by E B Corbin
“Quite a bit, actually. But we’re not exactly sure what it means.” Roxy added strips of bacon to the plates and slid them across the granite countertop. “Jeanette doesn’t remember all the places she chauffeured Liam, but a few stuck in her mind. One of them was an area where Liam insisted she drop him off and come back for him in an hour. They went to that location several times over the years. Jeanette didn’t understand his purpose, but she did as she was told. A couple of times, Liam had her leave him in one place and pick him up in another.”
“Where are these places?” Roxanne took a sip of coffee before she attacked the eggs on the plate in front of her. “Were they near O’Malley’s hunting cabin?”
“No, nothing as straightforward as that,” Roxy said. “She drove while Liam navigated and she wasn’t sure how she got there. She admits she lived in a drunken haze back then. But she feels confident she’d be able to recognize the general area again if she saw it. The problem is, we could be driving around the whole frickin’ county until she spots a patch that looks familiar.”
Conor spoke up after he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Also, she works from 8 to 4 at a candy store at some big mall or other outlet on the main road, so she can only join us after she gets off work.”
“He means the outlet mall on 79. But she’ll be home by 4:30 this afternoon and will be waiting for us to pick her up.” Roxy pushed the eggs around her plate. “It doesn’t give us a lot of daylight, but we’ll see how it goes. She’s off the job on Monday and Tuesday, so we’ll have two whole days if we don’t find something today.”
“You think it will work?” Roxanne asked. She figured they had as much chance of locating the right spot as she did of winning the Powerball lottery.
“Who knows?” Roxy shrugged. “It’s the only lead we have at the moment. Which brings me to the reason I asked you here. Niall returned their rental car to the airport last night when he caught a flight to JFK. We don’t have wheels right now and need to retrieve my rental from the garage.”
Roxanne finished her breakfast and pushed her plate away. “Sure. I take it you need a ride into town?”
“I thought you could swing by the alley on your way to the B & B.” Roxy dropped her gaze. “I haven’t seen the condition of the house yet.”
“It’s bad,” Roxanne said. When she blinked, she saw the flames shoot into the night sky. It still amazed her how quickly the fire had consumed the lovely Victorian cottage. She shook her head to clear the images from her mind. “The insurance adjustor said it’s a total loss. You need to talk to him, by the way.”
“Why? It’s not in my name. It’s part of the trust. You’re in charge.”
“I don’t feel right making such a big decision, especially knowing you’re here. I’d feel better if you decided whether to rebuild or sell the lot.”
“It’s your choice.” Roxy poured cream into her teacup. “I probably won’t be around much longer.”
“You still plan on leaving?” Roxanne had hoped they could forge some sort of bond without interfering with the love she felt for Maureen and Patrick. But much as she liked her birth mother, it was becoming increasingly difficult to understand or accept her way of life. Roxy never seemed to stop or even slow down. Unlike her, Roxanne preferred routine to turmoil; she found comfort in the familiar and felt no need to put herself in risky situations.
Roxy looked around the cabin. “I love this place. If I do return for a visit, I’d like to stay here.”
“That’s not a problem,” Roxanne told her.
“It is if you need to move in.”
“Oh, I would never do that. It’s too far from town and I don’t do well in the country by myself. I feel better knowing people are close by.”
Roxy snickered. “I should have known Maureen would turn you into a cream puff city girl.”
“What? I might be a city girl but I’m no cream puff!”
“Sure seems like it to me.” Roxy smiled. “But that’s all right. I know you can hold your own in a crunch.”
Roxanne accepted that as a compliment and decided to let the topic slide. “So do you think I should rebuild the house in town?”
“I think you should do whatever feels right to you. Don’t be concerned about what I think.”
Her words didn’t make the decision any easier. Roxanne waffled between having the house back and a desire to remain at the B & B where she felt safe under the watch of the Kate’s brother, Pete, the new chief of police. As a plus, Puka had Jonathon as a companion to play with while she spent her days in the office.
