A Nice Clean Murder Part 13

I was shocked. aRussell Devine is a client of yours?a When she said nothing, I continued, aYou can at least tell me. I can find that out on my own.a She shot an angry look my way. aYour tactics might work back in Chicago, but donat try to threaten me.a She turned and opened her car door and stopped. aHe is not my client. Thatas all I can tell ya.a aThank you, Iam sorry if I offended you,a I said and she turned and put on her sungla.s.ses.

aYa didnat, itas my temper. Iall be in touch.a I went back into the library. aHeas not her client, but she knows something.a I sighed and plopped myself back into the chair. aDammit, everybody knows something around here but me! We need to go back to cave with better lighting.a I looked at Mac who agreed, as did Charlie.

aNot today. The tideas comina in, so youall have to wait until tomorrow.a We all agreed, even Maggie and Teri, that the next day would be better. I looked at Charlie. aIs your girl finding out about Mr. Devine?a aYes, she is. She said shead be calling back later this evening.a aSomeone has to know about Mr. Devine,a I said absently.

I sat there thinking, Russell Devine is from Dublin and so is Peter; that in itself is no great concern. However, given the circ.u.mstances, it might be. I looked at Mac. aWhat did Peter have to tell you last night?a aOh, I nearly forgot. Heas gone to Dublin to see Deirdre, said head be back later tonight. He did look worried, though he wouldnat say why.a aHeas up to his a.s.s in this. If heas an archaeologist, heas got to be digging in that cave for something. What does it have to do with the mill? What is Russell Devineas reason for being here?a I got up and paced. aAnd why is The Omega Group offering so much money?a aI thought you and I were going to take a ride to Donegal today,a Mac said.

aI nearly forgot. Itas only four oaclock. We can be there and back by dinner,a I offered, but Teri stood.

aMac, remember, Rory Nolan is stopping by to see you,a she said.

aNo problem, Iall go myself.a I shrugged and picked up the car keys. Maggie followed me into the foyer.

aWant some company?a she asked as she grabbed her sweater and walked out the door.

aNo.a She was already in the car.

Chapter 19.

The Donegal Inn was very crowded. We walked up to the desk and the young girl smiled.

aBack again? Iam afraid weare completely booked.a aNo, no. Is Mr. Collins still here?a I tried to get a glimpse of the registry book. Maggie noticed and tried to do the same. The young girl skimmed the page and looked up. aYes, heall be here for another day. Heas in the lounge right now,a she offered and pointed in the right direction. Maggie, G.o.d love her, seized the opportunity.

aMy, what a lovely ring. May I see it?a she asked and the girl offered her hand, smiling.

aMy boyfriend gave it to me,a she said.

aMay I look at it in the light?a Maggie asked and took her away from the desk and straight to the window. I quickly turned the book around and scanned the pages. I found Russell Devineas name and dates, as well as Mr. Collins. Then I hastily turned the book back as Maggie and the girl returned to the desk.

aThat is a beautiful stone. Thank you,a Maggie was saying as the girl stood behind the desk.

As we walked to the bar, I took her by the arm. aVery clever, Doctor,a I whispered.

aI had a Sherlock moment.a We sat at a small table in the lounge. The room was crowded, but I saw Mr. Collins at the end of the bar. I asked our waitress to tell him who I was and ask if I could speak with him. We watched as she talked to him. He looked our way and smiled slightly.

aHere goes nothing,a I said, and Maggie patted my knee as he walked toward our table.

aMiss Ryan? We meet again,a he said and looked at Maggie. I made the introductions.

aYou wanted to speak to me?a he asked politely and sat down.

aYes, I did. Mac was telling me about your offer. I was curious as to the amount. Itas seems very generous,a I said as the waitress set down our drinks.

aWeave been interested in Mr. McAuliffeas property for quite some time now,a he said.

aWhy would a mega company like yours want a small woolen mill?a Maggie blurted out and I cringed.

