His companion stared ahead, looking through the windscreen as if concentrating on some distant object. McAllister was having great difficulty in maintaining an outward air of calm. He did not wish to reveal his state of agitation but his heart was racing and he desperately wanted to take some deep breaths to enable him to calm down. He could sense that his companion’s mind was wrestling with some problem, some dilemma, of profound concern. He was anxious to do nothing to upset the equilibrium of the moment. Something significant was about to happen. He could feel it. He knew it. He would just have to be patient a little longer.

‘Do YOU think Gallagher killed Kevin?’

That, he hadn’t expected.

‘I arrested him.’

A weak response and he knew it.

‘If we’re going to play games, Mr McAllister, then this whole exercise is a waste of your time – and mine.’

A chance to go on the offensive. He decided to take it.

‘Let me remind you, this was your idea. You wanted to see me. You wanted this level of secrecy. I am not in the habit of playing spy games. I am a police officer, not a character out of a John le Carré novel. You wanted to speak to me. If anyone is playing games – it’s you. Now, is there something you want to tell me or shall I get out of this car and bring this charade to an end?’

‘I am not playing games. I need to know. The reasons are mine and need not concern you. Do you think Mr Gallagher shot Kevin?’

This time the voice was pregnant with sadness. McAllister realised that his offensive had failed. Now the dilemma was his. He would have to answer this question in order to keep the meeting alive. But he had to find the right answer. He feared how his companion might react if he continued to try to be evasive. This was a test to see if he could be trusted.

‘When I charged Gallagher, I had no doubt I had the right man. I’m not in the habit of arresting people in the absence of evidence.’

‘And now?’

‘Now, I’m just not sure. Various things have happened which concern me – have made me wonder. I’m just not at all sure. If I could find something new which convinced me of his guilt, I would not be surprised. If there was something which demonstrated he didn’t kill Boyle, that would not surprise me either.’

‘If Gallagher was not responsible for Kevin’s death, have you any idea who might have been?’

A subtle but important change of language. Much depended on your definition of responsibility. McAllister decided to avoid semantics.

‘No. But I would like to speak to Tom McGarry. You knew him, I take it?’

‘Of course. You spoke of finding something new, if you could.’

‘Ideally.’

Again there was a pause.