‘Some people are fooled though, Jenny. Last year Nicola Morton fell hard for him and it looked as if things were getting quite serious between them. The Mortons were so worried that Nicola would end up marrying him that they sent her off to Finishing School in Switzerland to split them up. They were concerned that there might be some truth in the tinker story and couldn’t bear the thought of their only daughter marrying a poverty-stricken young man from such a background. I suppose you can see their point. If he left the RAF he might want to go back to Ireland and move in with his relatives. Aren’t tinkers very clannish?’
By now Chuck and Liz Wilson were laughing so much they could hardly speak.
‘One more question about this Tommy Butler. Is he by any chance a good oarsman?’
‘Brilliant! He’s a member of several RAF teams, and always rows in the various competitions – gets leave to do this wherever he is. He takes himself off to practise whenever he gets the chance. He says his home in Dublin is near a river and he was sometimes able to potter around in boats as a child. That doesn’t fit the tinker story either!’
David Shelly smiled and Bill Welch chipped in.
‘In spite of the fact that he behaves like an ill-disciplined brat at times, he’s quite an asset to the squadron – he’s good at other sports too. I just wish he’d stop wanting to break the rules on such a regular basis.’
‘Maybe that’s just part of being Irish!’
‘Now you’re stereotyping, David, stop it!’ Only his wife would have dared make a comment like that to the Station Commander. ‘You must admit though, aside from that cageyness, he’s very sociable.’
‘Oh yes, good company, highly entertaining and, understandably, popular with the other men, regardless of rank or status. Generous in the Mess too. By all accounts Tommy Butler’s no freeloader. But why the questions, Chuck?’
At that point in the conversation Tommy arrived and, on reaching the bottom of the Keller Bar steps, suddenly spotted Chuck and Liz. He stopped in his tracks in complete amazement.
‘Good Lord! I don’t believe it! I can’t believe it! Chuck and Liz Wilson – how absolutely amazing! Sir! How? Where? …’ Unusually for him words completely failed him.
Liz, still laughing, although now with genuine pleasure, stepped across to him and gave him a big hug and a kiss, while Chuck gave him a resounding slap on the back. Everyone else looked on in astonishment, but Isabel, aged nineteen, looked at him with undisguised admiration.
‘I hope you remember me too, Tommy, because I remember you.’
He looked at her and for a few seconds words again deserted him, for in fine Butler tradition, Tommy fell in love on the spot with this very pretty, and at five foot nothing, petite, daintily-built girl. He recovered his wits quickly, however, and was so glad that a warm greeting would be allowable, for he did remember her as a little girl when the Wilsons had come to Riverside for a visit.
‘Of course I remember you, Isabel, and since we’re old friends perhaps you’d give me a hug too?’
She blushed but without hesitation reached up to him.
‘Now could somebody please explain?’ David Shelly was quite bemused. ‘How do you come to know each other? How does Group Captain Wilson know Flight Lieutenant Butler on, what are obviously, quite intimate terms? Christian names no less, though clearly you’re not related!’
Tommy turned to Chuck in some agitation.
‘Oh, Sir, you’re not going to blow my cover are you?’
‘I can’t imagine why you want to be secretive about your family. And really, Tommy, tinkers! That’s going a bit far! Whatever would Milo think?’
‘Milo? Milo Butler? You’re related to the famous Milo Butler?’ David couldn’t believe his ears. ‘The name Butler is not that uncommon, so it never occurred to me and you carefully kept it under wraps – threw sand in all our eyes.’
Tommy flushed, in fact he felt he was blushing all over. He had so carefully kept his secret because he desperately wanted to make his own way: to have his successes on the strength of his own skill and merits. However, the secret was out now and so be it – it was bound to happen some day, might as well be now.
