‘Right, let’s get these sandwiches out there and on the counter,’ said Keeva.

Matron approached them. ‘Can I help, ladies? We are very used to dealing with crises at St Angelus – I’ll help with the drinks, shall I.’

She was already rolling up her sleeves and Keeva knew it was a statement not a question. ‘Well, if you don’t mind, Matron. Most of this lot will wait to be served.’ She nodded towards the older women in widow’s weeds who were now examining the boot as though it was an exhibit from outer space.

‘One of them told me she’s borne thirteen children,’ said Matron. ‘I think they’ve done their bit. Here, let me carry those teas, Peggy.’

Peggy grinned. She liked Matron – she liked anyone from outside of Tarabeg. ‘Thank you, Matron. It seems to me they won’t be stopping searching until midnight and we’re going to be busy. She could be anywhere out there.’

‘Yes, well, I am very sure she is out there somewhere, and that young man, Joe, appears to be both in charge and fearless. You’re very lucky he’s here.’

*

Up at the farm, Nola and Seamus stood looking at the wall above the fireplace.

‘We can’t let Joe pay the ransom when we have all this money of Daedio’s behind the fire,’ said Seamus, placing his hand against the limewashed chimney breast.

‘’Tis up to Michael. It’s his decision, he’s her father, he has to decide,’ said Nola.

Seamus removed his cap, a rare event, and then his jacket. He laid his jacket over the back of the rocking chair next to the fire and as he did so, it began to rock back and forth. They both stared at it, and both knew what it meant. Annie was with them. Daedio had slept in the kitchen for years before his death and had told them that Annie often came to talk to him at night, when they were all in bed.

Nola stretched out her arm and slipped her plump hand into Seamus’s calloused palm. ‘Annie agrees with me. Daedio always said that Annie would give us a sign when it was time to do what was needed with the money, didn’t he?’

The rocking continued, steady.

‘If Annie didn’t want us to do this, she’d be rocking that chair like a madwoman was sat in it.’

They both stared at the chair as the rocking continued, back and forth.

‘Come on, this is a sign – we knew it would come one day. It’s Mary Kate’s money, isn’t it, Annie? And Finn’s too. There is plenty to pay McGuffey, and it will be worth every penny if it means he leaves these shores and never shows his evil face back here again.’

Turning from the chair, Nola placed her fingers alongside the brick that gave them access to the safe in the wall, made by Annie many years ago. She began to wiggle it free. ‘It needs a bit of strength behind it,’ she said. ‘Come here, Seamus, pull it free. ’Tis that long since it was opened.’