‘I didn’t hear you come in.’

‘That’s obvious. Now tell me what you were talking about. And don’t lie to me.’

‘Nothing to worry about. It’s just a bit of business. I’m taking care of it.’

‘Don’t patronise me. I’ve told you before that I’ve kept my mouth shut for far too long. No more. I want to know what’s going on. If you don’t tell me I WILL make it my business to find out. It’s taking care of business that has got us into this mess. Now, what the hell’s going on?’

‘There’s nothing for you to worry about.’

‘Jesus Christ! Just tell me!’

‘I’ve never heard you swear before.’

‘Maybe not, but you’ve heard it now. There’s going to be many new things around here, starting right now. So tell me, what is going on?’

‘It’s McGarry. I think he could cause us some trouble. Serious trouble.’

‘Us?’

‘Well, OK. Me then. I’m scared of him and what he might do. Not that he has any reason to want to harm you or me, for that matter.’

‘Look, I think you better tell me the truth. And remember, I know a lot more than you think, and I know you – I’ll know if you lie.’

Tom McGarry switched off the mobile phone having collected his messages – again.

‘So, you’re desperate to speak to me now, you little bastard. Well, it’s too late, my son. It’s payback time.’

He turned his attention to the horseracing on the television and snarled as the winner was announced.

‘Just as well I couldn’t get to the bookies. Lucky Again – would be better off in a tin of dogfood than on a racecourse.’

He cut off the sound and stared at the screen. It was time to get out of Glasgow. Back to Ireland was the best bet. Out of harm’s way there were one or two people who could make good use of his special talents, as they had done in the past.

McGarry was the archetypal mercenary. He had no interest whatever in the politics of the North or the South. He favoured neither Protestant nor Catholic and worked for each against the other, sometimes simultaneously.

He looked around the depressing bedsit. It was not of the standard he preferred but as boltholes went, it was passably comfortable. Compared with the rat-infested barns he had hidden in near the Irish border, it was verging on the luxurious. But it was undoubtedly time to go.