snippets of their earlier conversations his two guests had, this outburst he overheard confirmed to Pickup the two staying with him were IRA.
Chapter Five Great Homer Street Market, Liverpool, 09.15 hours, Saturday, 30 th June
‘Come on girls, all bargains today. You won’t get any cheaper,’ the various stallholders cried out as David, Debbie, Mary and David’s sister Siobhan worked their way through the crowds at Great Homer Street Market. A bright sunny summer’s morning, the stiff cooling breeze was wafting the tarpaulin coverings on the stalls. Although it was early, they still had to push their way through the crowds who had come early to snap up the bargains.
While Debbie and Mary were rummaging through the racks of women’s clothing, Siobhan sidled up to David and whispered, ‘Glad you came?’
‘I had to, I need to get some food to take home to Manchester,’ David said with a forced smile. Squeezing her hand, he added, ‘Anyway, it gives me a bit more time to spend with you and Mum.’
‘You’re a liar, but a thoughtful liar.’ Looking at Debbie, Siobhan said, ‘By the way, I think she’s lovely.’
Moving slowly from stall to stall, David saw his mother pick up and look longingly at a dress. ‘That’d be nice for Peter’s do tonight. What do you think Siobhan?’ Mary said holding the dress against her body.
‘It’s beautiful Mum, you’d look great in it,’ Siobhan replied.
‘I’ll get it for you,’ David said, getting his wallet out of his jeans pocket.
‘No. it’s alright love. Put your money away and spend it on Debbie.’
‘Mum, please! I love to spend money on the women in my life. Let’s see if we can get you some nice shoes and a bag to go with it.’
The stallholder overheard their conversation and whispered into David’s ear, ‘It’s seventy quid mate.’
Knowing it would cost at least double that in the stores in Liverpool city centre, David took seventy pounds out of his wallet. Handed it to the stall holder he said, ‘I’ll take it.’
Mary turned to David and said, ‘Thanks love. I’m getting a bit hungry, shall we go to the café for breakfast?’
‘Good idea Mum,’ Siobhan said, ‘I’m getting a bit wall eyed, how about you Debbie?’
‘I am feeling a bit peckish.’ As Debbie spoke, David and Siobhan exchanged a look only a sister and brother can as Siobhan stifled a giggle at Debbie’s cultured English accent that was so unusual to hear at the market.
Entering the café, Debbie was struck by the strong odour of fried food that she found slightly repugnant. Conscious she was pulling a face and not wanting to offend her hosts, she hoped no one had seen her as she followed Mary and Siobhan to the rear of the café, where they sat at a table. Mary said, ‘Tea all round?’
As they sat down, Debbie and Siobhan nodded in agreement but David said, ‘Coffee for me please Mum.’
Patting David’s hand Mary said, ‘Coffee and three teas it is.’
As the three women were talking about the clothes they had bought, a bored David was staring out of the large window by the door when his gaze was caught by a man talking to a stallholder. Disbelieving what he saw, his heart began to pound and beat faster as colour drained from his face. Recognising Rory O’Byrne, David’s blood ran cold. After what happened when he and Steve saw McCrossan in London, his first thought was O’Byrne must have been following him and his family as they made their way through the market. Seeing O’Byrne, David was convinced the IRA were definitely going to carry out the death threat.
Not wanting to say anything that may alarm Mary and Siobhan, David tried to catch Debbie’s eye, but she was too deeply engrossed in the conservation between the three women. Concerned for the safety of the women and suspecting O’Byrne was armed, he began looking around the cafe for anything he could use as a weapon. Being off duty, he and Debbie were unarmed. Apart from items of
Chapter Five Great Homer Street Market, Liverpool, 09.15 hours, Saturday, 30 th June
‘Come on girls, all bargains today. You won’t get any cheaper,’ the various stallholders cried out as David, Debbie, Mary and David’s sister Siobhan worked their way through the crowds at Great Homer Street Market. A bright sunny summer’s morning, the stiff cooling breeze was wafting the tarpaulin coverings on the stalls. Although it was early, they still had to push their way through the crowds who had come early to snap up the bargains.
While Debbie and Mary were rummaging through the racks of women’s clothing, Siobhan sidled up to David and whispered, ‘Glad you came?’
‘I had to, I need to get some food to take home to Manchester,’ David said with a forced smile. Squeezing her hand, he added, ‘Anyway, it gives me a bit more time to spend with you and Mum.’
‘You’re a liar, but a thoughtful liar.’ Looking at Debbie, Siobhan said, ‘By the way, I think she’s lovely.’
Moving slowly from stall to stall, David saw his mother pick up and look longingly at a dress. ‘That’d be nice for Peter’s do tonight. What do you think Siobhan?’ Mary said holding the dress against her body.
‘It’s beautiful Mum, you’d look great in it,’ Siobhan replied.
‘I’ll get it for you,’ David said, getting his wallet out of his jeans pocket.
‘No. it’s alright love. Put your money away and spend it on Debbie.’
‘Mum, please! I love to spend money on the women in my life. Let’s see if we can get you some nice shoes and a bag to go with it.’
The stallholder overheard their conversation and whispered into David’s ear, ‘It’s seventy quid mate.’
Knowing it would cost at least double that in the stores in Liverpool city centre, David took seventy pounds out of his wallet. Handed it to the stall holder he said, ‘I’ll take it.’
Mary turned to David and said, ‘Thanks love. I’m getting a bit hungry, shall we go to the café for breakfast?’
‘Good idea Mum,’ Siobhan said, ‘I’m getting a bit wall eyed, how about you Debbie?’
‘I am feeling a bit peckish.’ As Debbie spoke, David and Siobhan exchanged a look only a sister and brother can as Siobhan stifled a giggle at Debbie’s cultured English accent that was so unusual to hear at the market.
Entering the café, Debbie was struck by the strong odour of fried food that she found slightly repugnant. Conscious she was pulling a face and not wanting to offend her hosts, she hoped no one had seen her as she followed Mary and Siobhan to the rear of the café, where they sat at a table. Mary said, ‘Tea all round?’
As they sat down, Debbie and Siobhan nodded in agreement but David said, ‘Coffee for me please Mum.’
Patting David’s hand Mary said, ‘Coffee and three teas it is.’
As the three women were talking about the clothes they had bought, a bored David was staring out of the large window by the door when his gaze was caught by a man talking to a stallholder. Disbelieving what he saw, his heart began to pound and beat faster as colour drained from his face. Recognising Rory O’Byrne, David’s blood ran cold. After what happened when he and Steve saw McCrossan in London, his first thought was O’Byrne must have been following him and his family as they made their way through the market. Seeing O’Byrne, David was convinced the IRA were definitely going to carry out the death threat.
Not wanting to say anything that may alarm Mary and Siobhan, David tried to catch Debbie’s eye, but she was too deeply engrossed in the conservation between the three women. Concerned for the safety of the women and suspecting O’Byrne was armed, he began looking around the cafe for anything he could use as a weapon. Being off duty, he and Debbie were unarmed. Apart from items of
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