“Is that true? Is there a consensus?”
“I don’t think so. Robert is in the hospital and under heavy sedation. I don’t believe Deirdre consents, but I also don’t think she’ll come to court to object. I’m not sure about Janie.”
“You know I haven’t taken a single salary payment. I haven’t even reimbursed myself for my costs.”
“I understand. That’s foolish, but I understand.”
“Can you handle this motion without me?”
“Technically yes, but it would be better with you. There is no law requiring a trustee to be present in Northern Ireland at all times. Riley’s offer to sign a note was financially unsound and without a guarantor, and rightly rejected by you. I’ll inform Her Honor that you haven’t taken any money, even though you are entitled to it, especially to cover your costs.”
“Thanks, Malcolm. Please call me after the hearing.”
* * *
THE CALL CAME TWO days later as we were sitting down to breakfast.
“It didn’t go well, Liam. Cooney ranted and raved and accused you of abandoning your post. He claimed that Deirdre was an emotional wreck, afraid to leave the house and incapable of managing the farm or the house. I really couldn’t argue with that—from all I’ve heard she’s quite distraught, a bundle of nerves. She didn’t show up in court. Cooney said that any responsible trustee would remove Deirdre from the house immediately and rent it to a farmer who could properly manage the property and who didn’t need police protection. In fact, Conor offered to move in himself until a renter could be found. Cooney told the judge that he has not received an objection from any beneficiary.”
“Is that true? No one has objected?”
“Well, Janie wasn’t in court. Robert, of course, is still in the hospital. As I said, Deirdre won’t leave the house. So who was in court to object? I told the judge that you were properly administering the trust from your office in Chicago and doing whatever is necessary to perform your duties, but Judge McNulty seemed very concerned about the welfare of the farm and the house. She seemed open to having a tenant move in, maybe even Conor.”
“Conor wants to toss his mother on the street? What a guy. You know she has essentially been his mother since he was a toddler. That has to be breaking her heart.”
“That’s what I hear.”
“Well, what happened? Did the judge remove me as trustee? Did she appoint the bank?”
“Well, that’s another problem. With the attack on Robert and all that’s going on, the bank will not accept an appointment as successor trustee. You can imagine, the bank wants no part of this private war. With the bank out of the picture, and no one to object, I believe Cooney will ask the judge to appoint Conor as successor trustee. Again, I doubt there will be anyone in court to object. Sorry, I did the best I could.”
“I’m sure you did. What did the judge do?”
“Well, she didn’t do anything yet. She continued the hearing until Friday, primarily to give you an opportunity to appear and convince her that you should remain as trustee.”
“I’m not coming back, Malcolm. You’ll have go to the hearing and win without me.”
“Oh my. Well, I’m not so sure I can do that.”
“I’ll try to reach Janie and maybe she’ll bring Deirdre with her to court. Robert might be able to give you an affidavit from his hospital bed. Let’s see if we can defeat the motion without me.”
Catherine was sitting at the breakfast table feeding Ben his cereal and listening to my side of the conversation. When I hung up she said, “You have to go back for the hearing.”
“Let’s not start this again, Cat. I’m not going to leave you.”
“You and I both know that O’Neill can’t win this motion without you sitting in the courtroom. Deirdre will be put out of her house. Where will she go?”
I shook my head and tried not to let my frustrations get the best of me, but they did. I raised my voice. “Don’t you think I know all this? Do you think I want my aunt Deirdre on the street? I love that woman. Do you think I want Conor and Riley taking over this trust? Damn it, Cat.”
“Take it easy, honey, I’m not your enemy. I want to help. I know you fear for Ben and me, I know you blame yourself for what happened to us and I know you won’t go back to Northern Ireland and leave us in Chicago. But you have no choice. So … you’ll go back and we’ll go with you.”
“Out of the question and I don’t care what you say, that book is closed.”
