Page 7 of Calling Frank O'Hare

‘Neither did I. I mean I knew Finn was my cousin. I just didn’t realise he’d moved. My own fault. I don’t keep in touch with the family nearly enough.’

‘I don’t think I knew you had a brother either.’

‘Didn’t you? I’m sure I must have said. Yes, I must have. I have mentioned Martin to you before, haven’t I?’

‘I think I’d have remembered.’

‘Hmm, maybe you’re right. He’s not someone I think about very often. Apart from being brothers, we don’t have a lot in common. Not these days anyway. To be honest, he’s hard work.’ He stared at the fireplace and sighed. ‘We should make the most of the few hours we have left. Do you fancy going out for a meal tonight?’

He made it sound as if they were on the verge of extinction. Netta squeezed his hand. ‘Good idea. Better not get too drunk though. You don’t want to be travelling with a hangover.’ Or leaving any more rambling messages, she added in her head.

‘So, Doogie turned up then? I take it you weren’t expecting him?’

‘It was all a bit last minute. You know Doogie. You didn’t mind me staying for the extra day, did you?’

‘Of course not.’ Frank flashed her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. That stranger was back again.

6

The man who was ageing backwards

The plan was to get to Glasgow, locate and dispatch Martin, and return home as quickly as possible. Ordinarily, he’d have stopped off to see Robyn and made a trip of it, but she was away in Thailand. Basically then, there was no joy to be had in this visit. It was simply a matter of completing an unpleasant task and getting the hell back home in one piece. Frank could do this. He could absolutely do it. He’d told himself this numerous times on the flight, and was still repeating it in his head as he walked out of arrivals and searched for Cousin Finn.

If Finn hadn’t called out, Frank would have walked past him. The last time he’d seen his cousin, Finn had been lying face down in a pizza, sleeping off a forty-eight hour drinking binge. That was at Martin’s wedding, thirteen years ago. Binge drinking and food pillows were pretty much par for the course with Finn back then. Frank did the age calculations. Finn must be fifty-nine now. Given his history, he’d been expecting him to have aged badly. In fact, he was amazed Finn was still alive. And yet the man that stood before him now looked younger than when Frank had last seen him. Surely that wasn’t possible?

This new Finn’s eyes sparkled. His hair shone, his skin glowed, his firm muscles flexed as he pulled Frank into an uncomfortably tight bear hug. ‘Frankie Boy. It’s great to see ya.’

Released from Finn’s grip, Frank gave his cousin the once over to confirm he wasn’t imagining things. ‘What happened to you?’

‘What? Oh this?’ Finn gestured to his lean, athletic body. ‘I just cleaned myself up.’

‘You look great.’

‘Thanks, man. You look … good yourself.’

Frank, the man who used to be quite hot, remembered his ex-pupil’s words. ‘No I don’t, I look like shite, but thanks for trying. Is Martin not with you?’

‘He’s not here.’

‘Okay, so he’s at yours?’

Finn shook his head. ‘He’s not.’

‘So where is he then? Oh no, don’t tell me he’s given you the slip? For the love of God, Finn, don’t tell me that.’

‘He has so. He was gone when I got back from work yesterday. On the positive side, I know where he’s gone. I hope I do anyway, because if it’s not him that’s nicked the camper van then I really should report it.’

Frank folded himself into Finn’s Mini. ‘So let me get this straight. You got home yesterday and found both Martin and your campervan gone, and he hasn’t called or anything?’

‘He has not. Although he did leave the note.’

‘The note? What did it say?’

‘Sorry. I just need some space.’

‘That was it?’

‘It was. There was no mention of the van, but I assumed it was too much of a coincidence that they’d both be gone at the exact same time. So I tried calling him and I heard his phone ringing in the spare room.’