‘Maybe I should call it a night,’ said Molly, looking round.
After some huffing and puffing, Joe had retreated to the other side of the pub where he was chatting to a short weasel with sunken grey eyes and a twitch. Both of them were hammering pints and nips and staring.
‘Don’t let those pricks get to you,’ said Ash. ‘They’re just a pair of bullies.’
‘Who’s Gollum with the Bill?’ said Roddy loudly.
‘Joe’s cousin Grant,’ said Ash. ‘My year at school, total inbred sadsack. Ileach rumour has it that his mum had a thing going with her cousin. She never admitted who his dad was, anyway. Plus, she was on methadone when she had him, and probably shooting up as well. Anywhere else in the country he wouldn’t have enough brain cells to snare a job as a fucking toilet attendant. Here on our wonderful island he gets welcomed into the constabulary thanks to family contacts, and gets to act out his snivelling little grudge against the world. He’s got no mind of his own, does everything master Joe tells him.’
‘That’s what passes for law enforcement on the island?’ said Adam, shaking his head.
‘Pretty much,’ said Molly. ‘There are a couple of decent cops here, but Joe and Grant treat it like the family business. Joe’s dad did it before him for thirty-five years, his grandad before that.’
‘They look a right pair of cunts,’ said Roddy.
‘Correct,’ said Ash.
Molly glugged at her pint.
‘You OK?’ said Adam.
She slurped, trying to get through her drink. ‘I really think it’s best if I go home.’
‘Stay for a bit, Moll,’ said Ash. ‘If you leave, you’re letting them win.’
‘I don’t need the hassle.’
Roddy puffed his chest out, sensing a damsel in distress. ‘What’s Joe’s problem anyway?’
Molly sighed heavily. ‘It’s a long story.’
Ash was agitated and fidgeting. ‘Sis, you’ve got nothing to feel bad about.’
‘I know that.’
‘I’m not sure you do.’
‘It’s not as simple as you think.’
Ash’s eyes widened. ‘I hope to fuck you’re not making excuses for that bastard.’
‘Of course not. You know how I feel about him.’
‘It doesn’t matter what happened to him, the way he treated you was unforgivable.’
‘I know that, it’s just…’
‘What do you mean?’ said Roddy.
Ash’s mouth was running off. ‘Joe gave her this big sob story for years…’
‘Ash, please…’ Molly said, but Ash had a tailwind.
‘All the Ileach thought his dad was this pillar of the community, a friendly copper and upstanding member of society, all the while he was beating seven shades of shite out of Joe and his mum behind their front door.’
‘Can we change the subject?’ said Molly.
‘Then once Joe left home and joined the force in some perverted attempt to please his twat of a dad, his mum killed herself, threw herself over the side of the ferry one night on the way to the mainland. That’s the story anyway. Joe lost it, basically, turned into a total nutcase. Round about then his dad keeled over from a massive coronary. Just as well because I reckon Joe was about to do the job for him.’
Molly looked nervously over at Joe and Grant. ‘I’m sure the guys don’t want to hear all this crap.’
Ash couldn’t be stopped. ‘But none of that matters a fuck, it’s no excuse for what he did to you.’
‘What did he do?’ said Roddy.
‘Ash, that’s enough.’ Molly gave her an evil glare, which finally seemed to get through.
‘I’m just saying he’s a total arsehole,’ said Ash. ‘And all the domestic abuse in the world isn’t an excuse for that.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Roddy said to Molly. ‘We’ll look after you. Stay.’
Molly laughed bitterly. ‘You’ve no idea.’
She finished her beer, stood up and put her coat on, fumbling with her arms in the sleeves.
‘Wait,’ said Adam, reaching for her. ‘If you’re definitely going, at least let me walk you home.’
She looked at Adam, then at Joe. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Please.’
She sighed. ‘OK, whatever. Let’s just get out of here.’
Adam downed his whisky and pulled his coat on. They said goodbye and made their way through the crowded bar, Molly leading. A few feet from the door, Joe appeared and grabbed her arm.
‘Leaving so soon?’
Molly tried to shrug him off, but he had a tight hold.
‘Let go,’ she said. ‘I’m going home.’
Joe looked at Adam and laughed. ‘With him? Fuck me, your standards have slipped.’
‘Let go of her,’ said Adam, his pulse pounding in his throat.
Joe laughed again. ‘Or what?’
‘Or I’ll make you.’
‘Just leave it,’ said Molly, struggling.
‘Did you hear that, Grantie?’ said Joe as his short-arsed mate appeared next to him.
‘Yeah,’ said Grant, his eyes darting back and forth, the tip of his tongue stuck between his teeth.
‘This cunt wants some action.’
‘Why don’t you just leave us alone?’ said Adam.
‘You come into my local and leave with my wife and expect me to hold the fucking door for you?’
‘ Ex — wife,’ said Molly.
‘What’s the problem here?’ It was Roddy at Adam’s side.
‘It’s OK, I’m handling it,’ said Adam.
Joe laughed sarcastically. ‘It’s OK, he’s handling it, so fuck off.’
‘Sounds like you need a lesson in manners,’ said Roddy.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake,’ said Joe, rolling his eyes. ‘Listen to college boy.’
He released Molly’s arm, then in a swift movement punched both Roddy and Adam square in the face, buckling them over. He kneed Adam under the chin, knocking him off his feet, then rained punches down on the back of Roddy’s head, Molly grabbing his arm but failing to stop the blows.
Luke arrived and shoved Joe off balance, enough for Ethan to pull Roddy out of reach. Adam looked up and shuffled backwards as Molly and Ash helped him up. Joe and Grant glared at them.
‘You lot, out.’ It was the barman, pointing at Adam and the rest.
‘He started it,’ said Roddy, holding his nose.
The barman was nonplussed. ‘Doesn’t matter. I want you out.’
‘You can’t bar me,’ said Ash. ‘I fucking work here.’
‘You and Molly can stay, those four are leaving.’
‘Fuck’s sake,’ said Adam, wheezing and rubbing his chin.
‘Let’s just go,’ said Molly, leading Adam to the door.
The whole pub watched.
‘Run along now,’ Joe hissed between his teeth, fists clenched at his side.
As Roddy passed, Joe dummied a headbutt, sniggering as Roddy flinched.
‘You better hope I never see you cunts again,’ said Joe. ‘I won’t go so easy on you next time.’