Authors: Anna Smith

Betrayed (38 page)

‘That’ll do for me.’ Mick was already roughing out a page plan on his desk. ‘Are you okay to write the story, with your bad arm? I can get Declan to do a bit of work for you. He’s already done a big background piece on the UVF and the Scottish connections down the years. Dunlop’s father was a player, as you know.’

‘Yeah. It won’t take long to get the story done. I’ll go and have a coffee with Declan now and fill him in.’

Rosie stood up and went towards the door.

‘And Rosie?’

She turned around.

‘We need to be careful. These bastard UVF will go apeshit when this hits the papers tomorrow. So pack your bags.’

‘Aw, Mick.’

McGuire put his hands up. ‘In fact, don’t pack your bags. I’ll send someone to the flat. You’re not going back there today. Maybe not for a while – at least not without an entourage of heavies.’

Rosie’s stomach tightened. She knew he was right.

‘Okay.’

‘I’m getting you out of the country. Before the day’s out.’

‘Where am I going to go?’

‘Go to New York. See that JT bloke.’

‘It’s TJ.’

‘Well. Go there then. Have a holiday for a few weeks.’ He paused. ‘Or anywhere you like. Anywhere but here.’

‘We’ll see.’

Rosie went downstairs and into the canteen for a coffee. She sat for a few moments staring into space, her heart thumping like an engine as it began to dawn on her that this was the most serious threat she’d ever been under. She could go to New York. TJ would be delighted to see her. Or would he? But right now, the thought of being over there in the bustle of a big city wasn’t what she needed. She needed open spaces, fresh air, some place far enough away and so obscure where nobody would even think about looking for her. She had a rush of blood to the head.

She took out her mobile, and dialled Adrian’s number.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With this novel’s thorny subject of bigotry and sectarianism, I wanted to show that behind the mask, they are ordinary men and women, no different from the rest of us, who love and lose and hurt in the same way. I hope people will see beyond the subject matter and understand just that.

As the author, I get the good part. I disappear to the wilds of Ireland, or the warmth of the Costa del Sol to lose myself, creating the characters in here. But wherever I am, I’m grateful to have many people at my back - too numerous to mention.

Here are a few I want to thank.

My sister Sadie, who inherited all our mother’s kindness and our father’s fire, my brothers Desmond, Hugh and Arthur who contribute to my life in so many different ways.

And all their children and grandchildren who make me feel loved.

My nephews Matthew Costello and Christopher Costello who I bounce some ideas off, and their sister Katrina Campbell, my PR guru and occasional fashionista advisor! Also nephew Paul Smith who takes care of my website along with Matthew.

My close friends, Mags, Ann Frances, Mary, Phil, Helen, Louise, Donna, Babs and Jan, as well Betty, Kathleen and Geraldine, Simon, Lynn, Annie, Keith and Mark, for the way we pick up where we left off, no matter when we meet. And Thomas, far away in Australia.

The Motherwell Smiths and their banter around my kitchen table in Dingle, and cousin Mhairi who walked the Camino de Santiago with me this year.

My cousin Alice Cowan and Debbie Bailey in London, and Ann Marie Newall.

In Spain, the force of nature that is Franco Rey, whose background and advice - particularly on this novel - is invaluable, even though he drives me nuts with his meticulousness, and being irritatingly right most of the time.

In Ireland, Mary and Paud, Sioban, Sean Brendain, and everyone in TPs who make me feel at home.

My wonderful editor Jane Wood who carefully steers me through every book, and Katie Gordon who calmly answers all my daft questions. And, of course, my agent Ali Gunn, who was taken from us too young and too soon. She was a tour de force with a big heart,who believed in me, and I am privileged to have known her. Ali’s phone call to me three years ago changed my life and put me on the road to where I am now. For that I will always be grateful.

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