‘And you said what?’
‘That I hadn’t. Not for months.’
‘Right. Because that was the truth. It’s the same thing you said to me on the phone yesterday, so it must have been.’
‘Yeah, yeah. Exactly.’
Ronan hit him with the gun, opening up his cheek. Barrington yelped.
‘You’re lying to me again.’
‘I’m not, I’m not.’
‘You are. Joey was here. He was out doing deals. The only reason he’d come to this shithole would be to see you. Now tell the fucking truth, or so help me . . .’
Ronan cocked the trigger of his Colt, put it to Barrington’s temple.
‘All right, Ronan. Cool it, okay? He was here. I bought some gear off him.’
‘Did you tell the cops that?’
‘I told them he was here, but not about the deal. I’m not stupid.’
‘Matter of opinion. What happened then? Deal go south? Did you kill him? DID YOU?’
Muzzle hard to the temple now. Ronan’s index finger squeezing against the trigger.
‘No! No! Swear to God. He was fine when he left here. Sound as a pound.’
‘Then why’d you lie to me? Why even bother making up all this shit if that’s all that happened?’
‘Because he told me not to tell anyone.’
‘I’m his fucking twin brother.’
‘I know, but that makes it worse. Joey said he definitely didn’t want you or your mum to know.’
‘Why? What are you talking about?’
‘Your mum hates me. She doesn’t trust me an inch.’
‘Right now I feel the same way. What’s that got to do with anything?’
‘Because he was doing deals for her. Your mother. She got him the drugs. He was doing it all for her.’
24
When Ronan left Barrington’s flat, he didn’t know what to believe. His twin brother was dead, and yet everyone but Ronan seemed to know more of the truth than he did. Barrington, the police, even his own mother were able to see different parts of the picture, while he was completely blind. What angered him most was his mother. She had used him, and that was something he could never forgive.
He wandered aimlessly along the corridor, and then pushed through the fire doors leading to the stairwell. He sat down on the cold, hard steps, took out his phone and made a call.
‘Ronan? Where are you? Why haven’t you rung me?’
‘I’m talking to you now, Mam.’
‘Don’t get cheeky with me, lad, or you’ll feel the back of my hand. I’m still your mother, you know.’
‘Yeah. Lucky me.’
‘What was that?’
‘Nothing. Doesn’t matter.’
‘Where are you? Have you seen that shitbag yet?’
Ronan couldn’t be bothered relating the encounter in detail. ‘He doesn’t know anything, Mam. I’ve just spoken to him.’
‘What do you mean, he doesn’t know anything? You told me the police have been crawling all over his place. Why would they be doing that if they didn’t suspect him? Who else lives there that Joey would know?’
Ronan sighed. ‘Nobody, Mam.’
‘Precisely. You did show him you mean business, didn’t you?’
Ronan raised his voice. ‘Mam, will you listen to me for once? He doesn’t know anything. They got together, did some business, and then Joey left.’
‘Business? What do you mean, business?’
‘What do you think I mean?’ He wasn’t going to be any more explicit on the phone.