Tommy had made it on his own. Since the age of about six years old he had been determined to follow in his brother’s footsteps and join the RAF, and it didn’t make the slightest difference that Milo’s had been a wartime-only commitment. He had got through his Cranwell training without a hitch and had passed out top of his group. Later, the icing on the cake, he had been selected to fly with the Black Arrows for a short time before they disbanded in 1961, then was sent to his current posting in Germany. Milo, or Lo as he had called him since he first started talking, was very proud of his achievements and he and Noola with her mother, Maggie, had come to his “passing out” parade, but other than that he had carefully kept his two lives completely separate and for more than one reason. There were other aspects of his private life that he definitely didn’t want anybody here to know about.
‘Sir, I desperately didn’t want to take advantage of Milo’s reputation and record – succeed on my brother’s coat-tails.’
By now everyone else in the bar had stopped their conversations and all were listening with fascination. The Group Captain was delighted. This explained so much about Tommy.
‘So he’s actually your brother, but quite a lot older obviously. Well, well, well!’
He turned to the assembled company.
‘For those of you who may not know the story, Milo Butler, with his navigator and friend Joe Malloy, was shot down while on escort duty on D-Day and the two of them, Joe with a bullet in his leg, rowed all the way home to Ireland in their dinghy. It was an extraordinary feat of endurance for which they were both decorated. Mind you, the fact that they arrived in Ireland was, by all accounts, sheer chance, but nevertheless, quite remarkable. What’s more they were members of the same squadron and close friends of Group Captain Wilson. Right, Chuck?’
‘Yes, indeed. You can all imagine the excitement when news came through about what they’d done and that they were safely home, not to mention the celebrations we had when they got back to the squadron!’
There was a split second’s silence and then a great outburst of excited voices exploded through the bar. At first all Tommy wanted to do was sink into the floor with embarrassment but then he became infected by the general reaction of everyone and started to relax and get carried along on the wave of surprise and delight. Always so proud of his much older half-brother, whom he had hero-worshipped from the time he was a very small child, he now revelled in this huge outpouring of appreciation. To his surprise he didn’t at all mind the sense of reflected glory, but tried to answer the bombardment of questions as fascinated friends swarmed around him.
In the middle of all this the Mess Manager arrived down and made his way through the crowd to Tommy. Hans Viberg was apologetic.
‘Sorry, Sir, but there’s a message for you. I wouldn’t have intruded but it seems to be important!’
He handed Tommy a slip of paper which read:
Call this number soonest. Very urgent. Lo. A Dublin phone number was given, one that he didn’t recognize.
Tommy was shaken. Something must be horribly wrong for Lo to send such a message. He made his way to where the Group Captain stood with Chuck.
‘Please excuse me, Sir, I must go and make an urgent phone call.’
‘Something wrong, Tommy?’
‘There must be. I’ve just been given this message.’ He handed the slip to David who read it and handed it to Chuck.
‘Anything I can do to help, Tommy?’ Chuck had seen how some of the colour had drained out of the young man’s face.
‘Thanks, but I won’t know ’til I’ve spoken to Lo.’
He left to make the call and David said to Chuck:
‘I hope it’s nothing really bad. In spite of his kicking over the traces so often, I’ve always liked the boy and now I understand so much more about him. I’ve never
believed that he grew up in a tinker’s caravan on the banks of some river, but the information on his documents tells little more than things like address in Ireland. Well “Riverside” could mean anything.’
‘I know, and next of kin would be recorded as Miles, not Milo, which wouldn’t have rung any bells for you. Same address too.’
‘Well what’s his home background like then? Do you feel free to tell us?’
Chuck started to laugh again.
‘Oh I think it’s perfectly in order to tell you – it’s certainly no dark secret! The Butler family is one of the wealthiest living in and around Dublin, including Tommy, who is a rich young man in his own right. His father left him very comfortably off. His home, Riverside House, is set in extensive grounds which run down to the banks of the River Liffey. As a result, for generations the Butlers have been superb oarsmen and very skilled at other water sports too. The lovely old Georgian house has one wing divided off and this legally belongs to Tommy. Their father died just after the end of the war so Milo, married to Finoula or “Noola”, is now head of the family.’
‘Well I’ll be damned! Did you hear all that, Jenny?’
