by Kate Sweeney
They lay in the darkness for some time until Annabel spoke. “I’m sorry about your brother,” she whispered through the darkness. She felt Maureen take a deep quivering breath as she pulled her closer.
“Thank you, Annabel,” she whispered against her hair.
Annabel shivered as she felt the warm breath against her temple. “You’re welcome. Now go to sleep,” she said and cuddled close.
Chapter 6
Maureen woke with the oddest sensation. She blinked as the water slowly dripped onto her forehead.
“What in the hell?” She put her hand up, deflecting the raindrop. Glancing at her side, she noticed the slumbering, dry Annabel. She let out a soft groan as she tried to stretch. “What in the world are we sleepin’ on?”
She was against the wall with Annabel’s body draped across hers. She grinned as she felt Annabel’s hand on her breast and felt her leg comfortably resting over her own. She didn’t want to move. Then a raindrop plopped on her forehead. Mercifully, after a moment, it stopped.
It was nearly daylight. Maureen glanced at her watch hidden by the blond head of hair. Nearly six a.m. When she yawned, Annabel sighed and cuddled closer. Maureen looked down and watched for a moment until Annabel opened her eyes.
She smiled and blinked the sleep out of her eyes. “Every time I wake up, you’re staring at me. I’m beginning to get a complex. How did you sleep?” She suddenly realized their position and sat up.
“I slept just fine. How about you?”
“I slept very well considering the accommodations,” She groaned and slipped off the cot. “You certainly know how to dazzle a woman.”
Maureen smiled and watched Annabel stifle a groan as she stretched.
“I’m hungry and you must be starved.”
Maureen grunted as she swung her legs over the side and stretched, as well. “Jaysus, that was uncomfortable.”
“Can we have a fire?” Annabel asked as she shivered.
Maureen rubbed her neck, considering it. “I think it best we move on. We can’t stay in one place too long,” she said apologetically.
Annabel could see the wheels turning and the shamed look on her face. She quickly walked over to Maureen and put her hands on her shoulders.
“Don’t feel responsible for me. I want to be here. I want to help. Two heads are better than one, you know,” she said lightly. “So they say. Though I have no idea who ‘they’ are.”
Maureen relaxed for a moment and chuckled. “Well, whoever they are, I hope they’re right.”
“Look, it’s raining and windy. I don’t know what you have planned to do next, but I really need to check in with my friend in Dublin. Why don’t we go there? I’m sure it’s safe and you can think of what you need to do and…” She smiled slightly. “Be dry and warm.”
Maureen contemplated this option. “I don’t want…”
Annabel held up her hand. “I understand. But Trevor can’t possibly know the people you know. And he’s expecting a call from me. I don’t want to worry him.”
“All right. Make your call, and we’ll go see your friend. But I’d rather not tell him anything.”
“I understand.”
Maureen wasn’t at all sure this was a good idea; she looked at Annabel, who offered a confident smile. “It’s a good idea, Maureen.”
“I sincerely hope so. Let’s go.”
After calling Trevor, who was so excited he could barely contain himself, they drove through the light rain heading toward Dublin.
“Where is it exactly?” Maureen asked.
Annabel looked at the instructions she had written down just as Trevor had given. “It’s west of Dublin in County Kildare, it says. In Dunboyne past Dunboyne Castle. So I hope you know where you’re going. Because I haven’t a clue.”
Maureen chuckled as she shifted gears. “I know exactly where it is. It’s not too far.” She glanced at Annabel as she read the instructions. “So you’re having an adventure, Francesca?”
Annabel smiled but continued to read. “Yes, I am. I can’t imagine going back to my boring life as a molecular biologist after this. If I tell my folks what I’m doing, I’m sure they’ll never let me leave Nebraska again.”
“What’s it like in Nebraska?”
Annabel looked up and gazed out the window. “Cornfields.”
“Beg your pardon?”
