then struggled to get to his feet,
“Steve pull me up, I need a piss again.”
Dermot scuffed his way towards the kitchen holding on to each piece of furniture as it came within his grasp. Steve moved back to where Tommy was standing and they chatted quietly about a newspaper article that they had read earlier. Harry was now convinced that his initial thoughts about Steve’s character had already proved to be accurate. Not a person to be trusted he thought. His first impression of him at the club was of a smiling assassin. He was someone not to be depended upon in any circumstance. But his private thoughts were quickly distracted by a muffled three-way conversation emanating from the kitchen. There was someone else in the cottage, but whom? The door opened and a younger man came into the room carrying some books and maps. Harry looked up and was astonished to see that it was the same person that Andrew had ‘entertained’ at his flat. The man nodded towards Steve and Tommy but became deeply embarrassed when he recognised Harry. Dermot followed him in, the stain on his trousers now fully replenished and spreading. “Harry.” Dermot said, “You wouldn’t know this fella, he’s my Son Darlath. Darlath this is Harry, our guest for the evening.”
Harry stood up and greeted him as a stranger. Darlath meekly shook hands trying not to maintain prolonged eye contact.
“Harry this boy of mine is one of the best. He keeps an eye on my affairs and reins me in sometimes when I get ahead of myself; he’s a good ‘un.”
Dermot dropped heavily back into his chair.
“Get a drink for the boy Steve.”
Steve reluctantly reached for a glass. He resented Darlath’s influence on his father and disliked ‘the boy’ intensely for being too well educated and astute.
Darlath cut in,
“It’s OK., leave it now Steve, I’ll have a drink with the food later.”
Steve’s opposition to Darlath was further revealed to Harry.
“How’s your love life Darlath there must be many beautiful ‘colleens’ in Dublin?”
Darlath responded irritably,
“There are Steve. As I told you the last time you asked the same question.”
Dermot turned to face Steve,
“You never change do you Steve? Leave him alone. He’ll bring one home for his Dad to meet one day soon, won’t you son?”
“Aye Dad, one day soon maybe.”
Harry wasn’t sure if Steve knew about Darlath’s deviations, perhaps he was just guessing or being mischievous. And Dermot clearly wasn’t aware that his precious son was being seduced by Andrew. As Darlath turned towards the table he dropped some of the maps onto the floor and bent down to retrieve them; only to discover Harry’s hand had already moved to collect them. The other men were talking amongst themselves.
“Here you are Darlath, no worries.”
Darlath looked up at Harry’s face and responded,
“No worries?”
Harry confirmed and reassured him again,
“You’ve no worries.”
“Thanks.”
He nodded gratefully to Harry knowing his secret would be maintained.
Michael came in with a tray of sandwiches and then left the five to discuss their projects. Steve and Tommy remained by the table at the back of the room eating whilst Dermot continued talking to Harry who was still seated. Suddenly Harry was gripped and pinned into the armchair by the two men behind him. His jacket was pulled down over his arms as he struggled to free himself,
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He shouted.
“We just need to check on something - ” said Dermot. “ - left arm!”
With his free hand Steve pulled a flick knife from his pocket and pressed the blade into Harry’s cheek. Harry stopped resisting and moved his face to the side to ease the pressure. The weapon was then flashed threateningly in front of Harry’s eyes. The thin smile returned to Steve’s face as he moved the knife rapidly down to rip open Harry’s left shirt sleeve.
“I fucking told you so!”
Said Steve, now content
“Steve pull me up, I need a piss again.”
Dermot scuffed his way towards the kitchen holding on to each piece of furniture as it came within his grasp. Steve moved back to where Tommy was standing and they chatted quietly about a newspaper article that they had read earlier. Harry was now convinced that his initial thoughts about Steve’s character had already proved to be accurate. Not a person to be trusted he thought. His first impression of him at the club was of a smiling assassin. He was someone not to be depended upon in any circumstance. But his private thoughts were quickly distracted by a muffled three-way conversation emanating from the kitchen. There was someone else in the cottage, but whom? The door opened and a younger man came into the room carrying some books and maps. Harry looked up and was astonished to see that it was the same person that Andrew had ‘entertained’ at his flat. The man nodded towards Steve and Tommy but became deeply embarrassed when he recognised Harry. Dermot followed him in, the stain on his trousers now fully replenished and spreading. “Harry.” Dermot said, “You wouldn’t know this fella, he’s my Son Darlath. Darlath this is Harry, our guest for the evening.”
Harry stood up and greeted him as a stranger. Darlath meekly shook hands trying not to maintain prolonged eye contact.
“Harry this boy of mine is one of the best. He keeps an eye on my affairs and reins me in sometimes when I get ahead of myself; he’s a good ‘un.”
Dermot dropped heavily back into his chair.
“Get a drink for the boy Steve.”
Steve reluctantly reached for a glass. He resented Darlath’s influence on his father and disliked ‘the boy’ intensely for being too well educated and astute.
Darlath cut in,
“It’s OK., leave it now Steve, I’ll have a drink with the food later.”
Steve’s opposition to Darlath was further revealed to Harry.
“How’s your love life Darlath there must be many beautiful ‘colleens’ in Dublin?”
Darlath responded irritably,
“There are Steve. As I told you the last time you asked the same question.”
Dermot turned to face Steve,
“You never change do you Steve? Leave him alone. He’ll bring one home for his Dad to meet one day soon, won’t you son?”
“Aye Dad, one day soon maybe.”
Harry wasn’t sure if Steve knew about Darlath’s deviations, perhaps he was just guessing or being mischievous. And Dermot clearly wasn’t aware that his precious son was being seduced by Andrew. As Darlath turned towards the table he dropped some of the maps onto the floor and bent down to retrieve them; only to discover Harry’s hand had already moved to collect them. The other men were talking amongst themselves.
“Here you are Darlath, no worries.”
Darlath looked up at Harry’s face and responded,
“No worries?”
Harry confirmed and reassured him again,
“You’ve no worries.”
“Thanks.”
He nodded gratefully to Harry knowing his secret would be maintained.
Michael came in with a tray of sandwiches and then left the five to discuss their projects. Steve and Tommy remained by the table at the back of the room eating whilst Dermot continued talking to Harry who was still seated. Suddenly Harry was gripped and pinned into the armchair by the two men behind him. His jacket was pulled down over his arms as he struggled to free himself,
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He shouted.
“We just need to check on something - ” said Dermot. “ - left arm!”
With his free hand Steve pulled a flick knife from his pocket and pressed the blade into Harry’s cheek. Harry stopped resisting and moved his face to the side to ease the pressure. The weapon was then flashed threateningly in front of Harry’s eyes. The thin smile returned to Steve’s face as he moved the knife rapidly down to rip open Harry’s left shirt sleeve.
“I fucking told you so!”
Said Steve, now content
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