want your gun?’

‘Oh, yeah. You feel safe now, do you?’

‘Well, Grace is on the walkway up there watching us, so I don’t think you’ll do anything daft.’

I look up to the walkway to see Grace waving at me and giving the ‘zip your mouth’ motion across her lips with her fingers before stepping back into her flat and shutting the door.

‘She’d be better for you,’ says Peterson. ‘You need a mum not a girlfriend.’

I hand the gun to McCoy, and he immediately raises it and points it straight at my face. Shit.

27

Emily