‘I hope you realize what that’s doing to me,’ commented Liam, observing her hands circular motion.
‘You want some of the action? Then come and get it,’ “Punctual” Mary replied, teasingly.
Liam duly obliged.
“Punctual” Mary lay on her back and absorbed the tactile sensations as Liam started to rub cream on her breasts before moving to her belly and then her thighs. Any more of this rubbing and there will be no need for sex, she thought. What a perfect day this was turning out to be with the sun shining and Liam by her side. She knew on their first date that she wanted him for her life partner. OK, he wasn’t perfect, didn’t have a great job, and bent a few corners here and there but all that could be worked on. Her parents on the other hand would take some convincing but she had reached adulthood and would have to find her own way in the world. Anyway, her parents always caved in to her demands in the end. At last Liam finished, leaving her in a high state of excitement.
‘Lie down and let me do the same for you.’
‘There’s no need to. I can manage.’ Liam replied jokingly, while lying on his back and complying with her wishes.
“Punctual” Mary poured some cream on Liam’s chest and started rubbing in the cream with a circular motion. Then she moved her hand lower to where a knotted cord supported his trunks. She could not fail to notice the bulge in his trunks.
‘What about there? You want some cream there?’ She asked jokingly.
Liam remained silent.
With a quick motion “Punctual” Mary undid the knot holding the trunks and slid them down exposing Liam’s genitals. She placed her face close to Liam’s face and kissed his salty lips. She kissed him twice before he replied with a passionate kiss of his own. Then he grabbed the hair on the back of her head and pulled her into him and suddenly she was looking at the blue sky and felt her bikini bottom being removed. After that her mind blanked and her body pushed and shoved for what seemed an eternity before final release
After their exertions, they lay in each other’s arms. Liam brushed a spot of sand from “Punctual” Mary’s nose and kissed her forehead.
‘I love you, Mary.’ Liam couldn’t believe that he had never told her this before.
‘And I love you.’
Liam tried to put words to the way he felt. ‘When we first dated, I thought, here goes another “one night stand”, but as time has gone by I have come to realize that our relationship is much more that that. It is growing and can continue to grow if we let it. I know I am just a lowly security guard and may not add up to much in your parent’s eyes…oh shit this… what I am trying to say is… Will you marry me?’
‘Will you repeat what you just said?’ “Punctual” Mary heard him properly the first time but wanted to prolong the moment.
‘Will you marry me?’
“Punctual” Mary looked at her watch.
‘Why are you looking at your watch?’ asked Liam.
‘I want to remember the exact time that you proposed to me. I know the day already and now I know the time too.’
‘So you’re saying yes?’
‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’
Liam kissed her long and hard.
Then he realized that this proposal had come about so spontaneously that he forgot to buy a ring. Slipping into his swimming trunks, he searched the beach until he found a small round shell with a tiny hole in the center. Using his nail, he enlarged the hole to finger size.
Returning to “Punctual” Mary, he slipped the shell on her engagement finger. “Punctual” Mary laughed when he said; ‘I couldn’t find a jeweller on the beach so this will have to do as an engagement ring until tomorrow.’
‘I will always keep this shell as a reminder of this day,’ “Punctual” Mary told him.
They went for several more swims before “Punctual” Mary noticed the time and suggested that they board the bus for the return trip.
Chapter 21
The Charity Shop
The taller of the two men approaching the charity shop wore his hair long and tied the strands with an elastic band. The bottom half of his left ear was missing as a result of a prison melee that occurred while serving time for GBH. Two days’ growth on his chin did not add anything positive to his already menacing appearance. A lucky escape from a stolen car left him with a slight limp but did not impair his ability to run if the occasion warranted it. The smaller of the two men wore a hooded jacket with the hood pulled up over his head making it virtually impossible to see his face. However, his general facial features resembled those of his taller brother.
The two men entered the charity shop and looked around. A young assistant stopped tidying behind the counter and greeted them.
‘I wonder if you can help us?’ asked the taller man. Experience gained over the years told him that sometimes it worked better if one were polite at the start. Violence could come later if required.
‘If I can I will,’ answered the assistant, wishing she were someplace else.
‘We want to know,’ continued the taller brother, ‘If a person bought a red polka dotted dress in this shop.’ He went on to give the assistant a description of “Corner” O’Conner.
The smaller of the brothers ignored the conversation and went looking in the shop interior.
‘I’m afraid I can’t help you there. I only returned to work today. Been off on holidays to Spain with my family… First time there…You should try…’she stopped speaking. She could see he wasn’t interested.
‘And the assistant who filled in for you while you were away?’
‘She won’t be able to tell you anything. She has trouble with her sight and her hearing is not too good either.’
‘Do you keep receipts for goods sold or any records?’
‘No. This is a charity shop. All the goods you see here are donations. We adjust our prices to the customer’s ability to pay.’
The tall man reflected for a few moments. It looked like another dead end. Ever since the tip-off they had visited every shop within a large radius to no avail. The large retail stores they skipped, mainly because red polka dotted dresses would have vanished from the fashion scene a quarter of a century ago. Now they were drawing another blank and were no nearer to catching that bastard O’ Connor.
Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by a whoop from his brother who approached the front of the shop clutching a red polka dotted dress. ‘Looks like the one described to us,’ the smaller brother said, handing the dress over.
‘Did you have two of these in stock?’ the taller brother asked.
‘No. I’m nearly sure we had none in stock when I went on holidays. However, stock sometimes comes in and goes out on a daily basis. I’m sure I would have remembered them they’re so old…so old – fashioned.’
‘Are there any clothes missing?’ The tall man switched his gaze away from the polka dotted dress back to the assistant.
‘It would be impossible to tell. We could have a dozen of the same looking coats or dresses in stock at any one time.’ The assistant wished the two men would go away and leave her alone. She harboured no illusions about the capability of these two men to inflict harm on her if she did not cooperate.
The tall man took a moment to reflect. This looked like a cold trail. This polka dotted dress might or might not be the one O’ Connor wore. On the other hand…
He took the assistants hand in his as he described O’Connor in detail. ‘If he should come in then ring this number – he gave her his mobile phone number – and we will give you a hundred Euro reward. You understand?’
Behind her the smaller brother removed a small knife from his pocked and busily cleaned under his nails.
She understood.
Chapter 22
Adam’s apple
Day three in the mock police uniform and “Corner” felt pleased with himself. No other incidents needing his attention occurred in his vicinity since the crash and he moved freely around the city. Pedestrians saluted him an
d one shopkeeper invited him in for tea. He duly accepted and spent the best part of an hour engaged in a discussion about the latest crime statistics. Once an immigrant asked him for directions to the social welfare services office and as far as he knew, the man is still walking.
Mention of social welfare brought the subject of money into his thoughts. Since his present difficulties arose, his savings – accumulated when he worked at various jobs – were getting low. Luckily the squat was clean and in a nice district.
Suddenly a shout sounded above the murmur of traffic. ‘Stop that thief!’ Stop that boy!’
A stout moustached man wearing a bib stood next to a fruit stall waving wildly.
“Corner” glanced in the direction of the shouting and spotted the youth running in his direction. The youth looked disheveled and his leg could be seen through holes in his pants. Looking behind to see if he was being pursued, the youth failed to see “Corner” standing in his path. “Corner” grabbed the youth by the shoulder.
‘Let me go. Let me go,’ the snotty nosed youth cried. ‘I’m hungry.’
‘What’s your name?’ asked “Corner”.
‘Adam Carmody. Are you going to arrest me?’
“Corner” could see a red coloured apple clutched in the boy’s hand and he looked malnourished.
Parents probably killed by outlaws he thought and the boy left to fend for himself. Life here on the frontier could be tough.
‘Give me the apple.’
The youth hesitated and then reluctantly handed over the apple.
“Corner” took a small bite then handed the apple back. ‘A nice taste but I prefer the green variety myself.’
The youth looked at him in astonishment.
‘Let’s go and sort this problem out.’
Still holding the youth by the shoulder, “Corner” marched him back to the stallholder.
‘Nice work, officer. Stealing all my fruit, they are. You are going to charge him? The man’s nostrils flared with indignation.
‘Most certainly. Please come down to the station tomorrow and make a statement.’
That pleased the stallholder and he turned to serve a customer. At that moment “Corner” slipped an apple into his pocked and walked away still holding the boy.
Out of sight of the stallholder, “Corner” released the boy and handed him the apple.
‘Are you really a policeman?’ the puzzled youth asked.
‘Of course, I’m a law enforcement officer. Ask me a question about this “Wild West”.
Is he loony? He must be loony. The youth kept his thoughts to himself as he threw away the remains of the red apple and started on the green one. Still, better to humour him. What question could he ask? He racked his brains for a few minutes before inspiration came.
‘Who shot Billy the Kid?’
‘Pat Garrett shot Billy the Kid.’
Now listen to me, Adam; if you stick with your education, keep out of trouble and practice daily with your six-gun then you can grow up to be a law enforcement officer like me. Now get out of here before I put you in the caboose.
Chapter 23
Bad News
When Liam received the call Dr. Hogan’s name came up on the telephone display. ‘Hello Henry and how are you? I hear that you are still rolling nurses around the hospital on trolleys. You have heard that Mary and I were engaged? You will be coming to the engagement party?’
‘Don’t know at the moment. Shifts are up in the air. If I can get a swap with another doctor, I’ll turn up. However, that’s not the reason I’m ringing you. How is Danny?’ Liam noticed a touch of anxiety in Henry’s voice.
‘Danny?’
‘Yes, Danny. I saw him coming out of the specialist’s room at the hospital a few days ago. The specialist deals in cancer cases. We were busy with an emergency at the time so I didn’t get time to talk to him. I rang around the others in our group but none of them could shed any light on his condition and I can’t reach him on the telephone. Liam…Liam…You still there?’