At first, she’d relished the carte blanche Roxy always gave her to do what she pleased. Now, she longed for Maureen’s practical guidance. Freedom wasn’t always so great—not when you were as confused as she’d become.
Conor finished his morning tea and cleared his throat. “Excuse me ladies. I’m going to try to reach Niall to see how he weathered the trip.”
They watched him stroll across the room and take out his cell near the window.
Roxanne began stacking the plates. “If you need any help with Jeanette, or anything else, you know how to reach me. I can arrange my schedule to be available.”
“You’ve already been more involved than I’d like,” her mother told her. “We can handle it from here.”
“What about Pearse and Seamus?” Roxanne said. “They could still be watching.”
“We’ll be careful.” Roxy turned to load the dishwasher. “I think they’re more concerned about saving their asses right now than finding the money. But we’re not discounting them.”
“Is Callahan going with you?” Roxanne hoped she didn’t sound too curious. No need for her mother to know she hadn’t seen him since the funeral yesterday. Even then, she didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him. She’d stayed in the background as much as possible the past few days. Guilt kept sticking its nose up.
“No. We’ll call him if we find anything,” Roxy said. “I think he needs to locate those two Irish bastards who shot Chester, more than anything. I need to concentrate on finding the cash.”
“I guess you’re right. I hope those lowlifes get what they deserve.” Roxanne shuddered. “I still have nightmares about them. To say nothing about Sean Cummings. Just the thought of that drug-addled kid gives me the creeps.”
“You and me both.” Roxy’s fingers traced the few remaining scabs on her neck, courtesy of Sean Cummings. He’d held a knife to her throat while trying to convince Roxanne to give up a civil lawsuit for damages in the rape of a classmate. The loathsome act, coupled with his cocky attitude, made him a prime target for Roxy’s disgust. “I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on the little punk.”
“I’m sure he’s on Callahan’s list, too,” Roxanne said. “Although with Tiffany reassigned and Gabe recuperating, there’s a lot for him and Ron to handle.”
“What’s our esteemed DSS agent up to today?” Roxy asked.
Roxanne shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably busy bidding farewell to his family.”
“He doesn’t keep you informed of his actions?” Roxy scanned her daughter’s face. “I thought you two were closer than that.”
“Not that close. We’re not exactly a couple. “
“Hmmm.” Roxy scratched her cheek. “I had the impression you were… involved.”
“We were working together, that’s all.”
“If you say so,” Roxy said. Anxious to change the subject, Roxanne busied herself gathering her coat and purse.
“Look, I hate to eat and run, but I should get back to Kate’s. Are you ready?”
As they started for the door, Conor called to them. “Hold on a minute.” He spoke a few hasty words into the phone then clicked off. “Niall gave me some information you should know.”
Roxy raised her eyebrows then waited for him to explain.
“He feels like he
abandoned us in the middle of a mess and contacted Brian for any updates as soon as his plane landed.”
“And?” Roxy prodded when Conor paused to run a hand over his face.
“And it seems the higher-ups in the organization have given up on locating the money. It was never for some terrorist plot but for a training camp.”
“For terrorists?” Roxanne said. “Same difference.”
Conor nodded. “Well, yeah, I guess you’re right. But here’s where it gets strange. Brian says one of the big bosses was contacted by a colleague in the States about setting up the camp here. It was never part of the IRA plans. They just went along because it sounded like a good idea.”
“By here, you mean in the US?” Roxanne asked.
“I mean around here somewhere—in northwestern Pennsylvania.”
Roxy honed in on the latest news. “Did he have any specifics? Like who contacted them and where exactly this camp would be?”
“Nah, Brian was afraid to ask too many questions but he did learn that whoever contacted them has been running the operation over here. The local contact promised to pay for the plane tickets and anything else they might need to locate the money. Said there’s plenty of vacant land around to keep the camp well off the beaten path. The IRA supplied the manpower for the search but the local contact was ultimately in charge.”
