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, Tony, 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.”

“What about the training facilities and courses?”

“What about them?”

“Are they any fucking use?” I said. “In comparison to the other towns, I mean.”

“It’s run by the government, Tony. None of them are any fucking use.”

“I don’t want to waste six months by failing.”

“You’ve already eliminated that prospect with the credits,” he said, “they all count as a pass with a distinction. You’ll only be judged on the syllabus used for the module you’re attending. It’s a government training program, Tony, it’s a scam to make us all think that they’re doing something for people in deprived areas. It’s all about votes at the end of the day. They won’t allow you to fail. Just turn up for classes, sign in, look a bit interested in it for ten minutes, and fuck off back out again.”

“That’s very cynical, Peter,” I said.

“Maybe, but the lodgings in Galway are pretty good. It’s mixed gender, hot and cold running women guaranteed. Just make sure you don’t get yourself pregnant.”

“Great. I’m in.”

We retreated to our respective lairs to await an edict from above. Nothing came by four o’clock so I felt myself relax a little. I was contemplating going home when Raffles came in.

“Hi, Tony,” he said quickly, “I didn’t want the day to pass without apologising to you. I didn’t think your birthday was such a big secret.”

He was a little bastard. I said nothing and just looked at him until he got the message and fucked off. My phone rang.

“Hello stranger, you missed my party, it was fab.”

“Chloe, how the hell are you? How did it go?” I said.

“It was great. It would have been better with you there.”

“I’ll take you out this week as a belated celebration,” I said.

“You mean on a date?”

“If you like.”

“What’ll we do afterwards?”

“What would you like to do?”

“You,” she said.

“Chloe …”

“You asked, but I miss you, Tony.”

“It’s only been a few days, Chloe,” I said, “in any case, we don’t have anywhere that we can go afterwards.”

“That’s why I called,” she said, “I have the house to myself next week for the whole week.”