“Nebraska is known for cornfields. Acres and miles of it.” She laughed, still gazing out the window. “It’s green and lush in the summer, beautiful colors in the fall, and snow in the winter…”
“You sound like you miss it,” Maureen said.
“Part of me does. I grew up there, went to college there…”
“But?”
Annabel looked at her then. “But there’s part of me that wanders. You know what I mean? Sometimes I feel so unsettled.”
“I know what ya mean.” Maureen laughed. “That’s been my life. And Michael’s.”
“I can’t imagine,” Annabel said softly, reaching over to touch her hand.
Maureen glanced down at their hands but made no attempt to move hers. “As I said, we fared well enough. We stayed together, and that was the important thing.”
“So…” Annabel started, “gauging from what I saw with Lucy—”
“Leiza.”
“I take it you’re not married?”
Maureen shot her a quick look, nearly driving off the road. “What kinda question is that?”
“What? I thought we were getting to know each other. Are you? I’m not. Want to know why?”
Maureen tried to hide her grin. “I can offer one guess.”
“And you’d be right.” Annabel narrowed her eyes. “Unless you were going to be insulting.”
Maureen laughed outright. “No, Annie. I was not going to insult ya. I think you and I are very much alike in this regard. Mrs. Burke seems to think so anyway.”
Annabel smiled. “She got you, too, eh?”
They sat in silence for a moment or two. Maureen concentrated on her driving, and Annabel grinned.
“You’re talking about us both being lesbians, I hope?” Annabel asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Good,” Annabel said happily. She settled back and once again gazed out the window. “It’s beautiful here, all the rolling hills. Actually, it looks a great deal like Nebraska.”
“Without the corn?”
“Without the corn.”
“So…”
Annabel looked at her. “So…?”
“Why is that you’re not involved with anyone?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been so wrapped up in getting my doctorate. It left little time for anything else.” She glared at Maureen then. “How do you know I’m not involved with anyone?”
“Because you’re here alone. And you’re shamelessly flirting with me. And ya don’t strike me as a woman who’d be unfaithful.”
“Hmm. But you’re right. So don’t look so smug.”
“But there had to be someone, sometime? I can’t imagine an attractive woman as yourself being without.”
“You think I’m attractive?”
Maureen shifted gears. “Ya have your moments.”
Annabel laughed. “Well, I did have someone, but it ended badly. It’s the same story told again and again. She had an affair. So the trust was gone, and soon after, so was she.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks, but it was a while ago. And since then, it’s been sporadic at best. How about you?”
Maureen let out a sigh. “It’s much the same. Trying to keep Michael out of trouble when I was younger, then trying to help him out of the trouble he got himself into...it’s hard to keep a steady girlfriend with the life I lead.”
Annabel noticed the pensive look. “You won’t always lead this kind of life.”
Maureen let out a rude snort. “If I don’t get Michael out of this, I will.”
Annabel turned to face Maureen as much as the seat belt would allow.
“But you must have wanted to do something else. What did you want to be when you were younger?”
She glanced at Annabel. “Don’t be laughin’ at me now…”
“I would never. Tell me.”
“I wanted to be a detective.”
“Why would I laugh at that?”
“Well, it’s hard to go from the life I lead right now with a drug dealer to being a police officer. It’d be nice to have the authority to put a drug dealer away. But I do…”
Annabel glanced at Maureen. “I find it hard to believe you work for a drug dealer.” She held her hand up when Maureen started to say something and continued. “I know what you said, but there’s something missing here. Something you’re not telling me. I can feel it. But it’s your business. So anyway back to this…when you finish with this mess, why don’t you?”
Maureen frowned deeply. “It’s not as easy as that, Annie.”
“I didn’t say it would be easy.” Annabel grinned. “And I like it when you call me Annie.”
Maureen blushed to her roots and shook her head. “You’re a crazy woman.”
“So I’ve been told.” She looked at her surroundings once more. “Are we close to Trevor’s?”
“As a matter of fact, we’re coming up to it. See, over there on the right. The wooded area…That’s the Dunboyne Castle. It’s a hotel now.”
