Mike was upset. He wanted to give Lorcan Maguire a piece of his mind too. And a smack in the face. But Ian had outwitted them.
‘You have me here as the face of this operation. So let me do my job.’
Mike felt his chest tighten. He had no counterpunch. His own words used against him.
‘What are we meant to do then?’ asked Stevie. ‘The crusher’s broken. I guess we could break some rock manually…’
Mike met Stevie with a scowl. He didn’t want to be down the tunnel splitting rock all day.
‘Clean the equipment then,’ said Ian.
‘You can piss off,’ said Mike.
Ian glared at him. ‘I don’t care what you do. But you’re staying out of this,’ he said, striding out of the house.
Lorcan was still distracted by his earlier meeting with Nikos. With the promise of a showdown in two days. The money in exchange for the information. A tempting offer.
‘Lorcan?’
Also too distracted to spot Ian before he peered through the window.
Lorcan rolled off the lounger and made for the back of the house, hauling Dylan with him. He listened as Naiyana met Ian at the front door.
‘I just want to talk,’ said Ian. He didn’t sound angry, though his tone carried a hint of frustration that Lorcan was wary of. Grabbing the rifle from the eaves and holding it helped. He was glad of its unwavering support.
‘Okay, let’s talk,’ he heard his wife say, sticking up for her family.
‘Just you,’ said Ian. ‘You seem to be the only one with sense out of the two of you.’
Lorcan wanted to defend himself against this slight, but couldn’t muster the words or actions.
‘And not here,’ said Ian. ‘Somewhere quiet.’
‘What do you mean, quiet?’ asked Naiyana.
‘There will be things said about your husband – and my team – that your child doesn’t want to hear,’ said Ian. ‘Best this is done in private.’
There was a palling silence. Lorcan wasn’t keen on this, his wife going off with some stranger. But better her than me, he reasoned.
‘Lorcan?’ said Naiyana.
He stayed silent and held onto Dylan tighter.
‘Okay,’ said Naiyana. ‘I’ll follow you in our ute.’
‘No, we go in mine,’ said Ian. ‘That way your husband has transport should something happen to Dylan.’
It was a statement loaded with threat. Was something going to happen to him when Ian and Nee left? Were the other two going to come and take him or Dylan? Should he take his son and leave? Get a head start? Or should he follow them?
He stayed in the bedroom as he heard the rattle of the miner’s ancient ute as it pulled away. He wondered what to do next, silently asking the rifle for help.