Jarred Collins raised his eyebrows and smiled. aA mega company? Seems youave been doing a little research, Dr. Winfield. Iam not privy to the companyas plan. I am here merely to present the offer. Now if youall excuse me. It was very interesting meeting you.a He stood and bowed slightly and made his way through the busy lounge.

I sat there for a moment not saying anything. Glancing at Maggie, she avoided my look completely. After another moment of silence, I picked up my drink.

aOkay, okay. I shouldnat have blurted that out,a she admitted, completely dejected.

aItas time for a couple of questions, Doctor,a I said firmly, hiding my grin. aWhoas the private investigator here?a aYou are.a She sighed unhappily.

aAnd who is the doctor?a aI am,a she answered. I saw the forlorn look.

aAnd who has helped me more than she will ever know?a I asked. Whatas getting into me? It must be this country air.

Maggie quickly looked up and grinned. aI sincerely hope itas me.a aIt is,a I said and took her hand.

aI thought I could help,a she said, looking at our hands.

aI know, and I appreciate it, truly I do,a I said.

aKate,a she said slowly.

aWait, let me say something. About the other night. I was wrong when I said it didnat mean anything. Iam so out of touch here. I have to be honest. I donat know what the h.e.l.l Iam doing. And Iam not sure itas fair to you.a aDonat you think Iam a better judge of whatas fair for me?a she asked and sat back.

aMaybe. I know I care for you. G.o.d knows, youave been the best friend Iave ever had. I donat want to lose thata"a aNeither do I.a I sat there and tiredly rubbed my forehead. Maggie was watching me with a grin. aAre you all right?a aNo,a I said childishly. aI have a headache.a aAw,a she said, and to my surprise, she leaned forward and kissed my brow. aBetter?a aNo. I-Itas a little sore right here,a I said and pointed to my cheek.

She raised an eyebrow and gently kissed my cheek. Some dope in the crowded bar let out a deep groan. I think it was me.

My heart raced as I tried to find some moisture in my mouth. aW-Wead better get back before something else starts aching.a Maggie let out a healthy laugh and I joined her. I tossed some money down on the table as we quickly exited the crowded bar.

Maggie and I went for a walk before dinner. We strolled down the path toward the cottage and Maggie stopped to look at it.

aIt is a pretty cottage. All it needs is a little paint and touchup on the thatching,a she said, smiling.

I knew she would like the cottage. aI agree. I stayed there the other night, before you got here. With the fire going, itas warm and cozy.a aYou and your fires again.a We sat on the stone wall looking out at the Atlantic. The sun was descending, and the clouds seemed to engulf the sky once again, but it was still warm, almost summer-like weather.

aI certainly hope this weather holds up for a couple more days. I feel close to getting to the bottom of this. I do.a I rubbed my neck.

aYouare going down there again tomorrow, arenat you?a she said.

I heard the worried tone in her voice. aYes, we need better lighting. I think we should go earlier in the morning when the tide is completely out, as Tim suggested.a I glanced at Maggie as she looked out at the ocean. aI know you have to. However, you canat ask me not to worry about you.a aWeall be fine. Really,a I said, trying to convince myself, as well. We continued walking farther from the cottage and the house.

aSo it seems like your anxiety attacks are less frequent. You do feel better about talking, donat you?a she asked.

aI do. You know me pretty well. Talking about myself is not one of my strong points. However, you do have a way of getting me to open up. Aggravating as it is at times.a I heard her chuckle as we strolled down the path. aI do appreciate you listening. It was a horrible time in my life. Probably the worst. I canat believe how foolish I was. Howaa I ran my fingers through my hair and started thinking about it. Maggie watched me, waiting for the wave of anxiety to start, Iam sure. It did, but not nearly as bad as it usually does.

aItas getting better,a she said.

