McAllister felt the adrenaline begin to flow. He was taking a risk and he knew it. How often had he told young officers – never go anywhere without back up. Make sure someone knows where you are going. Keep your radio switched on. Do not take chances. If in doubt – walk away. Here he was, breaching each and every one of these rules at one fell swoop. If this was a set up, he was in deep trouble. Mind you, if it went very badly wrong, he would not have to explain his actions to anyone – at least not on this earth.

11.30.

Bang on cue. A car entering the car park. Driving round. Looking. Parking in a distant corner. An N-registered Golf. Time to go.

McAllister walked towards the car. He checked round about but there was no activity to cause alarm. He paused a few yards from the vehicle in order to examine it. There appeared to be no passengers – only the driver. He made for the passenger-door, opened it and got in.

‘Good evening, Superintendent. Thank you for coming to see me.’

‘It was an invitation I could hardly refuse.’

‘Are you alone?’

‘Yes. I’m a man of my word.’

‘Is anyone listening to us?’

‘I’m not sure I understand.’

‘I think you do. Are you carrying a microphone or a tape recorder?’

‘No. Do you wish to search me?’

‘No. I believe you. After all, you are a man of your word.’

‘Why do you want to speak to me?’

‘Is Charles Gallagher going to be convicted of Kevin’s murder?’

‘I cannot say.’

‘Try, please.’

‘The prosecution case is not particularly strong. It has never been very strong. However, there is an eye-witness to the murder who seems quite reliable. He says that Gallagher is the killer. There is other evidence, including an admission to a police officer.’

‘So, he should be convicted?’

‘It’s not as easy as that.’

‘I believe that Gallagher’s lawyer is very good.’

‘He is.’

‘How good?’

‘Very good. Probably the best.’

The response produced a period of silence as the information was being digested.

‘Do you think Gallagher will be convicted? You must have some idea.’

McAllister reflected before he spoke: ‘The best people to judge these matters, although it’s still to a large extent guesswork, are the officers from the dock escort. Most of them are nearing the end of their police service, which means they have been around for a long time. They have spent hours in court listening to cases. You might say they get a feel for it. I gather that the talk among them is that Gallagher will go down. That’s my answer. It’s better than a guess – but not much.’

Again there followed a period of silence.