‘Yes…Yes. I’m still here.’ No, I didn’t know about his illness. He said nothing the last time we met. I’ll call around, see him, and then ring you back when I have news. Thanks for ringing.’
The line went dead and Liam replaced the receiver.
*
Diana opened the door on the third ring. She invited Liam in and pointed for him to continue through the hall and out to the conservatory. Liam noticed the blue marks under her eyes and her hair needed brushing.
Danny sat in front of the full-length windows and gazed out at the cultured garden. The blinds were partially pulled, placing part of the room in shadow. Danny turned as Liam entered the room. ‘Sit down and take the load off your feet. Do you want a tea or coffee? I hope you will forgive me if I don’t stand up.’
Liam sat and looked at Danny, ignoring the offer of a drink. There were obvious signs of deterioration in his health since their last meeting. His former large frame had faded away and he now seemed smaller and his cheeks shrunken.
‘Dr. Hogan rang to say that he saw you in hospital but that he didn’t get a chance to talk to you. He said that he saw you coming out of a specialist’s room. Do you want to talk about it?’
Danny told him about his visit to the doctor and his referral to the specialist, the tests taken and the conclusions. ‘No possibility of a mistake? You know mistakes happen all the time.’
‘Not in my case. I feel weaker with every passing day despite my doctor increasing the dosage of my medicine.’
‘I’m sorry that you had to find out from Dr. Hogan about my illness. I intended to tell you about my condition sooner but kept on putting it off. You will forgive me?’
‘Of course I forgive you.’
Liam did not know if this was a good time to mention his engagement, but in the circumstances, there might never be a good time. ‘Mary and I got engaged,’ he told Danny.
‘Congratulations. I hope you have a long and happy marriage and many children.’
A dart of pain racked the ex-priest’s body.
Liam made as if to rise to help but Danny waved him back.
‘You know that I’m not afraid to die, Liam. I saw death as a priest and my faith tells me that my body dies but that my spirit or soul lives forever. There are many things I regret having done and some things I wish I had done but we all think that we have plenty of time. I will be meeting my God sooner than I expected but that is a future we all have to face at some stage. In a way I feel sorry for those I leave behind and especially Diana. Support her if you can.’
‘What timeframe are we talking about?’ asked Liam.
Danny looked out the window at the small lawn surrounded by a tidy border then replied, ‘I planted some bulbs before my health collapsed. I will be dead before they flower.’
Chapter 24
The Engagement Party
Danny would not dream of them cancelling the engagement party because of his illness and though he did not attend himself, he insisted on Diana attending. “Corner” arrived in “civvies” having discarded the “uniform” and gave “Punctual” Mary an engagement present of a watch she did not need. “Punctual” Mary’s parents turned out to be very sociable and not at all the people Liam suspected they might be. Patrick arrived with Jean on his arm and introduced her as his cleaner. The group did not know if he meant office or house cleaner. Dr. Hogan responded to the short notice given to him of the engagement party by swapping shifts with a colleague and bringing Catherine, the new love in his life. Bobby Molloy arrived carrying a large cardboard box, which he just managed to squeeze through the door. Emblazoned on the side of the box in large letters were the words, “CHILD’S Buggy”. When they opened the box later, they found four successively smaller boxes inside. The last box contained 1,000.00 Euro and a note that said, “Enjoy your honeymoon and rent the best bed”.
“Curly” Cribbins let them have use of a small private room at the back of the premises and laid on a spread
for “free”, the cost of which he recouped later by adding a few cents onto the price of the drink. “Corner” felt so secure in the private room that he only went outside to check the premises twice in the whole night and only stood in the corner some of the time.
Liam circulated among his friends and the main topic of conversation centered on Danny’s illness. All wished him well and expressed hope of a recovery and everybody knew somebody whose illness had gone into remission.
Despite protests from Liam, “Punctual” Mary’s father insisted on buying drinks for the group and they got talking.
‘She thinks the world of you,’ the father explained. ‘It’s always Liam this and Liam that. She drives her mother cuckoo. Then why don’t you marry him, her mother says to her. Now she is. Marrying you, I mean. Look after her.’
Liam nodded his head. Of course, I’m going to look after her, he thought. To the father he said, ‘She’s changing me already. She made me enroll in a business management course in the evenings. With a stroke of the pen, my free evenings for several years have vanished.’
The father laughed. Then more seriously he said, ‘You know that she is obsessed with the passage of time. I’m afraid that I am responsible. I brought her up to be punctual but I guess I overdid my guidance.’
Liam nodded understandingly while keeping his thoughts to himself. He remembered the last time she walked out leaving him high and dry. Mary’s father waited for a reply from him so he answered, ‘If you pardon the pun Mr. Moloney, she’ll grow out of it in time.’
Shortly after this conversation Liam called for quiet and read out a message from Danny saying he apologized for missing their engagement and would they accept his apology and that he wished them both the best for the future.
Diana left early and they all knew the reasons why and sympathized. Liam spoke to her alone and asked her to ring him instantly if Danny’s condition changed.
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