The Betrayal
Page 24
Given the circumstances Paddy was prepared to overlook the incident, but brother or no brother, this would be Tommy Riley’s last chance.
Errol saw and heard the altercation between his uncle and his best mate’s brother from his bedroom window. He knew, as well as the protagonists, that his family had had something to do with Billy’s murder and he couldn’t cope with how that made him feel. He was sure it was his uncle Sean who had been responsible, but Paddy and Michael had covered for him, so they were just as bad. He watched as his uncle drove off and for the first time ever, he’d not pestered him about the new car. The least he had to do with his uncle the better. What he didn’t know, he couldn’t tell.
Paddy arrived at the scrapyard and was warmly greeted by his younger brother, Michael. Lizzie hadn’t waited a minute to impart the wonderful news. That Paddy might have preferred to tell his brother himself hadn’t entered the old girl’s head.
“So you’re not firing blanks after all?” Michael jested with him.
“Seems not, but don’t expect a brood over the next few years. One more is enough at my age.”
“For God’s sake, Paddy, you know what they say, life begins at . . .” he was interrupted by the sound of shots being fired.
“What the fuck’s going on out there?” roared Paddy, fumbling with the catch of the gun cupboard.
As quick as they could, he and Michael tooled up and cautiously opened the door of the cabin.
A blacked-out 4 x 4 was reversing out of the gates. Random shots were being fired from the back passenger window and a large object, wrapped in an old tarpaulin, was thrown out of the vehicle as it sped off in the direction of the city.
“Jesus Christ, what was that all about?” shouted Paddy as he vaulted the steps into the yard, towards the object.
Tentatively, the Big Man pulled back the covering to reveal the battered, indistinguishable body of a woman. She had been beaten so badly it was impossible to identify her and, just to finish off the job, they had poured acid over her face.
“Dear God, Paddy what the hell’s going on? And who is she?” Michael backed away from the corpse.
“I’ve no idea,” Paddy replied, inwardly giving thanks that this bloody mess wasn’t any of their women.
Bridget and his mother were safe indoors, Erin was in Spain and he had just spoken to Marie, not five minutes since. Margee, Michael’s fiancé, was visiting her folks so who was she? Why had she been dumped in their yard and by whom?
“My God, what a way to go,” Michael murmured. “We have to call the police. There are too many witnesses around.”
“Not yet,” Paddy said, playing for time, but the sound of sirens in the distance put paid to his plea.
Titles by the Same Author
Life Behind Bars:
Confessions of a Pub Landlady
Life on the Outside:
The Lunatics have taken over the Asylum
Life in the Fat Lane:
Chocolate after Midnight doesn’t Count
The Coyle Trilogy:
The Silence
The Betrayal
Coming in 2016..........The Reckoning