Twisted River (29 page)

“Dad, what I did was nothing. Not a patch on those hard-core kids. Some of them in there had actually killed people, for God's sake! And they were staring at me like
I
was the one who was the freak!”

“Well, you know, Izzy. Things can so easily get out of hand. Some of these kids could have been just like you, where things didn't turn out so well. The next thing they know their whole life is upside down and they find themselves in Oberstown.”

“Yeah, yeah. I hear you, Dad.” Izzy sighed theatrically. “Stop going on about it, please. It's not going to happen again, okay. Ever.”

He believed her. From what Kate had said, she had been pretty damn silent on the journey home. The message had rung home loud
and clear. A swan swaggered up the slipway, unhappy that all the bread was gone. It looked a touch aggressive. Time to go.

Mannix slung an arm around Izzy's shoulder. “Come on, Izzy, let's go. It's getting dark. Mum wants us back in time for dinner.”

Tonight, it was just the four of them. Kate's mother had gone to a bridge conference. And for a couple of happy hours he forgot that he no longer lived in the house. It was spaghetti Bolognese and cookie dough ice cream.

“The kids seem to be doing okay,” he said to Kate in the hallway.

Kate appeared to think.

“You know what, Mannix? I've come to realize something. I can't wrap the kids in cotton wool. I can be a first line of defense but not a bulletproof shield. Sometimes those bullets are going to get through. And when they do, we'll deal with it. That's just something I'll have to accept.”

“I'm here to help as well,” Mannix said lamely. He hated it when she spoke as if she were a single parent.

There was no response.

“Thanks for dinner,” Mannix said as she accompanied him down to the front door.

“My pleasure,” Kate said, smiling, as if the two of them were friends.

“See you on Saturday, then.” He hovered on the step, wondering if he could hazard more. The evening had gone well.

“Saturday it is,” she said. She was already closing the door.

Probably best to leave it.

He waved his hand in salute, and turning on his heel, he heard the door firmly click behind him. He walked down the driveway and out onto Clancy Strand. He turned left, passed the Treaty Stone, and turned right onto Thomond Bridge. A lone fisherman wrestled with his line.

“Are they biting tonight?” Mannix asked casually as he passed by.

“Had one a second ago,” came the reply. “You should have seen it! An absolute beauty. The catch of my life. I've just bloody gone and lost the catch of my life . . .”

Mannix shrugged and walked on.

“You and me both, pal,” he said. “You and me
both.”

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