Page 153 of A Long Way Back
“Why didn’t you just go to the police?” Ink asked. “Why didn’t you call Mum and Dad?”
“I tried, but there are thirty thousand Byrnes in the UK and they’d moved house. I didn’t want to go to the police in Ireland. I wasn’t sure they’d believe me and I didn’t want to get trawled up in an investigation and not be allowed to leave the country. I needed a passport to get to England, so I used Eagan’s identity. I wanted to help you. But I had no idea how to find you. I had to be taught how to use a computer. Twelve years since I’d touched one. I read about what had happened. Read about you. It was pure chance I saw the magazine. Someone had left it in a café and I picked it up. I…” Bela flew down, settled on his shoulder and brushed her beak against his cheek.
“Once I’d realised what had been done to you, I… I was so angry. I blamed myself. I shouldn’t have got in his car, should have fought harder to get away, found some means to get help.” He clenched, then unclenched, his fists. Bela tugged at his hair with her beak.
“Anyway, I calledThe Sunday Timesand asked to speak to Vicki. When I told her who I was, she booked me a seat on the ferry. I put the Land Rover in a long stay car park. The last thing I did before I left Ireland was phone the hospital. I had to say I was their son. The last time I’ll ever say that. Uncle Felan’s leg had been amputated, and Auntie Nessa had been admitted to a psychiatric unit. I asked them not to tell my uncle that I’d called. When I arrived in Liverpool, Vicki met me and took me to the police. I spent all day giving a statement to them. Then she drove me here.”
“And our parents?”
“She told me where they’re living, but I wanted to see you first. I am so sorry about everything you’ve had to go through. All those years in prison for something you didn’t do. I can’t believe Mum and Dad would think you could have killed me. You never hurt me. You were the best brother I could have wished for and it’s not fair what happened to you.
“It isn’t any consolation, and I’m not trying to say I went through the same thing, I know I didn’t, but I lost my childhood too. Most of the time I was unhappy. They wanted me to forget and I couldn’t. Being with Bela and looking after the horses helped. But I missed you. I missed Mum and Dad. Now I’m just pissed off with them.”
“They never even came to see me after I was locked up,” Ink whispered. “Not once.”
“They thought you’d killed me, but they should have come. It’s unforgiveable.”
Ink sighed and sagged into Tay.
“So you’re gay?” Ru asked. “I thought I understood when I was eight, but I’m not sure I did. I do now.”
“Are you gay?” Tay asked.
He shrugged. “Since I was eight years old, I’ve seen very few people. No young people. I’ve never had the opportunity to have a girlfriend or a boyfriend.”
“So what now?” Ink asked.
“I have the number of the police I spoke to in Liverpool. They want to speak to you. I promised Vicki I’d tell her my story. She offered three thousand pounds. I’m not sure I want to be paid, but I don’t have a source of income and the money I stole from Uncle Felan won’t last forever.”
“What do you want to do?” Tay asked.
“I’d like to be an equine vet. I’ve no academic qualifications, but I know there are ways around that, except it’s hard to get in to study veterinary science at university. Then there’s the cost. So I guess I’ll settle for looking after horses in some way. What about you two?”
“I’m a forensic accountant.”
“I’d like to be a paramedic.”Oh God, now I can.
Tay squeezed his fingers. “Ru might be eligible for compensation for being kidnapped and Ink for wrongful imprisonment. You both need to speak to a lawyer.”
“Ink?”
“The name I chose to hide my identity.”
“Not Killian anymore?”
“No.”
“Show him your back,” Tay said.
Ink pushed to his feet, peeled off his t-shirt, and turned. He heard Ru gasp, then felt him breathing on his back.
“I never killed my brother,”Ru read. “And that’s where you were stabbed in Covent Garden. Oh God, I nearly lost you before I found you.”
Ink turned to see tears rolling down Ru’s face. Ink wrapped his arms around his younger brother and hugged him tight.
THREE DAYS LATERTAY AND Ink were out early walking on Bamburgh beach with Dog. Bamburgh was beautiful at any time, but when it was empty and lit by a rising sun, the sky so pink and bright, Ink thought it had to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. But everything looked different now. Better. Brighter.
He’d done a lot of walking over the past few days, always on the beach, mostly on his own, but sometimes with Ru and Bela, and sometimes with Tay. Since Ru had turned up, the world seemed to have slowed down. Ink understood he had his life back, or would ultimately, but it wasn’t that simple. He’d spoken to a lawyer, one recommended by Devan, then to the police and the wheels were in motion to appeal his conviction.