“I expected a rugged castle. It looks like a Georgian mansion.”
“I’m not sure of the history, but it started off as a castle, then throughout the years, it was sold to a convent, then converted to the hotel. Never been inside.”
“It certainly is close to Dublin.”
“Everything is close in Ireland. Tell me the turnoff again?”
Annabel quickly looked at her notes. “Past the castle on the other side of Dunboyne.” She laughed then. “The second street will have a large boulder at the entrance. Trevor’s name is on the rock.”
Maureen laughed along. “It may sound silly, but in some places, it’s so desolate, you could get lost easily if ya don’t know where you’re going.”
Driving through the town, Annabel noticed it was a quaint place. “Are all towns so charming-looking?”
“Yeah. Once you’re out of the city, like Dublin or Galway, Cork and such, the villages are quaint as if time forgot them. Dunboyne still has a city look of it, though.”
“You have a poet in you…”
“If you tell anyone that, I’ll deny it.” Maureen drove out of town and soon came to the entrance with the unusual landmark. “Here it is.” She turned onto the gravel road, lined by tall trees, but off in the distance, she could see the green rolling hills.
“Is this his driveway?” Annabel asked. Gray-bricked, covered in ivy, and full of windows, the two-story house came into view. “I’m going to kill him.”
Maureen laughed as she pulled around in the circular drive. “It is big,” she conceded as she cut the engine.
They walked up the few steps to the door and noticed the nameplate: Dr. Trevor Kittredge.
“The egotist.” Annabel, still amazed, rang the bell. “This place is huge.”
In a moment, the door opened, and there he stood with the same lopsided grin and the same lock of black hair falling on his brow.
“Annabel!” he nearly screeched and threw his arms around her. “I can’t believe you’re here.” He stepped back, still grinning. “And you look marvelous.”
“Thanks, Trevor,” Annabel said, holding on to him. “God, it’s so good to see you.” She stepped back. “Oh, this is Maureen Costello.”
“Already?” he mumbled to Annabel’s glare as he held out his hand. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”
Maureen took the offered hand. “Thanks.”
“Well, let’s not stand on the doorstep,” Trevor said. “We’ll get trampled.”
Annabel laughed as she and Maureen followed him. She looked around the large foyer. “This is enormous, Trevor.”
“I know,” he said, looking around, as well. “The owner is a wealthy Irish aristocrat. Family money, I think.” He looked back at Maureen, who was gazing at her surroundings almost in awe. He glanced at Annabel, who shrugged.
“Let’s go into the living room. We’ll sit by the fire and pretend we’re Irish. And you can tell me what’s been happening. How about some coffee? Tea?”
“Coffee’s good.” Annabel sat on the couch watching Maureen as she cautiously stood by the fire, warming her hands.
“Nothing for me, thank you,” Maureen said absently.
“Well, make yourselves at home. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. What’s wrong?” Annabel asked.
Maureen turned away from the fire. “Nothing, why?”
Annabel leaned forward and whispered, “I know you well enough. I know you’re worried, but Trevor is my friend and—”
“That’s the problem,” she whispered back. “I don’t want another innocent person involved here. We should never have come.” She looked completely frustrated when she ran her fingers through her hair.
“We don’t have to tell Trevor a thing.”
“Tell me what?”
Maureen whirled around when Trevor walked into the room carrying a tray that he placed on the table in front of Annabel. “It’s the maid’s day off.”
“You have a maid?” Annabel asked.
“Scads of them,” he said. “Cream, sugar?”
“Both, thanks,” Annabel said, seeing Maureen scowl as she watched Trevor pour.
He handed Annabel the cup and sat down. “Now tell me what you don’t want me to know.” He smiled happily at both women. “Annabel, darling, tell Maureen.”
“Tell her what?”
“That you know I won’t let this go.”
If it were possible for Maureen to scowl deeper…
“Um, Trevor,” Annabel said cautiously, setting her cup on the table.