She smiled. “Don’t you put your foot down on me, Mr. Irishman. It’s not closed as long as I have something more to say. Here’s my proposal: we’ll go back with you and stay at Deirdre’s, under police protection. You’ll go to court and convince Judge McNulty that you can handle the management of the trust estate. If you appear in her courtroom, then she’ll know you haven’t left permanently. Then you can take care of what needs to be done.”
“It’s too dangerous. In case I need to remind you, Uncle Robert was shot by a professional sniper from three hundred meters away. Uncle Eamon was killed right out in the open, rammed by a maniac in a GMC truck. Uncle Fergus was shot on his own property, evidently by someone he knew. And by sheer luck, I happened to stop a man from throwing a firebomb into Deirdre’s house. It’s a field of war and I can’t take you there.”
“Neither Uncle Robert, Uncle Eamon nor Uncle Fergus had police protection or even Liam Taggart’s protection. In case I need to remind you, it’s not so safe for us in Chicago either. I hope you don’t think I’m going to be cloistered in this condo for the rest of my life. I’m going back to work and I work in a law office and in a courthouse and in other lawyers’ offices. I don’t have police protection in Chicago and you’re not going to be by my side every minute of every day. Ugh. What a thought!”
“It’s more dangerous in Antrim, and Deirdre lives on a farm, not even in the city.”
“She has police protection on the premises. And we’ll be very careful. I’ll always be under the protection of you or the Antrim police. I promise not to go out alone.”
I shook my head. “Do you know what you’re asking me? You’re asking me to put my family at risk so that I can go back and defend my appointment as trustee over Uncle Fergus’s assets. Assets, Catherine. Money. Stocks. Property. As he said in his letter, everything of value. His treasures. Well, to my way of thinking, people are a lot more important than property and treasures. I’m not going to take my family into a battlefield to preserve Uncle Fergus’s treasures.”
Catherine gave me that look, the one that told me that she understood the situation a lot better than I did. “It’s not about property, Liam. You’re wrong. You misread the letter. He said there was ‘a danger that threatens everything I value, the entire treasure of a man’s life.’ He meant his family, Liam, not his property. He meant his children and his brothers and above all he meant Deirdre. Those were the treasures of his life, and that’s what he valued. He knew how vulnerable Deirdre and Eamon and Robert would be and he appointed you to protect those treasures. He relied on you, the only one he could trust.
“Think about it. It’s all so clear to me. Why would Uncle Fergus defer distributions until the killer is caught? It’s not because he was so concerned about his property, or that a killer might inherit some of it and profit by his death. It was all about you! You were the reason he deferred the distribution. He needed Liam Taggart to stay in control until the end, to protect his loved ones, his treasures until the killer was caught. Don’t you see, you’re not relieved of your responsibilities until the trust dissolves and the trust doesn’t dissolve until the killer is caught. Liam Taggart has to be there until the end. And I’m pretty sure that’s why he had the trust pay you a thousand pounds a week. He was pretty clever, your uncle.”
I never thought of it that way, but the more she talked the clearer it became.
“Liam, what if the whole reason he set up the trust was to protect the family from whatever danger he feared? He knew there w
as a killer out there, and he wrote in his letter that he intended to find out if his suspicions were correct and stop it in its tracks. He wrote, ‘God help this family if I fail.’ Don’t you see, he knew he could fail and he knew you were the only one who could finish the job, who could stop it in its tracks. You Liam. You were the ex-marine, the ex-CIA agent, the man who makes a living investigating crimes and protecting people. You were appointed trustee because you were the only person he could trust to protect his family. He knew you for the man you are—strong, solid, dependable. Who could flush out the killer? Only you, Liam.
“If you don’t return, Conor and Riley will evict Deirdre from her home, the home Fergus promised to her, the home she’s lived in all her life. She’d be left on the streets with no one to protect her. And what about the rest of them? Robert narrowly escaped assassination, Janie is scared to death, begging you to come back, and Riley and Conor are out of control. And Liam, the truth is I’m scared too. I’m afraid every day for Ben and me. Do you think I want to go to Northern Ireland? I don’t want to be anywhere near that place, but I know that Ben and I will never be safe until you find and stop this murderer. And, just like your uncle, you are the only one I can trust.”
