‘If you’re so rich, Hedge Fund Henry,’ Ash slurred, ‘why aren’t you at the bar getting the fucking drinks in?’
‘On my way,’ said Roddy with a smug smile.
Ash slid over to Luke.
‘So what’s your story, quiet boy?’ she said.
He examined her with narrow eyes. ‘Musician.’
‘What do you play?’
‘Bit of everything.’
‘Drums?’
‘Sometimes.’
‘I have a thing for drummers. Strong hands and lots of energy.’
She stroked his arm. He looked at Roddy at the bar, then at her hand.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Flirting, what does it look like?’
‘You’ve spent all night flirting with Roddy.’
‘So what?’
‘Not interested.’
Ash laughed. ‘OK, take it easy, Ringo, just being friendly.’
Across the table, Ethan got up to help Roddy with the drinks.
Adam took a deep breath and turned to Molly. Serenity now.
‘I couldn’t help noticing you’re not wearing a wedding ring.’
Molly laughed.
‘You couldn’t help noticing?’ she said, a tease in her voice.
‘Actually, Roddy noticed at the distillery.’
‘I didn’t think I was his type.’
Adam felt sheepish. ‘He was looking for me.’
‘Was he, now?’
‘It’s just that you were wearing one last time we met, and you mentioned your husband. Remember, at the Feis Ile?’
Her smile faded. ‘A lot’s happened since then.’
Her look made him want to rewind. ‘I’m sorry, it’s none of my business. You obviously don’t want to talk about it.’
He put his hand on hers on the table. She shook her head with a resigned look. ‘It’s not that, it’s just…’
‘Hey,’ shouted Roddy, dumping the drinks and sitting down next to Ash. ‘It’s PC Plod. Evening all.’
Adam followed Roddy’s gaze and saw the police officer who’d stopped them earlier standing behind him, looming over their table. He was in a dress shirt and leather jacket, still wearing the gold chain. He looked drunk and itching for trouble.
‘Oh, shit,’ said Molly, sliding her hand out from under Adam’s.
‘This should be good,’ said Ash.
‘Aren’t you going to introduce me?’ he said to Molly.
‘Fuck off.’
He grabbed her arm and gripped firmly. ‘I said introduce me.’
‘Hey,’ said Adam, seeing the look on Molly’s face.
She turned to him and sighed deeply.
‘Adam, this is my ex-husband, Joe.’
10
‘Maybe I should call it a night,’ said Molly, looking round.
After some huffing and puffing, Joe had retreated to the other side of the pub where he was chatting to a short weasel with sunken grey eyes and a twitch. Both of them were hammering pints and nips and staring.
‘Don’t let those pricks get to you,’ said Ash. ‘They’re just a pair of bullies.’
‘Who’s Gollum with the Bill?’ said Roddy loudly.
‘Joe’s cousin Grant,’ said Ash. ‘My year at school, total inbred sadsack. Ileach rumour has it that his mum had a thing going with her cousin. She never admitted who his dad was, anyway. Plus, she was on methadone when she had him, and probably shooting up as well. Anywhere else in the country he wouldn’t have enough brain cells to snare a job as a fucking toilet attendant. Here on our wonderful island he gets welcomed into the constabulary thanks to family contacts, and gets to act out his snivelling little grudge against the world. He’s got no mind of his own, does everything master Joe tells him.’
‘That’s what passes for law enforcement on the island?’ said Adam, shaking his head.
‘Pretty much,’ said Molly. ‘There are a couple of decent cops here, but Joe and Grant treat it like the family business. Joe’s dad did it before him for thirty-five years, his grandad before that.’
‘They look a right pair of cunts,’ said Roddy.
‘Correct,’ said Ash.
Molly glugged at her pint.
‘You OK?’ said Adam.
She slurped, trying to get through her drink. ‘I really think it’s best if I go home.’
‘Stay for a bit, Moll,’ said Ash. ‘If you leave, you’re letting them win.’
‘I don’t need the hassle.’
Roddy puffed his chest out, sensing a damsel in distress. ‘What’s Joe’s problem anyway?’
Molly sighed heavily. ‘It’s a long story.’
Ash was agitated and fidgeting. ‘Sis, you’ve got nothing to feel bad about.’
‘I know that.’
‘I’m not sure you do.’
‘It’s not as simple as you think.’
Ash’s eyes widened. ‘I hope to fuck you’re not making excuses for that bastard.’
‘Of course not. You know how I feel about him.’
‘It doesn’t matter what happened to him, the way he treated you was unforgivable.’
‘I know that, it’s just…’
‘What do you mean?’ said Roddy.
Ash’s mouth was running off. ‘Joe gave her this big sob story for years…’
‘Ash, please…’ Molly said, but Ash had a tailwind.
‘All the Ileach thought his dad was this pillar of the community, a friendly copper and upstanding member of society, all the while he was beating seven shades of shite out of Joe and his mum behind their front door.’
‘Can we change the subject?’ said Molly.
‘Then once Joe left home and joined the force in some perverted attempt to please his twat of a dad, his mum killed herself, threw herself over the side of the ferry one night on the way to the mainland. That’s the story anyway. Joe lost it, basically, turned into a total nutcase. Round about then his dad keeled over from a massive coronary. Just as well because I reckon Joe was about to do the job for him.’
Molly looked nervously over at Joe and Grant. ‘I’m sure the guys don’t want to hear all this crap.’
Ash couldn’t be stopped. ‘But none of that matters a fuck, it’s no excuse for what he did to you.’
‘What did he do?’ said Roddy.
‘Ash, that’s enough.’ Molly gave her an evil glare, which finally seemed to get through.
‘I’m just saying he’s a total arsehole,’ said Ash. ‘And all the domestic abuse in the world isn’t an excuse for that.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Roddy said to Molly. ‘We’ll look after you. Stay.’
Molly laughed bitterly. ‘You’ve no idea.’
