“If we’re a family, we’re a bloody weird one,” she told her. “Dysfunctional does not do it justice.”
“Aren’t all families like that though, even the best ones?” Spook tilted her head to one side. “There’s support here. That’s what matters.”
“All right, laddo, our car will be here soon,” The Dullahan said, getting to his feet and shooing Danny out of the room. “I reckon we’ve got time for a swift pot of tea before then. Come on lad, help me.”
When they were out of earshot, Acid turned back to Spook. “So you’re feeling okay?”
“I am. And how about you? You seem different. To how you were before, I mean.” She snorted, making a joke of it. “Because you’re always different – to normal people – aren’t you?”
She grinned but Acid remained stone-faced. What did they say about there being truth in humour?
“I want you to know, kid, you were right.” She sighed. “I was a mess before. A real headcase. Sorry for putting you through that. I guess I’ve still got more going on than I like to admit. The way I understand it now, it was like I was in limbo, straddling two very different worlds and unsure how to step out of one and into the other – or if I even wanted to.”
Spook’s face fell, the smile fading as she sat forward on the couch. “And now? Do you want to? Can you?”
A shrug. “What if I don’t need to? What if I can marry the two parts of me, somehow?”
“What does that even look like?”
Acid picked at the scab on her cheek. “I don’t know. But for now I’ve got to keep hold of this fire. I have to keep moving forward with my mission.” She held up her hand to stop Spook interjecting. “I know that’s not what you want to hear, but that’s the way it is. One more. Then I’ll take some time out, I promise. To reflect. I’ll see a professional, even, if that’s what it takes. But I need you to support me in this. See - there’s that word again.”
Spook nodded, the mug of tea poised at her lips. “Sure. I get it.”
“But I do believe I can find peace on the other side of this,” she went on. “Who knows, stranger things have happened.”
She had more to say but it could wait. Danny had reappeared, carrying a precariously balanced tray complete with a large teapot and a plate of biscuits. The sight of him in this domestic setting, knowing what they’d been through, what they’d shared (good and bad) over the last week or so, set her off laughing. And not her usual cynical scoff, but real demon-slaying sort of laughter. The sort that erupted from deep inside, from a part of her she’d long thought dead.
“Acid, before I go… can we…?” Danny gestured at the door once more, as he placed the tray down on the white coffee table in front of the couch. “I could do with having a few words. In private.”
Shooting Spook a textbook eye-roll as she got to her feet, Acid followed the charming Irishman out into the hall and through into the larger of the two bedrooms. Except for a super-king-size bed, there was little furniture in the room, but it had been agreed Acid would take this one.
“What is it Danny?” she asked, closing the door behind her as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“Here.” He patted the mattress next to him. “I want to say something to ya. Please.”
She sat and rested her hands on her knees. Waiting. After a few seconds she glanced up, seeing Danny struggling for words. “What is it?”
He opened his mouth, but no words arrived. From his expression and the way he was flapping his hands about, she suspected she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“Did you hear back from Carlos?” she asked, in an attempt to swerve the growing awkwardness.
“Oh aye, yeah. San Sebastian police are putting the whole thing down to a burglary gone wrong. Someone after Delgado’s art. Most of the police were on his payroll anyhow, so I imagine they’ll bury the investigation as quickly as possible.”
“And Magpie?”
“Not heard anything, but if they tie her to him they’ll cover that up too. I asked Carlos to check on the girls as well. They’re all with Interpol. They’ll be right.”
Acid nodded. A good result. Though why didn’t she feel one bit satisfied? She turned her attention back to Danny as he placed his hand on hers.
“Come to Antigua with me,” he blurted.
“Excuse me?”
“Go on. I know my mammy will be there too, but she’s no bother. We could have a good life, me and you. Think about it, all that money and our own tropical paradise. I—”
“What the bloody hell are you going on about?”
He shifted on the bed to look her in the eyes. “I love you, Acid,” he said, speaking so fast it was hard to keep up. “I know that’s heavy as all shite to hear. But it’s hard for me to say as well. But I do. I know I do and—”
“No,” she snapped, cutting him off dead. “You don’t. You got carried away in the moment. In the excitement of it all. It happens. Heightened emotions and all that, one can confuse it for something else.”
“I’m not confused, Acid. I do.”
“You don’t, Danny.” She looked away out the window. “I’m not loveable.”
“Please, don’t tell me how I feel. I love ya. I know I do. Come with me. Please.”
“Jesus. I’ve said no.” She got to her feet and walked over to the window, looking down on the street below, but not focusing on anything in particular. “Forget about it. It’s not happening.”
Danny was quiet for some time, but she didn’t turn
