‘But you are okay, yeah?’

‘Yes, of course, apart from my fucking feet.’

I hug her as tightly as I think is acceptable, but not as tightly as I want to.

‘I know it wasn’t you,’ I say.

‘What are you on about?’

‘It wasn’t you who told McCoy I had the dongle and had hidden it away.’

‘Why would you think that?’

‘I don’t know, but I did, and I was wrong and I love you.’

‘No, you don’t.’

‘Yeah, well, maybe not, but you know what I mean.’

‘Yes, of course I do. Now come on, let’s get out of here.’

She leads the way down the short hallway to the back door. As we step out into the garden, we are met with the sight of Tommy walking towards us from the path to the side of the house. We are trapped; the only way out is blocked by his lumbering bulk.

‘Fuck,’ I half whisper.

‘Oh do fuck off, Tommy,’ shouts Emily.

‘OH MY WORD, BOTH OF YOU. IT MUST BE MY LUCKY DAY, HA HA HA,’ he replies.

We stand staring at each other for a few moments. I sense Emily step back into the house behind me.

‘Was that a remark, Tommy?’ I enquire.

‘Oh, a bit of talkback is it, lad? You found your bottle, have you? Fancy your chances, do you, shortarse? Ha ha ha!’ says Tommy, his face breaking into one of his lifeless smiles. I pick up the bird feeder spear from the floor.

‘Tell me, Tommy, did you kill Brendan?’ I ask.

‘Yeah, of course I did. It’s my job. What of it?’ he replies as if he is talking about a pizza order.

‘Why?’ I ask.

‘Because I was told to. Now shut the fuck up and, like I say, do you fancy your chances, short bloke?’

Emily steps back out of the back door holding the metal bar from the basement door in her hand. She answers on our behalf:

‘Yes, Tommy, we do fancy our chances.’

‘Whenever you’re ready,’ I add. I don’t have a sweat on. My fear is way above that level. Maybe my internal organs are sweating, though, because all my insides feel like jelly.

Tommy walks slowly towards us. I direct the pointy end of my bird feeder spear towards him and Emily raises the metal bar above her shoulder.

‘McCoy and Peterson have already been arrested. The police have been watching you for months,’ I blurt out to Tommy. ‘I’ve told them Emily was here,’ I lie, ‘so they’ll be arriving any minute, I reckon. You should just fuck off, Tommy. That’s your best bet, mate.’

‘I disagree,’ he replies.