‘Yes, well, what we’re doing to them, it could … it could seriously damageNorthside. I mean, given the current attitudes in management, it might evenpermanentlydamageNorthside.’
There’s a brief moment of silence before Bernard says flatly, ‘Then it’ll be early retirement for everyone after all. But at least I’ll have been proved right.Northsideneeds me. And I’d rather see it go quickly than let IBC destroy it slowly.’
‘But—’
‘Look, there’s no way anyone will be able to link anything to me or you,’ says Bernard. ‘Anyway, come on, Susan wants to go through the next block …’
Their voices trail away as they move down the corridor. I finally let out a breath.
‘What the fuck wasthat?’ says Art.
‘I was right,’ I say. ‘Oh my God, I was actually right. Bernard’s out to get us. He’s the saboteur.’
I thought it would be a relief, having my unhinged suspicions confirmed. But it isn’t.
‘Jesus,’ says Art. ‘He is. He really is.’ He rubs his temples. ‘I can’t believe it. He’s willing to destroy this whole programme and lose his job rather than give up some of his precious power.’
‘And he’s making us the scapegoats.’ I slump back against the shelves.
‘And the doctor stuff,’ says Art. ‘What the hell is that about?’
‘I don’t know,’ I say. ‘Oh God, Art, you don’t think he could be … I don’t know, trying to poison us or something?’
‘What? No!’ says Art. ‘Jesus, McDermott, how did you jump straight to that? You really do have a melodramatic mind. Anyway, I think Gina might have sounded a little more worried if he was planning a murder.’
God, of course he’s right. But still …
‘This is really bad, though,’ I say.
‘Yup,’ says Art. ‘It’s bad.’
‘He’s trying to wreckNorthside. And he’s using us to do it.’ I feel physically sick. ‘He’susingus.’ I can feel the anger start to course through me. It’s like the moment I heard Lizzie taking the piss out of Roo all over again. ‘We can’t let him get away with this.’
‘That’s easier said than done,’ says Art.
‘Well, obviously,’ I say. ‘But we can’t give up on this, Art. Wecan’t.’
‘I know,’ he says. ‘Whatever I might think of this kip, I’m not going to let him fuck things up for the entire staff.’ The look he gives me makes me feel I can trust him. ‘We’ll figure something out, McDermott. Don’t worry.’
I might have known he’d get in a dig at IBC, but that’s not as important now. Because for the second time ever, I feel like Art Sullivan and I are on the same side.
Once we’re back in our office, we start going through our options. With no proof, they are, to put it bluntly, limited. There’s no point in telling Susan or even Simon and Nora. Even if anyone believed us, what could they do? Confront Bernard? He’d laugh in their faces. I kick the edge of my desk in frustration.
‘If only we’d recorded it,’ I say.
‘Well, given the circumstances I didn’t exactly have my phone to hand.’ Art looks at his watch. ‘Fuck it, we might as well get lunch.’
Simon and Nora are just ahead of us in the salad-bar queue when we get to the canteen. Nora raises a hand in greeting and then scratches her wrist.
‘How’s the rash?’ I say.
‘Spreading to my other arm,’ says Nora. ‘Oh, hey, Cian!’
Cian Murphy is walking past the queue, coffee in hand. He grins at Nora. ‘Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for beating me on Saturday! I’ll have my revenge at the next one.’
Nora laughs after him as he walks on. ‘Sure you will.’
‘What did you beat him at?’ I say, when Cian is out of earshot.