I sat there in a daze. I didn’t want Catherine and Ben anywhere near Northern Ireland either, but what if she was right on point? I didn’t know if I could flush the killer out or catch him, but I would do the best I could. At the very least, I could help protect Deirdre and the family. I owed it to her and Uncle Fergus. I owed it to my wife and my son. I was not about to let them down. I nodded. “We’ll go back, the three of us.”
* * *
I MADE MY TELEPHONE calls that afternoon. My decision to return made a lot of people happy. O’Neill for one. “I hate to confess my vulnerabilities, Liam, but I do not think I could have carried the day. Your appearance will make all the difference. I think Judge McNulty likes you, and if you’re there it’ll convince her that you will dutifully manage the trust property.”
Deirdre was also relieved when I called. “I raised Conor and Riley from the time they were in short pants. I don’t know why they would turn on me and want me out of my own house. I know Fergus wouldn’t put up with it. I’m glad you’re coming back, son. I’m glad you’re protecting me.”
“Me too,” I said. “I’m looking forward to introducing you to Catherine and my baby boy.”
That seemed to lift her spirits. “It’s going to be so busy in my house again,” she said with some joy in her voice. “I can’t wait to see the wee baby. I’ll start planning my menus right now.”
McLaughlin said he knew all along that I’d come back. “An old bloodhound like you can’t stay away while there’s still a fresh trail.” He chuckled. “Dooley and I have uncovered some interesting information and we’ll share it with you when you get here.”
“Farrell, I’m bringing my wife and child with me. I don’t have to tell you how nervous I am about their safety. They’ll be staying at Deirdre’s and I need to know that the round-the-clock protection will be in place the entire time. And I’ll need my gun and permit back.”
“I already have men stationed at Deirdre’s. Twenty-four/seven. And, thanks to Deirdre, they’re getting fat. They’ll be there until this case is solved. As to the gun, I’ll have it for you when you get off the plane. In fact, I’ll meet you at the plane and bring you out to Antrim.”
“Thank you. That’s very generous. I’ll gladly accept.”
Janie was also happy to hear that I was returning and bringing the family. She was eager to meet Catherine. I asked her about the others: Robert, Riley and Conor.
“My father is still at Belfast General awaiting shoulder replacement surgery. They’re going to give him a brand-new shoulder but they want to get him a little stronger first. He’s been carrying a low-grade fever. He’s also an emotional basket case. You know my dad, he’s always the jolly one, joking, laughing and smiling. It’s going to take some time before we’ll see that again.”
“What about Riley and Conor?”
“I don’t know where Riley is. He hasn’t been to the hospital. I don’t think anyone has seen him in a few days. I know that Mr. Cooney has been looking for him, because he called me and asked me to come to court for a hearing. Charles told me not to go. Then Mr. Cooney asked me how to reach Riley. I gave him the cell number, but he said he had tried it several times with no answer. So, no one knows where Riley is.”
“Why did Charles tell you not to go to court?”
“Maybe he didn’t want me to take sides, I don’t know. I think he doesn’t want me mixed up in all of Riley’s problems. He cares about me and he tries to protect me. He’s sweet that way.”
“What about Conor?”
“Well, you know Conor. You wouldn’t call him Mr. Calm-and-Steady. This whole business has him rattled and now he’s paranoid. He carries a pistol in his belt. But he’s been to the hospital every day and stays for hours. He’s been a godsend for my dad.”
“Janie, did Conor get one of those Walker pictures in his mailbox?”
“Not that I know of.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
WE HAD NEVER TRAVELED as a family before, so I didn’t know what I was in for—a stroller, baby seat, diaper bags, fold-up crib, changing kits, jars of food, play mats, a whole suitcase full of baby clothes and an extra paid seat in Economy Plus. Catherine’s suitcase alone was over the limit, which she attributed to the weight of several pairs of shoes.