I nodded, although I was perspiring and I wiped my forehead.

aYouave kept it bottled up for so long. Thatas not good for you. Iam your friend and Iall listen, but you need to get certain things said out loud. It makes it easier to deal with,a she said.

I watched her as she spoke. aWhy do you bother?a She stopped and gave me a curious look. aThis is going to be like pulling teeth for you, isnat it?a she asked with an affectionate grin. aKate, you and I need toa"a All of a sudden, the thunder rolled in the distance. We both looked up.

aGet back fast,a I finished quickly, looking at the sky.

aNo, wait a minute,a she said and held my arm. The wind started to blow.

aCamon, tell me later,a I said and grabbed her hand.

We ran back to the cottage, barely missing the cloudburst. We stood on the doorstep waiting for the rain to stop. aLetas go in. I donat think itall stop too soon,a I said.

aWhat a downpour,a I said, looking out the window.

Maggie was admiring the cottage. aThis is adorable,a she said, looking around.

aYes, it is, very cozy,a I said. The thunder boomed and Maggie jumped. Remembering her fear of thunder, I put my arm around her shoulders and gave her a rea.s.suring hug.

aCamon, sit, I wish we had time, I could build a small fire.a aCan I ask you a question?a she asked.

aMaybeaa aIs there a bad scar?a I wasnat expecting that. Honestly, I donat know what I was expecting. I said nothing for a moment or two. aYes, there is,a I said and instinctively felt the back of my neck. aIave nevera"a aMay I see it?a she asked, interrupting me.

aMaggie,a I groaned self-consciously. aWhy would you want to see an ugly scar?a I got defensive. This was way too much attention for my liking.

aCall it a doctoras morbid curiositya"call it anything you like,a she said, being gently persistent.

aYouare not going to let this go, are you?a I sighed, turned my back to her, and unb.u.t.toned a few b.u.t.tons of my shirt. aG.o.d, youare a pest,a I said as she pulled my shirt down, exposing my back. I thought for sure she was going to gasp or make some disgusted noise. I remembered a woman I dated a couple of years before, in an intimate embrace, she saw the scar and was revolted. It was a definite mood killer.

Maggie, however, was too kind for that. If she felt the same revulsion, I couldnat tell. I felt her fingers on the scar, probing professionally. There she goes touching me again. Goodness, she had a soft touch. My back tensed and I shivered for a moment.

aSorry, did that hurt?a aNo, youavea No, that definitely didnat hurt.a aShe certainly did a number on you,a she whispered. aWhoever the surgeon was did a magnificent job.a I knew the jagged scar ran from my hairline on the back of my neck down and across my shoulder blade. I felt her trace the scar with her fingertips. She pushed my shirt back up around my shoulders. It seemed as though her hands lingered on my shoulders for an instant. Then I felt her soft fingers lightly run through my hair for one wonderful moment and they were gone.

As I b.u.t.toned my shirt, I laughed thinking about the revolted woman, and when Maggie asked, I told her. aSo thank you for not pa.s.sing out or running, screaming into the night in terror,a I said, b.u.t.toning my shirt.

aDid you think I would do that?a aIt wouldnat have been out of the question. Itas a hideous scar,a I said defensively as we stood and faced each other.

Suddenly, a window shattered. I instinctively grabbed Maggie and stood in front of her. aWhat the Christ?a I yelled and looked around.

Someone had hurled a bottle through the back window and it exploded into a small ball of flames by the front door. Maggie screamed and I picked up the rug in front of the fireplace and threw the blanket on the fire, smothering it. I stomped until the fire was out. The smell of kerosene permeated the cottage.

I turned around and looked at Maggie. aAre you all right?a I asked urgently. She only nodded.

aDonat move,a I said and opened the front door and ran out. There was no one, nothing. I looked in all directions. aSonofab.i.t.c.h,a I cursed and went back inside.

aChrist, Kate, that scared the life out of me. Are you all right?a she asked.

aIam fine. Letas get back to the house, though,a I said anxiously.