‘Yes, I certainly did and just wait ’til I get my hands on him. I’ll wring his neck! But I’m mean enough to have to smile thinking of the Mortons’ reaction when they hear all that. Poverty-stricken tinker indeed – and let him ever dare use that fake accent again!’
* * * * *
It took some time for Tommy to get through and when he did he was appalled. Milo answered the phone and, quite uncharacteristically, was barely coherent.
‘They’ve taken her, Tommy, they’ve taken her and we don’t know who they are or where they’ve gone.’
‘Lo, who have they taken and who are “they”?’
‘Please can you come home at once, Tommy, we need you here. They’ve taken her . . . and we know for sure Bob is involved in it somehow.’
‘Lo, you’re making no sense. You’re obviously terribly upset. Please let me speak to Noola or Maggie.’
It occurred to him that whatever was wrong Noola must be equally distraught – unless, of course, it was Noola who had been “taken”. Maggie came on the line.
‘Hello, Tommy darlin’.’
‘Maggie, thank goodness, please tell me what’s happened. I’ve never in my life heard Lo in such a state.’
‘There’s no way I can break this to you easily, darlin’, but little Izzy has been kidnapped and it seems that your Uncle Bob is somehow involved.’
‘Oh not little Izzy! Please, God, not gentle little Izzy.’
‘Yes, darlin’, now you understand poor Milo’s distress.’
‘Of course I do, but Uncle Bob involved? He’s in an asylum, Maggie, how could that possibly be?’
‘Well he escaped and must have had very professional help to manage it. Turned up here with several others, all armed, and took Izzy, in the process badly injuring your Aunt May who tried to protect her.’
‘Oh poor Aunt May. Is she going to be all right?’
‘We think so. She’s been taken to hospital to be patched up.’
‘But what on earth is it all about? Who’s taken Izzy and why? I suppose it must be for ransom, but who would want to extort money from us? Oh . . . wait! I’ve suddenly realized who it could be. They’re becoming quite active again and always looking for funds – large funds.’
‘We must be careful what we say on the phone, but we’ve not been contacted yet. We’re waiting!’
‘Okay, Maggie, I understand – we’re always being warned that the civilian lines here aren’t necessarily secure. I get the picture and that’s enough. I’ll speak to my “boss” and with any luck should be home tomorrow. Let me have a word with Lo before I hang up.’
‘Tommy?’
‘Yes, Lo, I’m almost certain I’ll get there tomorrow. Chuck Wilson’s here on a visit and you know he’ll do everything in his power to help in any way possible.’
‘Thank God. Give Chuck my best and, if I know when you’re arriving, I’ll be at the airport to meet you.’ He sounded so relieved.
‘Thanks and, Lo, we’ll get her back – somehow or another we’ll get her back – promise.’
‘God Bless! ’Bye, Tommy.’
Thank goodness they all had Maggie, he thought. Dear, dependable Maggie, adored by the whole family. She had been both Milo’s and Tommy’s substitute mother when each in turn had been orphaned. Now in her late sixties, she was still as feisty and active as ever. Tommy’s thoughts and feelings were in turmoil. He prayed to God that they would get Izzy back alive. He certainly hadn’t expected such frightening news.
Chapter 2
When Tommy got back to the Keller Bar he went straight to where the Group Captain, Bill Welch and Chuck were chatting. He addressed the Group Captain.
‘Sir, could I please have a word with you in private, and Bill too?’
David Shelly looked at the face now drained of all colour.
‘I’ll ask Hans if we can use his office, Tommy. Would you like Chuck to come along too?’
‘That would be great, if you don’t mind, Chuck – er, Sir!’
‘Only too happy to help if I can and, Tommy, when we’re off duty and out of uniform it’s quite all right to call me Chuck. We are old friends.’
‘Thanks, that means a lot at this moment. Lo sends his best.’
In the small office Tommy then told these three senior officers the story so far as he knew it. David Shelly responded with horror.
‘How absolutely appalling! Let’s do what we can to help. We’ll get you out to the UK as early as possible tomorrow morning, then I’ll make sure transport is arranged to take you to Heathrow. From there you can get a civilian flight to Dublin, which is the way I imagine you travel when going on leave. Who do you think is behind this, Tommy?’
