Part 26 (2/2)

They nodded. *Aye,' said Duffel Coat, *wettest night in years and here we are. Great fun.'

*What's the story, then? What's with the guns? You look like a couple of vigilantes.'

The baldy one smiled sheepishly. *Ach, nothing really. Father White asked us to keep an eye on the cop shop, in case that witch tried to do a runner.'

*Don't you trust the Constable?'

*Aye. Of course we do. But you never can tell. She has the Devil in her, y'know.'

I nodded. *Of course. You're quite right.' I stepped between them. *I'd better get on through here and get this sorted out. I'm sure it's the last thing he wants to hear about with the trial coming up, but the law's the law, isn't it?'

*Sure enough.'

They parted. I pa.s.sed.

*Well done again,' Duffel Coat called after me, *and watch out for her, she's an evil b.i.t.c.h.'

I waved back.

Constable Murtagh answered on the third knock. The door was still on its chain and his ruddy face peered out through a six-inch gap. *What the f.u.c.k do you want?' he snapped.

*I see you've been saved too,' I said.

His hair, short, grey, stuck up at mad angles. He had his green police s.h.i.+rt and trousers on, no shoes. A revolver in his hand. He looked like he'd been up most of the night as well.

*Listen, Smart Alec, I'm busy. What do you want?'

*I've come to have a word with Mary Reilly, if I can. Her mum has asked me to speak up on her behalf at the trial.'

Murtagh looked me up and down. *I thought you were the witness for the prosecution.'

*I am.'

*So?'

*I also think it would be a bit fairer to try her on the mainland.'

Murtagh nodded slowly. *Aye,' he said, then unhooked the chain. *Come on in then.' He opened the door wider. As I pa.s.sed he looked out behind me at the vigilantes and shook his head disdainfully.

I walked down a dark hallway into a back room which had been converted into an office. There was a desk, two chairs, a small filing cabinet. Posters warning about rabies, drugs and terrorism adorned the walls. There was also a large crucifix.

From behind he said: *Hands up.'

I started to turn, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

*As you are,' he said. He knelt behind me and his hand shot up my leg. Then it crossed my lower back round to my stomach, up the chest, along my back, along both arms and finished on the other leg. Then he checked the contents of my pockets. Thirty-eight pence and a Barney Eastwood betting slip.

*All clear,' he said finally and brushed past me to sit behind the desk. *Sorry about that,' he said, *but you can't be too careful. Used to be all you had to worry about was someone coming at you with a fish knife or a big stick. Nowadays you turn your back for five seconds and some b.a.s.t.a.r.d whacks you with the Gospel According to Luke. Have a seat.'

He placed his gun in a drawer to his left, but kept it open. He was trying not to look nervous, but he was.

*It must be difficult,' I said, pulling back a chair, *living with this lot.'

*Impossible,' he said, *and getting worse. You saw them 'uns outside? Bleep and f.u.c.king Booster.'

*They don't seem to believe she's very secure here.'

*Oh, she's secure enough. Don't worry yourself on that score. It's getting her to the church without that lot stringing her up that worries me.'

*So you are going ahead with it. The trial.'

He watched me for a moment. *Of course.'

I shrugged. *Fair enough.'

He blew some air out of his nose. *You're thinking, if he's so p.i.s.sed off with the McCooeys, why go along with the trial?'

I shrugged.

*Well, put it this way,' he said. *I am actually a believer.'

*You said ”f.u.c.k” a while back.'

*I did.'

*You said they were getting worse.'

*They are.'

*So . . .'

*There are believers, and there are believers. I believe. Just maybe not in the same way as the others. I believe in Christine. Really. I'm just not very good at it yet. Sometimes I still say ”f.u.c.k”. Sometimes I still covet my neighbour's chickens. I believe in her, but I don't think she's up to sentencing someone just yet.'

*You're a McCooey, but you're not quite a McCooey.'

*If you like.'

*You're the Provisional wing of the McCooeys.'

*If you want to stretch a point.'

*So what're you going to do?'

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