“That’s interesting,” Roxy said. “The whole thing had been master-minded by somebody in our own backyard. So now we have to look at everyone we see on the street as a possible suspect.”
“But why? Why would anyone want to set up an IRA training camp? Why would the IRA even go along with it? It doesn’t make sense.” Roxanne looked from her mother to Conor.
Conor held up his hands in response. “Who knows? People do all kinds of strange things.”
“I agree,” Roxy said. “But Roxanne is right. After all these years, why not just let it die a quiet death. There’s no big ideological conflict behind it anymore. And they’ve been working on assimilation into the political arena. Who needs a training camp for politicians?”
“Aye, it’s a strange one,” Conor said. “But someone’s been intent on finding that money.”
“Do you think we should tell Callahan about this?” Roxanne asked.
“What for? It doesn’t change anything for him. He’s looking for those escaped murderers, not some local idiot who’s still fighting a long-ago war.” Roxy buttoned her jacket and grabbed her daughter’s elbow. “And I’m still determined to keep that dirty money from being used for an evil cause.”
Roxanne followed her mother to the car, wondering if this news would perhaps weaken her mother’s obsession with finding the cash. If so, Roxy would then go on with her life, wherever and whatever that might be. Although Roxanne longed for peace and tranquility, she had to admit she would miss her when she was gone.
Roxy stamped her feet next to the passenger door. “Hurry up, I’m freezing.”
Roxanne shook off her introspection and hurried to click open the doors. Still warm from her trip from the B & B, the car roared to life and began spewing mild air into the interior.
As they pulled onto the two-lane road in front of Roxy’s cabin, her mother hissed, “Hit the gas. There’s a car following us.”
“What?” Roxanne glanced into the rearview mirror and noticed a hulking black SUV moving in the same direction. The vehicle kept a good distance between them and made no move to overtake the Lexus. She saw no reason to be alarmed. “It’s just a car. Probably someone going into town, just like us. If they’re tailing us they’re not doing a very good job of keeping out of sight.”
“It’s pretty hard to keep out of sight on a straight stretch of pavement.” Roxy made a wry face as she stared at the side mirror. “They pulled out of the State Game Lands a few seconds after we went past.”
“Doesn’t mean they’re following us.” Roxanne tried to talk some sense into her mother. Because of recent events, she was understandably paranoid. “A lot of people use this road.”
“Actually no,” Roxy said. “It’s rarely traveled. It only leads to an interstate entrance that’s closed.”
“Still, there are other cars that use this route.”
“But they don’t hide on the side of the road and pull out after we do.”
“How do you know they were hiding? Maybe they’re lost and stopped to look at a map.” Roxanne thought that seemed a reasonable explanation.
Roxy didn’t agree. “Because they pulled out from behind a fir tree. They were concealed for a reason and I don’t think it was to look at a map.”
Roxanne sighed. “Okay.” She stepped on the gas and sped up as much as she felt comfortable doing on the narrow lane. Her gaze alternated between the road and the mirror to gauge whether or not the SUV stayed with them. When they entered the town limits, Roxanne turned left toward the police station.
“What are you doing?” Roxy demanded.
“If someone is after us, I’m going to pull into the parking lot at the municipal building and call Pete.”
“Why on earth would you do that? You’ll scare them off.”
“Precisely,” Roxanne said. “What would you have me do? I don’t want to lead them to the B & B. Kate’s been through enough.”
“Just turn around and take me to the alley behind what used to be your house.”
Roxanne’s pulse hammered at the very idea. “It’s too secluded in that alley. We don’t know who it is or what they want.”
“You said yourself they might not be following us,” Roxy sputtered. “Make up your mind. Either they’re coming after us or not.”
