Fifteen

On a chilly Wednesday, Cal watches nature’s indifference in his field, then heads to Ardnakelty to wait outside Donie McGrath’s house, ensuring the whole village sees. After hours and some curious onlookers, Donie emerges, limping and bruised. Cal needles him about the injury and rumors, pushing for answers.

Donie accuses Cal of being an American drug cop; Cal denies it and demands clarity about recent events. Cal links Donie to the sheep mutilations and asks whether they’re warnings tied to Brendan Reddy. Donie implies the killings will stop but offers nothing concrete. Cal outlines a theory: Brendan botched something with Dublin associates, they removed him, locals learned, and Donie’s job is to frighten witnesses. Donie refuses to talk and retreats.

Restless and lacking lawful options, Cal goes fishing to avoid Trey and to think. He debates fabricating a story that Brendan died accidentally in the river to make Trey stop searching, but he is unsure it’s right. This triggers a memory of Chicago: partner O’Leary nearly shot Jeremiah Payton during an arrest, and although no one was hit, the incident eroded Cal’s confidence in his moral bearings and helped drive him to retire.

At dusk, Mart waits at Cal’s gate. Mart claims the “predator” won’t trouble sheep again, and he offers to deliver Cal’s extra perch to Malachy. Mart then reveals that Trey Reddy is actually a girl, Theresa, which shocks Cal. Mart warns that if people learn a young girl spends time at Cal’s, dangerous gossip could lead to violence or to Trey being driven out. He urges Cal to pay her and end the arrangement.

Cal resists, arguing Trey is only learning skills, but Mart insists the townland is unforgiving. Mart shares that he voted for marriage equality and that his gay brother Eamonn left for America decades ago and never returned, concluding that Ardnakelty is a hard place and Theresa will learn that soon enough.