Drink with the Devil

‘Wait for me outside.’

He did as he was told and saw her go to the phone again. Probably speaking to her uncle, he thought. A few moments later she joined him, this time carrying a large umbrella.

As she put it up against the driving rain he said, ‘And wouldn’t a taxi be safer?’

‘I like the city at night,’ she told him. ‘I like the rain. I’ve got a right to go my own way and to hell with those Fenian bastards.’

‘A point of view,’ he replied as they started to walk.

‘Here, get under this,’ she said, pulling him under the umbrella and taking his arm. ‘A sailor, you said?’

‘Just for the past couple of years.’

‘A sailor from Belfast raised in London who carries a Walther.’ There was a question in her voice.

‘A dangerous place, this old town, as you saw tonight.’

‘Dangerous for you, you mean, and that’s why you’re carrying.’ She frowned. ‘You’re not a Fenian or you wouldn’t have done what you did to that lot.’

‘I’m not anybody’s, girl dear.’ He paused to light a cigarette.

She said, ‘Give me one.’

‘I will not and you with your green years ahead of you. God, but you’re one for the questions, Kate.’

She turned to glance at him. ‘Why do you call me that? No one else does.’

‘Oh, it seems to suit.’

They were walking along the waterfront now, container ships anchored at the Quay and, further out, the red and green lights of a freighter moving out to sea.

Kathleen Ryan said, ‘So, the gun? Why are you carrying?’

‘Jesus, it’s the persistent one you are. A long time ago I was a soldier. Did three tours of duty in this very town and there’s always the chance of someone with a long memory and a grudge to work off.’

‘What regiment?’

‘1 Para.’

‘Don’t tell me you were at Bloody Sunday in Londonderry?’

‘That’s right. Like I said, a long time ago.’

Her hand tightened on his arm. ‘God, but you lads gave those Fenians a roasting that day. How many did you kill? Thirteen wasn’t it?’

The lights of the pub were plain across a cobbled quay now. Keogh said, ‘How old are you?’

‘Sixteen.’

‘So young and so full of hate.’

‘I told you. The IRA killed my father, my mother and my wee sister. That only leaves Uncle Michael.’

The sign said The Orange Drum and one was painted on the brick wall beside it with the legend Our Country Too. The girl put the umbrella down, opened the door and led the way in.

The interior was a typical Belfast pub with several booths, a few tables and chairs and a long mahogany bar. Bottles of every kind of drink were ranged on shelves against a mirrored wall. There were only half-a-dozen customers, all old men, four of them playing cards by an open fire, two others talking softly to each other. A hard-looking young man with one arm sat behind the bar reading the Belfast Telegraph.

He glanced up and put the paper down. ‘Are you OK, Kathleen? Michael told me what happened.’

‘I’m fine, Ivor. Thanks to Mr Keogh here. Is Uncle Michael in the back?’

At that moment a door opened and a man walked through. Keogh knew him at once from the photos Barry had supplied at his briefing in Dublin. Michael Ryan, aged fifty-five, a Loyalist of the first order who had served in the UVF and Red Hand of Ulster, the most extreme Protestant group of all, a man who had killed for his beliefs many times. He was of medium height, hair greying slightly at the temples, eyes very blue, and there was an energy to him.

‘This is Martin Keogh,’ the girl said.

Ryan came round the bar and held out his hand. ‘You did me a good turn tonight. I shan’t forget.’

‘Lucky I was there.’

‘That’s as may be. I owe you a drink anyway.’

‘Bushmills whiskey would be fine,’ Keogh told him.

‘Over here.’ Ryan indicated a booth in the corner.

The girl took off her raincoat and beret and eased behind the table. Her uncle sat beside her and Keogh was opposite. Ivor brought a bottle of Bushmills and two glasses.

‘Can I get you anything, Kathleen?’

‘No, I’m OK, Ivor.’

He plainly worshipped her, but nodded and walked away. Ryan said, ‘I’ve checked with a contact at the Royal Victoria. They just received three very damaged young men. One with a bullet in the thigh.’

‘Is that a fact?’ Keogh said.

Kathleen Ryan stared at him. ‘You didn’t tell me.’

‘No need.’

‘Let’s see what you’re carrying,’ Ryan asked. ‘No need to worry. All friends here.’

Keogh shrugged, took the Walther from his pocket and passed it across. Ryan examined it expertly. ‘Carswell silencer, the new job. Very nice.’ He took a Browning from his pocket and passed it over. ‘Still my personal favourite.’

‘Preferred weapon of the SAS.’ Keogh lifted the Browning in one hand. ‘And the Parachute Regiment.’

‘He served with 1 Para,’ the girl said. ‘Bloody Sunday.’

‘Is that a fact?’ Michael Ryan said.