“Um, Annabel…” He continued to smile, but when he saw the deep frown on Maureen, he took a drink of coffee, then stood. “I think we need something a little stronger because I have a feeling this is going to be a good story.” He patted Maureen on the shoulder as he walked by. “And I think you could use it.”
Trevor walked over to the cabinet on the far side of the room. “I have Irish whiskey, Scottish scotch, or…”
“Whiskey will be fine, thanks.”
Annabel chewed her bottom lip in an effort not to laugh at the tone of resignation from Maureen.
“Ice?”
“Neat. Please.”
“Hmm,” he said as he poured. “Neat? Like James Bond?”
“That’s nothing at all like James Bond, you idiot,” Annabel said. “And I’ll have one, too. In case you were going to ask.”
“Yes, smartass.”
“So,” he said, after handing Annabel her glass. “Tell me what you don’t want me to know.” He sat back and took a drink. “And I know it’s something bad because you look like you might collapse. You look a mite pale. Are you ill?”
“No, I’m fine. Look, Dr. Kittredge—”
“Trevor,” he said with a wide grin.
Maureen sighed heavily. “Trevor. I think this may have been a mistake.” Maureen looked at Annabel. “You should stay and visit with your friend, Annabel. I should be moving on now.”
Annabel quickly walked over to her, nearly spilling her drink. She placed her hand on Maureen’s shoulder. “Not on your life. You need to rest, Maureen. You’ll think clearer then.”
“If I may offer,” Trevor called out. “I have about fifty bedrooms in this museum. Forty-nine of which are not currently being used. And you, Miss Costello, look as though you could use a rest.”
Maureen leaned against the mantel and shook her head. “You won’t give up, will you?”
“No, he won’t,” Annabel said.
“Now that we have that settled. What’s happened?” Trevor crossed his legs and lazily swung one back and forth.
“Maureen was st
abbed,” Annabel blurted out. Maureen’s incredulous look had her stifling a laugh. She had to remember the situation was anything but funny.
Trevor spit up his whiskey and quickly wiped at his shirt. “Well, I don’t know what I was expecting, but that certainly wasn’t it. Now you must explain. And you’ll make me feel much better if you sit down before you fall over. I have a bad back.”
Maureen slumped into a nearby chair, letting out a tired groan. Annabel and Trevor were quickly at her side. “I saw the sign on the door, Dr. Kittredge. A medical doctor?”
“Uh...no,” Trevor said. “Doctor of psychology. I can mend your psyche.” He looked at Maureen. “Are you in need of such an adjustment?”
Annabel tried not to laugh at Trevor’s serious tone.
Maureen narrowed her eyes. “Can ya prescribe medication?”
“Sadly, no,” Trevor said. “Not legally anyway.”
“Two doctors and not one of ya can get me a painkiller.”
“Now, now, Bellie can treat you if you have a microbial or molecular issue,” Trevor said indignantly. “Are you infected?”
“Bellie?” Maureen said, her lips twitching as she looked up at Annabel.
“It’s a nickname,” she said, “and no, you can’t use it.”
Trevor laughed. “All right, let’s do this. We’ll get you up to a room so you can rest. And Bellie can explain how you came to be stabbed. Which has all the earmarks of a good old-fashioned mystery.”
After walking up one flight of stairs, Maureen realized just how tired she was. By the time they got to the nearest bedroom, she thought she’d collapse. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watched as Annabel knelt and slipped off her shoes. “I can do that…”
“Shush,” Annabel said, standing with a groan. “This is getting to be a ritual between us. Now lie back.”
Maureen did so with a groan, then sighed tiredly as her head hit the downy pillow. “Just a few minutes, Annabel. Please don’t let me sleep long.”
Annabel sat on the side of the bed and reached over, brushing a red curl off her forehead. She felt her forehead and grimaced as it felt warm to her touch. The fear of Maureen having a fever or infection rippled through her. Where could she get an antibiotic if needed?
And just because it seemed like the right thing to do, she placed a light kiss on her forehead. “Just checking for a fever.”