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Roxanne replied as she spun the wheel and made a U-turn without bothering to look for approaching traffic. Brakes squealed and a driver registered his annoyance by laying on his horn. Roxanne made a “sorry” face at him in the rearview mirror then refocused on driving. “We’ll do it your way. But if we both end up dead or held prisoner again in some remote shanty, remember it’s your fault. I wanted to do the right thing.”
“You have no sense of adventure,” Roxy complained.
“Adventure? ADVENTURE? You’ve got to be kidding!” Roxanne watched the SUV continue along the street, never slowing. As they passed the enormous vehicle going the other way, the dark tinted windows prevented them from seeing the occupants. “Well, looks like it’s a moot point. They didn’t turn around.”
“See. You would have bothered Pete for nothing.”
“That’s not what you said a few moments ago.”
Roxy shrugged, trying to sound contrite but not quite pulling it off. “Perhaps I was wrong.”
“Ya think?”
Her mother crossed her arms and gazed out the side window. “No matter what, though, you need to become more aware of your surroundings.”
Roxanne expelled air from her lungs after checking her rear view one more time. The road behind remained clear of any black SUVs. The irate driver she’d cut off had turned at the next cross street. This was just the kind of thing she didn’t need in this town.
Roxy reached over and patted her arm. “It’s okay, dear. I know I’m a bit hard to get along with at times.” She chuckled while adding, “Just ask Maureen.”
“You rush into situations with no sense of self preservation,” Roxanne huffed as she turned into the alley and slammed on the brake. “It doesn’t hurt to ask for help sometimes.”
“I know. I guess I’m so used to doing everything myself, I forget that others are willing to…” Roxy stopped speaking as she leaned forward in her seat to see around the corner of the garage. A few charred beams stood upright, the remainder a pile of blackened lumps. “Jesus! There’s nothing left!”
Roxanne nodded. “I know.”
“If I get my hands on that little bastard, I’ll kill him!”
“I thought
you didn’t care about the house.”
“I don’t really, but I put a lot of effort into making it comfortable.” Roxy sat back, mumbling, “I have half a mind to punch our esteemed mayor, Richard Cummings, in the nose for raising such a shit of a son.”
“That would probably just get you arrested,” Roxanne told her mother.
“You’re right. But this makes me so angry, I could just scream. All your clothes, all my furniture. It’s too much.”
“The insurance should cover most of it,” Roxanne said in an attempt to console her.
“Yeah, big whoop.” Roxy dug in her pocket for the keys, pulling out an American Express card. She handed the card to Roxanne. “Here, use this until you get your replacement cards.”
“I can’t do that.” Roxanne tried to hand the card back. “You might need it.”
“It’s for the trust account,” Roxy said. “I don’t even use it. Besides, the insurance money will go into the trust, so it’s no big deal.”
Roxanne reconsidered. It would be at least ten days until she had new credit cards and she might need to make additional purchases in that time. She shrugged and slipped the card in her coat pocket. “Okay, but I’ll pay back whatever I spend on it.”
“Don’t worry, there’s a forty-thousand dollar credit limit. I don’t think you’ll go through it in a few days.” As Roxy opened the passenger door, she muttered, “I’d still like to strangle that boy!”
After the mention of her clothes, Roxanne decided this would be a good day to drive into Pittsburgh and pick up some additions to her Walmart wardrobe. The Amex card would be put to good use. She could stop and visit Maureen and Patrick at the same time. She needed a calming influence even if the woman she’d always considered her mother prior to Roxy’s appearance used to seem overly cautious at times.
She waited until Roxy opened the garage and climbed into the nondescript rental car before she pulled away with a wave. Although the air remained frigid, the clear blue sky over head felt infinite. A two-hour drive in solitude was just what she needed.
Her sense of enjoyment was short-lived. The hulking, black SUV reappeared on the highway behind her. She found herself glancing in the rearview mirror every few minutes, watching it. Traffic on I-79 was fairly light, so she pushed her Lexus as much as she dared without blatantly exceeding the speed limit.