We took the overnight flight and Ben slept most of the way. What a trooper. Neither Cat nor I could sleep. We both knew what the dangers were and there was no way to minimize it. The serial killer, whoever he was, had served us with his calling card, we were marked for death and we were flying into his territory.
As we neared the end of the flight, Cat tried to lighten the mood by asking me questions about Northern Ireland.
“I wish we were going as tourists and not under a death threat,” I said. “I’d love to just take you around and show you the sights. The rugged Antrim coast, the rich, pastoral countryside. It’s quaint and charming in an old world way. Belfast is a booming, modern city. The city center is also charming, with brick pedestrian walkways lined with cafés, coffee houses and pubs. Developers sunk over half a billion dollars into Victoria Square, a domed shopping mall. There’s Queens College, the botanic gardens, the Ulster Museum, the Titanic Museum, so many things for tourists to visit. Still has its problems, though.”
“Catholics versus Protestants?”
I nodded. “Unionists versus nationalists. The separation walls still stand.”
“Hard to fathom isn’t it? Catholics versus Protestants—both Christian denominations with practically the same beliefs.”
“It’s not a religious dispute, Cat. It’s not about their religious practices. Hell, many of these people don’t ever set foot in a church. There are churches closing in West Belfast because of a lack of attendance. It’s about culture. It’s about group identity. To whom do you belong? By virtue of your membership, who are you obliged to dislike and distrust? And it self-perpetuates. Parents generally don’t send their children to mixed schools. Kids grow up with their own kind. And it’s hard to shake that prejudice.”
“Is that why you think that a unionist may be responsible for the attacks on your family? Is that why you blame the Troubles?”
“It could be the reason, especially if Walker is the guilty party. But my uncle saved newspaper articles that concerned IRA members Seamus McManus and Sean Lefferty. They were Catholics, not Protestants.”
“But you told me that McManus and Lefferty are both dead.”
“They are, but maybe they have relatives who seek revenge, although neither family knew I was responsible for the arrests. I didn’t reveal my identity to McManus at the jail and I wasn’t personally involved in arresting or prosecuting Lefferty. McLaughlin still believes it’s a relative, but that would mean Conor or Riley.”
“You don’t believe th
at’s possible?”
“Oh, it’s possible. Conor is a loose cannon and the only one who didn’t receive a calling card. I grew up with Riley. We were close. I would never suspect him of a violent act, but I’ve never seen him so desperate. And now he’s gone missing. Still, I just don’t see either of them killing their father or Uncle Eamon.”
“And trying to kill Uncle Robert?”
“And that’s not all.”
“I know. Ben and me.”
“Right. Whoever he is, he better hope the PSNI gets to him before I do.”
* * *
FARRELL MET US IN the baggage area of Dublin International. He surveyed everything we brought with us and shook his head. “Jesus, Liam, I didn’t know you were moving here. It’s a good thing I brought the Land Rover.”
Catherine and Farrell hit it off right away. She was curious about Northern Ireland and Farrell was only too happy to be her tour guide. He had a wealth of knowledge about the country he had lovingly served for so many years and he wore his pride for all to see. As we drove, he pointed out several locations of historical or cultural significance.
When we stopped at a rest area to change the baby, Farrell pulled me aside and said that he still hadn’t come across Walker and that he and Megan had been looking into McManus and Lefferty as well.
“We can’t locate any McManus relative,” he said. “As you know, he entered the prison system when he was young and right after he was released, he was rearrested. As far as we know, he didn’t have any children. We can’t locate any members of his family. So we think there’s no McManus left to carry a sword on his behalf. Sean Lefferty, on the other hand, was married and had two sons. One of them lives in America, and the other one is dead. You may recall, when we arrested Sean Lefferty he was running one of the biggest arms smuggling operations in Northern Ireland.”
The Trust Page 25
