No amount of coaxing, threats, or downright violence would make the Irishman change his mind.

Liam O’Grady had determined he was going to see the play.

Not that Liam O’Grady had any inkling what the name of the said play was, or what it was about.

No, he argued with himself as he finally managed to get to the basement car park, breathing hard, his vision blurring. The Irishman knew that he had had one too many; he acknowledged that freely, but he desperately needed to see the Pet. He needed to apologise.

He got into his car and was waiting for his driver to take him, his eyes bloodshot,...