‘Shit, Boss, and how!’

Sammy had been answering questions about the area where he had found the Mad Dog’s mortal remains. None of these had caused him any difficulty and he had gained in confidence sufficiently to convince himself he had weathered the storm. After the initial hostility his interrogator had been the model of civility. He had to be nearing the end of the road. He was nearly there.

‘Finally, Mr McPhee, you went to an identification parade, did you not?’

‘Yes.’

‘Just two weeks after the events you have been telling us about?’

‘Yes.’

‘And on that parade there was a total of six people?’

‘Yes, I think so.’

‘As opposed to one man sitting in the dock flanked by two police officers?’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘What I mean is that it is very easy to pick out a man sitting in a dock. A man who virtually has a sign pointing at his head saying “accused”.’

‘I picked him out.’

‘I know you picked him out here, but did you pick him out at the parade?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘He was there.’

‘Where?’

‘In the lane that night. The night I’ve been telling you about.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes.’

‘If you were sure, why did you pick out two people at the parade?’

‘Did I?’

‘Don’t you know?’

‘I don’t remember.’

‘That is not an answer. At the parade, you said “Number three or number five. I’m not sure, possibly number five”. You said that, didn’t you?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Not an answer. Didn’t you?’

‘I could have. Maybe. Look, I’m not sure. You’re confusing me.’

‘Number five was Mr Gallagher. Number three was a stand-in, just a member of the public brought in to make up the numbers. You picked out two men, and the best you could say was possibly number five. Do you accept that you said that?’

‘Possibly.’

‘Why did you say that?’

‘I can’t remember.’

‘You are avoiding my questions. Why?’

The pause became a delay which seemed to turn into an eternity.

‘WHY?’

‘I wasn’t sure. I did my best. I only saw him for a second. It was dark. I did my best.’

‘So you were not sure then, not sure at all, but you claim to be sure now. Why the change?’

‘I just am, that’s all.’

‘How sure do you think you may have been if you hadn’t been given the suit?’

‘That’s got nothing to do with it.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. Really.’

The questions had been coming at him with such speed that once again Sammy felt himself beginning to panic. It was as if the floor of the witness box had turned to sand and Sammy was struggling to avoid sinking into it.