Page 69 of Calling Frank O'Hare

Frank was equal parts amused and amazed by her easy banter. She was that same cheeky girl who used to be his girlfriend, but that had been ten years ago and she was so much more sure of herself now. He couldn’t imagine this Eve meekly getting in the car after her daddy had just arranged for her future husband to be dealt with.

‘So we have some catching up to do, do we?’ He heard himself say it and immediately felt like an idiotic kid. It was the kind of thing he’d have said to her back when he’d been trying to show her how funny he could be. It seemed he hadn’t grown up, even if she had.

‘Don’t we always?’ Her eyes lingered on him for a few seconds longer than was necessary. Frank’s mouth went dry. He reached for his pint and she looked away. ‘Anyway, I’ve hardly seen you since Ellen left. Billy’s been keeping you all to himself.’

‘I thought you were busy.’

‘Is that what he told you? Oh Billy, you false bastard.’

‘I probably just misunderstood. I guess he thought I was too delicate to be in the company of women.’ He grinned at her to show that he really wasn’t that delicate.

‘Yeah, he’s all heart like that. Anyway, we’re here now and you don’t look like you’re about to have a breakdown.’

‘Can I ask you something? That day Billy was taken by the Balaclavas. Was that down to your ould man?’

She seemed surprised by his question. Frank was surprised too. He didn’t know why he’d asked it. Although, truth be told, it was a question that had been bugging him since the day it happened.

She frowned. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Why would he do something like that?’

‘What was he doing there then?’

‘He got word. News flows down the line, comes through the cracks. It’s a complicated process. You have no idea.’

She was right, he really did have no idea. His parents with their rules and no-go zones had done their best to keep him away from all of that shady stuff that went on. He’d known it was there but it hadn’t been part of his day-to-day life. Until that one day.

‘Was it the guns then? Did Billy grass about the guns?’ Frank didn’t believe he’d be that stupid but he was clutching at straws here. He’d tried asking Billy a couple of times since that day in the hospital, but he’d always refused to talk about it. As far as Billy was concerned, the past was dead and buried.

‘Billy’s no grass. It wasn’t you then?’

‘What? Of course it wasn’t me. How could you think that?’

‘I don’t think it,’ she said, thus implying someone else did, and that someone was Billy.

‘I would never do that. Jesus, it would have been the kiss of death.’

She shrugged. ‘He was just unlucky then. It was always on the cards with Billy anyway. If it wasn’t for that, they’d have got him for something else.’

‘What were you doing there with him?’

‘What does Billy say we were doing?’

‘I haven’t asked him.’

‘Why not?’ Her face softened into a smile. ‘I don’t remember. I think we just bumped into each other on the way to Good Vibes.’

‘And why didn’t you come to Birmingham?’ he said, surprising himself again.

‘I couldn’t.’

‘I thought we agreed. I only came over because of you. I waited for you.’

‘Come off it, FB. You only waited until a better offer came along. Don’t tell me you’re sorry you left Belfast.’

‘No, but I just need to know. Was it your da that stopped you coming?’

‘Yes. Enough now, Frank. Let’s have another drink.’

They changed the subject and talked about those Saturdays in Good Vibes and the Harp Bar. Great days. They downed a few more drinks and left in search of food.

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