I left Cadden’s office to be met on the landing below by Peter Smith.

“That seemed to work well. You got Raffles out of there like a hot snot,” he said with a grin.

“It was a good plan,” I said. “It took them by surprise, Cadden has a few things to think about now.”

“He’s just worried that it’s going to cost him money,” Peter said, “but it’s going to cost either way.”

“So what’s our next step?” I asked.

“We keep our heads down until they counterattack. We’ll be ready for them then. Remember confusion, obfuscation, contradiction, and prevarication are our friends.”

“How so?”

“Whatever they hit us with we withdraw and consider it first,” he said, “this has to go our way or no way at all. We’ll formulate something that’s in our favour and hold out until the last to get it.”

“What’s acceptable?” I asked.

“Everything we want or nothing at all. That includes location.”

“Location? How do you mean, Peter?”

“These towns down the country are fine for tourists, Tony, you can check them out for yourself to see. If it were me, I’d be in Galway. It’s good for socialising, it’s a tourist magnet and there’s a never ending supply of tail, both foreign and domestic.”

• Book 8 of 13
• Print length: 46 pages
• Language: English
• Publication date 24th January 2026