Charlie bounded down the stairs when we made our noisy entrance. aWhatas the ruckus?a he started to joke, then saw our faces. aWhat happened now?a Mac and Teri joined us and I explained.

Mac was furious. aIave had about all I can take.a aMac, please donat lose your head, honey,a Teri said.

I looked around. aWhereas Peter?a I asked suspiciously.

aHeas still in Dublin. At least thatas where he said head be,a Mac said.

aWhereas Tim?a I asked, running my fingers through my damp hair. I looked at Maggie; she was staring at the fire.

aHe went out about an hour ago, said there were a few old friends he wanted to meet. He should be back anytime,a Teri said.

During dinner, we discussed what had been happening. I became extremely tired and yawned wildly. Tim followed suit. aItas a contagious thing. Now are you goina back down there tomorrow?a he asked, drinking his wine.

aYes, but we need to be better equipped this time,a I said. aHey, Mac, you have those keys, letas check out the cellar after dinner and see whatas down there. Maybe weall get lucky.a We continued with dinner and Charlie asked, aSo this Molotov c.o.c.ktail was another scare tactic?a I thought about it for a moment. aI donat know. Why start a fire?a I said and absently picked at my food.

aYou certainly canat stay in the cabin anymore. The smell of that kerosene is enough to keep anyone out. We can clean it up later,a Maggie offered.

aIam glad neither of you were hurt,a Teri said.

My mind was racing. There was a reason for that firea aLetas get back to the cliffs. If we need more equipment, maybe itas in the cellar. We havenat been down there yet,a Mac said and pushed his plate away. aIall get the keys.a He left the dining room and came back holding the cellar key and the other smaller one. aI wonder what this little one is for.a I looked at it. aLet me have that one. Iall check every lock in this house,a I said with a determined nod.

As Mac opened the cellar door, he pulled a string and turned on a light bulb that dangled from the cobweb ceiling.

aAh, modern electricity,a Charlie said sarcastically.

We all cautiously descended the stairs and once at the bottom, there was yet another string and another light bulb. aOh, allow me this time,a Charlie quipped and pulled the string.

The light illuminated the cellar and I took inventory of the damp area. There was a long table with a.s.sorted tools on it. Mac found two lanterns and a couple of large flashlights. He turned them on.

aHmm. I didnat expect them to work,a Mac said absently.

Charlie was busy on the other side of the cellar. aWe donat know how old those batteries are,a he said. He picked up a gallon can and shook it, opened it, and smelled it. aKerosene,a he said.

I noticed something next to the containers. ah.e.l.l-o.a There were four or five long thick ax handles with rags tied to the end of them. I picked one up. aItas like right out of the movies. I wonder if these would be better to use. They might stay lit longer,a I suggested.

I looked around the cellar and noticed pickaxes, shovels, and a pair of heavy work boots all together with the cans of kerosene and torches. aLooks like someone was getting ready to do some digging.a aLetas leave this and you can take the torches in the morning,a Teri said.

Tim was at the top of the stairs, we told him what we found. aThe last time I saw Brian, I asked him to borrow, oh, I canat remember now what it was, but he didnat let me down there. He went himself and closed the door behind him,a he said and scratched his head.

aEverybody, up to bed. Doctoras orders,a Maggie said seriously. aIf youare going to go climbing again, I donat want you exhausted and falling into the ocean. I donat care how good a swimmer you might be.a She pushed me toward the stairs.

I took a hot bath, and as I laid my head back, my mind went to work. Why would someone start a fire in the cottage? Then my mind went to Bridget and Peter. Peter is definitely involved in whatever this is. Bridget knows something, as well. She knows the man in the dark coat who now had a namea"Russell Devine.

Maggie was right, which irritated me to no end. I was exhausted as I went back to my room meeting Maggie in the hall.

aDid you leave me any hot water?a she asked.

aYes, Dr. Winfield, itas all yours,a I said, just as the thunder started again.