‘It could be some faction of the IRA. As you know, Sir, they’re becoming quite active, skirmishing along the border again. On the other hand, I suppose it could be some other group wanting to make a fast buck, jumping on their bandwagon and letting them take the blame – that’s not unknown. But it’s hard to say for certain. They’ve obviously been given some secure number to use at home, one I don’t recognize, but nevertheless we’ve to be so careful what we say on the phone. I wasn’t using a secure line.’
‘Of course!’ David Shelly paused for a few seconds then continued. ‘You know, Tommy, we’ve people based in Northern Ireland who are part of a highly-trained team and very adept at dealing with this sort of situation. I’ve connections I could use to alert them and have a couple of them diverted to slip over the border and help your family. Obviously they would be completely undercover and I’m wondering what would be the best way to play this so that they don’t aggravate the situation. Even when, as we hope, the whole thing is successfully dealt with, it must remain absolutely confidential between you and Milo and, gentlemen, regard this as strictly classified information. For everyone’s sake there’s no way their involvement must be betrayed. Would that help?’
‘It would be marvellous, Sir, but I’d have to get my brother’s agreement, although I can’t see him objecting to anything that’s going to help us to find Izzy. But if they come to stay at the house, which I think is maybe what you had in mind, won’t they stick out like sore thumbs?’
‘Oh I think they’ll see to that – they’re used to having to blend into the background. If Milo goes along with the idea the two of you could probably work out some sort of cover story that would stop anyone getting suspicious.’
‘Could work, Sir. But what about the Irish authorities: police, army? How would they react if they suspected anything? Milo’s wife Noola has a cousin who is very senior in the Garda, the Irish police that is, and she and Milo are bound to want to involve him.’
‘You’d be surprised how closely we liaise sometimes with the Irish authorities, quite off the record. Could work very well indeed.’
‘This is pretty horrible for y
ou in so many ways, Tommy. Not only has your beloved Izzy been put at serious risk, but your Uncle Bob involved! What a rotten deal.’
‘Oh, Chuck, Uncle Bob is such an embarrassment.’ Looking at the other two men he explained, ‘He’s quite crazy and in an asylum: has murdered members of the family, including my mother, and is quite capable of doing so again, even a child. That’s what’s so terrifying in this situation.’ Looking at Chuck he added. ‘I tell you I never mention anything about him. And something else – maybe I could go the same way!’
David Shelly understood, more and more, Tommy’s reticence in talking about his family and his risk-taking. Did he subconsciously want to kill himself off, solve his problem once and for all? Surely not, but maybe without even realizing it?
‘Don’t worry, Tommy, we certainly aren’t going to chatter about it.’
‘Thank you, Sir.’
They continued to discuss the ways and means, slightly changing some of the ideas as they went along. Eventually Chuck said to him:
‘You’ll want to go off and pack I know, but come on down and have a drink with us before you go. Liz and Isabel would be so disappointed not to have a chance to say goodbye.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘I have a feeling that Isabel would be especially cut up if you went off without saying goodbye to her!’
With his fair skin, much to his irritation, Tommy flushed easily. Now some colour came back into his face and he did manage a small but typical Butler lopsided grin.
‘I wouldn’t want to go without seeing her either. Oh and Liz too, of course!’
‘Of course, Tommy!’ The twinkle grew to a broad grin. He’d seen the young man’s face when he looked at Isabel.
They went back downstairs and David insisted on getting a brandy for Tommy.
‘Don’t argue, boy, just drink it.’
‘Thank you, Sir.’
‘Is everything all right, Tommy?’
‘No, Liz, it’s not but, I’m sorry, I can’t talk about it here. Chuck will give you the details. I’ve got to go home though, as soon as possible. It’s too late to get all the way this evening, so I’ll wait until first thing in the morning. With any luck I’ll be there around lunch time and Lo will meet me. He and Noola would want me to give you their love.’
The House by the Liffey Page 2
