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‘I better be off to my own room before I collapse from tiredness. I’m heading back to Ragmullin early in the morning. Will I take that with me?’ He pointed to the almost empty bottle.

‘No, leave it. I think you’ve had enough. I’ll pour it down the sink.’

‘You’re the boss,’ he said with a wink, and left the room.

68

It was fully dark by the time Ann arrived home. After the journey from Clifden, she’d had to drive into the city to drop Imelda Conroy in Eyre Square. The young woman said she’d be safer in a crowd. Ann had pleaded with her to go to the guards, but she was adamant that she could not. They could not protect her, she’d said.

When she put her key in the front door, Denis almost collapsed out on top of her.

‘Where the fuck were you?’ He grabbed her shoulder and hauled her into the hall, shoving the door shut behind them.

‘Slow down, Denis. You’re hurting me.’

‘I want an answer.’ He shook her with his hands on both her shoulders. ‘I’ve been out of my mind with worry. I even went to the guards. Do you realise you’ve made a fool of me?’

She wanted to say he’d made a fool of himself, but bitter experience made her pause. Then she noticed his bulging, damaged eye.

‘What happened to you?’ she asked, incredulous, though secretly impressed by whoever had done it.

‘It’s nothing. A skirmish. Don’t worry, the bastard will pay for it. I’m making a formal complaint. If they won’t lock him up formurder, they can lock him up for this.’ He stabbed a finger to his eye and scowled.

‘Who did it?’

‘Doesn’t matter. Where were you?’

‘I had a particularly taxing day, so I went for a drive.’

‘A drive? A fucking drive? Without telling me? You’re so stupid.’ He shook his head, and it must have hurt because he gingerly patted his eye socket. His tone reduced a notch. ‘You know there’s a murderer out there, Ann. I really thought you would turn up dead. I was terrified for you.’

‘Don’t fret. I’m here now, and as you can see, I am very much alive.’

‘Are you being smart with me?’

‘God, no. I’m trying to reassure you that I’m fine.’ She made to pass by him in the hall, but he caught her arm.

‘Why didn’t you ring or text?’

‘I just needed some head space, Denis.’

‘You had no regard formyhead space and what you’ve put me through.’

‘I said I’m sorry. What more can I say?’

‘Give me your phone,’ he demanded.

She sighed and searched through the detritus of her handbag. ‘I must have left it in the car.’

He snatched the bag from her hands and upended it. Everything fell out on the hall floor. No phone.

She bit back atold you soand said, ‘I’ll go out for it.’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

Leaving the mess on the floor, he took her by the elbow and led her into the living room. She noticed a smear of dust on the mantelpiece that she must have missed, and hoped he didn’t see it. He was upset enough.

‘Tell me exactly what you did today,’ he said. ‘Who you saw. Who you spoke to. The works.’