‘Anyone want to know about the first fucker I shot?’

The rest of the session was a huge success and when they were done, the kids clamoured around McDonald, asking when he’d return.

As they left the school, the principal hurried over, said:

‘What on earth did you say? They loved you.’

McDonald gave a smile, Brant-like in its cunning, said:

‘I slapped one round the ear-hole.’

She gave the tolerant grin they learn in teacher training, based on grim fortitude, said:

‘No, seriously though, if you ever give up police work, you have a real gift for communication. Might I get you some refreshments?’

No, they had to get on. The woman was still smiling as they drove away.

Falls asked:

‘What the hell did you think you were doing?’

McDonald was attempting to overtake an articulated lorry but glanced at her, said:

‘Doing? I thought I was saving your ass, that’s what I thought I was doing.’

As he got by the lorry, he leant forward to give the finger to the driver, seemed delighted at the rage in the man’s face. Falls said:

‘You could cost us our jobs if that kid makes a complaint.’

McDonald gave a snort, which is a very difficult thing to achieve, you have to be very pissed off or nuts, then he said:

‘Jobs! You call what we’re doing work. It’s the fucking scrapings of the barrel, no one gives a toss what we do. A snotty-nosed wanker in a school in Brixton, you think anyone cares what he says? Get with the game, Falls. When the brass realize we’re doing well, they’ll take us off the detail, shaft some other bugger.’

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Worse, she recognized the kernel of truth there, said:

‘Yeah, and when did you get to know so much?’

What she was most bothered by was she’d admired his handling of the kid. She’d been panicked and now, now, for heaven’s sake, she was beginning to feel hot for McDonald. Jesus, where did that come from? She hadn’t felt attracted to anyone since Nelson, and he’d turned out to be a wash-out. McDonald was considering her question, answered: