Page 99 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

Further ahead, Malcolm had reached what looked like a lifeboat drill point. Large box-like casings, screwed down tightly, lay to one side, away from the walkway, and edging his way around them, he crouched down. With any luck, his followers, unable to see, would keep going.

‘He’s disappeared.’

‘Where can he have gone?’

‘He must be further ahead.’

‘Or he’s jumped overboard.’

Malcolm hardly dared breathe as he heard their conversation, shouted into the wind. His position was crippling but as he eased himself around to shift his weight, he caught his ankle. White-hot pain seared through the bone and he was unable to stop himself from crying out.

‘He’s here!’ Lucinda yelled and doubling back, ran barefoot around the casings. Wind tore at her hair and her eyes were wild, as she came face-to-face with the runaway.

Malcolm struggled to his feet and stumbled, reaching blindly for the railing as he saw Lucinda lunge forward. Brandishing her cigarette holder, she thrust it towards his face.

‘Get off!’ Malcolm shouted and letting go of the railing, held his hands in front of his face.

Suddenly, his ankle gave way as a huge wave hit the side of the boat. The Cumbrian party stared in horror as they saw Malcolm’s Luis Vuitton loafers slip on the soaking wet deck, sending him spinning backwards. The boat dipped and, as if in slow motion, and unable to save himself, Malcolm fell backwards over the railing and disappeared into the Irish Sea.

‘Oh my God,’ Lucinda gasped.

All eyes turned from the black void overboard. They searched each other’s faces, unable to speak. Alf reached down to take Malcolm’s bag, which skidded across the deck.

‘Leave it,’ Harry commanded. ‘Everyone back in the bar.’

* * *

Malcolm feltexcruciating pain in his ankle as he lost control of his feet. As the boat dipped, the wind, battering his body, seemed to lift him off the deck, high above the railing, to soar into the black of night. He felt himself fall and as he plunged down, he heard a voice in his ear.

‘Not such a brave boy now, my husband,’Allegra whispered.‘Now you die too.’

When Malcolm’s body hit the freezing cold water, the swell sucked him under. As he began to lose consciousness, he thought that he was behind the wheel of a sportscar, speeding out of control down a mountainside. As the vehicle careered, his feet thrashed to connect with the brake, but as the current of the sea carried him deeper, nothing could stop his imminent death. His lungs were full and about to explode and his last thoughts, in the final seconds of his life, were of regret for tampering with the brakes of Allegra’s sports car.

* * *

Willie startedthe engine of the coach, thrust into first gear, and moved the vehicle slowly forward to rumble down the slope from the truck deck of the ferry, and onto the tarmac of the terminal at Holyhead. It was still dark outside as Alf studied the map and guided Willie onto the A55 which would take them through Wales, to join the motorway north to Cumbria.

No one had uttered a word since returning to the bar on the boat and now they all sat in silence, staring blindly through the windows, as the coach began to pick up speed.

Harry, having moved Ness to one side, sat on an aisle seat, next to Alf.

‘Willie,’ Harry spoke softly, ‘I think it would be a good idea if you stopped at the next service station.’

‘Aye, I can do that,’ Willie replied.

A few miles further on, neon lights appeared and he pulled off the main road. The service station was brightly lit and two wagons refuelled at the pumps, but there were very few vehicles on the forecourt as the coach slowed and Willie brought it to a halt.

Harry stood and turned to the group.

‘We need to discuss what happened back there,’ Harry began. ‘I know that you’re all in shock and many of you will be angry because I didn’t report the incident.’ He looked around at the faces, their eyes fixed on Harry, as they waited for him to continue. ‘I just want you all to bear in mind that Malcolm had come to Ireland to abduct Melissa, possibly kill her, who knows?’ He paused. ‘I am absolutely sure that he had something to do with Bill’s death and for that, I am struggling to forgive myself.’

‘The man was no good,’ Willie spoke up.

‘Drugs and all sorts of bad dealings, I’ve heard,’ Alf said.

Audrey stood. She paused to smooth the jacket of her velour tracksuit, adjusting the zip at the neck then patting her hair into place. Standing tall with straight back and shoulders, she looked around the group, staring intently at each person. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she finally said as she turned to Harry. ‘The crossing was a bit choppy but it was uneventful as far as I’m concerned.’

‘Nothing to report,’ the Babes said.

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