Page 31 of Calling Frank O'Hare

Frank was seized with urgency. He shot off before Martin could stop him again.

He was just feet away when Eve saw him. The man saw him too. ‘What, is this another one?’

‘No. He’s no one.’ Eve opened the passenger door. ‘Can we go home now, Daddy?’

So this was her dad, the big RUC man.

‘Get in the car, Eve.’ He walked up to Frank until he was no more than a couple of feet away. Frank could smell the familiar scent of Old Spice. Da had some that he wore on special occasions.

Eve’s dad fixed his eyes on Frank. They were dark grey. Opaque, like sheet metal. Frank knew the worst thing he could do right now was to show weakness, but he still had to fight against his instinctive urge to turn away.

‘This is your lucky day, son,’ said the big RUC man. With his unflinching stare set on Frank, he walked backwards to his car.

A cold shiver ran through Frank, just like the one he’d felt the night Billy had shown him the guns. He watched Eve’s dad drive her away, not noticing Martin and Finn were next to him.

‘Who was that?’ said Finn.

‘Eve’s ould fella,’ said Frank.

‘Is he one of their paras?’ said Martin.

‘No. He’s a cop.’

‘Cops don’t hang around with the Balaclavas in broad daylight. Billy could be dead already. What’ll we do?’ Martin clenched his jaw. If he was trying to be strong, his eyes gave him away. He wasn’t equipped to deal with this. None of them were.

Finn began to shake.

Frank put his arm around him. ‘We should go home.’

Ma and Da listened to their story without cutting in. On any other day they’d have been furious with them for going into a no-go zone but there was no time for that. ‘Someone needs to tell Billy’s mother. I’ll go round there now,’ said Da.

‘What about Billy?’ Finn hadn’t stopped crying since they got back.

‘I’ll speak to that fella she’s taken up with. He might have some idea if it’s our side, but there’d have to be a reason if it was. If this girl’s father’s involved, I don’t understand why he would go for Billy if it’s you who’s been carrying on with her, Francis. Is there any other reason you can think of?’

‘No. Except…’ Frank didn’t dare say it.

Da frowned. ‘Except what?’

Frank told them about the guns. And that’s when Ma slapped him straight across the face.

The six o’clock news came on. Da was still out. He’d been gone for hours. Normally he watched the news religiously and then they had their tea, but not today. Today it was Ma watching the news and no food was anywhere near being cooked. ‘Francis, get in here now,’ she shouted.

Frank had been sitting on the stairs, waiting for the front door to open, waiting for Da to come in and say everything was all right. He went into the living room. Ma was on her feet, pointing to the TV. ‘Is that it? The guns. Is that the place?’

The news was showing the old bombed out shop. The reporter was saying a cache of guns had been found. Frank couldn’t speak. His head was full of Billy and all the things those men were doing to him now, if he wasn’t already past punishment. But he didn’t need to say anything. Ma had read his face. She put her hand to her throat. ‘Holy Mother...’

The phone rang. Siobhan ran into the hall to pick it up. ‘It’s Da.’

Ma pushed past Frank and took the phone from her. They all stood around watching, hoping. ‘Oh thank God. Are you coming home now, Gerry? Are you hungry? I’ll get us a fish and chip supper. No, I’ll go. I can’t risk letting the kids out. Okay, love. If you’re sure. Just be careful.’

She put the phone down and sniffed into her hankie, then straightened out her skirt. ‘Billy’s been found. He’s in a bad way but he’s alive. They’ve had to take him to the hospital. Your da’s on the way home. He’ll bring some fish and chips back with him. I’ll not be cooking tonight. And we’ll none of us be going out. Francis, go and spread some bread and butter. Siobhan, put the kettle on.’

Siobhan slammed the kettle down, lit the gas and threw Frank a dirty look. ‘I was supposed to be meeting a fella tonight. Now he’s gonna think I’ve stood him up. This is all your fault, you big eejit. I can’t wait until you leave.’

The first time Frank saw Billy in the hospital he wanted to howl. Billy’s face was so swollen you couldn’t see his eyes. Both his legs were in plaster and so was one of his arms. Billy’s ma said he was lucky to be alive. If it hadn’t been for her fella and Da then he probably wouldn’t be. No one said anything about the guns, or Eve.

Frank’s own ma wouldn’t let him or Martin out of her sight. Along with Finn, they had to suffer the indignity of being walked to and from school. Although what she would have done if the Balaclavas did come for them was anyone’s guess. Apart from school and visiting Billy under escort, they were kept under lock and key. There was no going back to Good Vibes, or the Harp and no chance of seeing Eve. Frank could only hope they’d meet up in Birmingham.

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