The Lost Traveller

by Sheila Connolly

  “Yes. And nobody really knew the guy who disposed of the body—they were kind of careful about revealing any details about themselves, I gather. I know, it sounds like a fairy-tale story, with the Nameless Hero stepping up and cleaning up the mess and then disappearing into the night with the body—although if I’d been writing this, I would have dumped the body somewhere else. I might as well ask, Sergeant: do you believe Niall’s story?”

  “I can’t say without meeting the boy, but it rings true.”

  “And what would he be guilty of? Apart from arriving illegally, but that can be cleared up.”

  “You mean, should he be charged with murder? That’s harder to say. If his story’s to be believed, he wasn’t the only one to take part in the killin,’ and who knows whose blow did in Paddy, but Niall’s only witness is his sister, and she has every reason to lie to protect him.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of,” Maura said. “No other witnesses, no proof of his story. You guys can probably find proof that he and his sister were born in Ireland, but that’s only part of the story. And that’s not the part that worries me.”

  Ryan came to the obvious conclusion. “The gangs, yeh mean. When word that Paddy’s dead in Leap gets out, are they gonna come pokin’ around here to find out what happened?”

  “I was hoping you could answer that, Sergeant.”

  Ryan stared up at the ceiling for a couple of moments. “The man was family, so the guys in Limerick will want to know what happened to him. How they’ll take the news of the way he came to die, I cannot say. Could be he was a beloved relative, or could be he was a thorn in their side. Could go either way, and I can’t say right now which might be true.”

  “Can you find out?” Is that completely unrealistic? Maura had to wonder.

  Ryan looked at Sean now, who had remained silent. “I’d have to talk to our boss. It’s got to be handled carefully, so we don’t bring trouble down on our heads.”

  “And can you do that?” Maura pressed. “Get the word to the right people? Would they come after Niall and Sophie because they need some kind of payback?”

  “Depends. That’s not the answer yeh want, but it’s all I’ve got. Let me talk to Hurley and put out a few feelers, and we’ll get back to yeh.”

  Not a perfect solution, but at least it was a start. “That’s all I can ask, Sergeant.”

  “Can yeh persuade the two of ’em to come in and talk to me directly?”

  “I don’t know. They’re scared. Sophie was going to work at the café this morning, so you could find her there, but I’d hate to mess up her job if she has a chance of keeping it. She might know where Niall is hiding out, or maybe he didn’t tell her or didn’t know himself where he was going. Maybe they’re both safer if they’re apart?”

  “Again, depends on how the men from Limerick feel about Paddy. I’ll have to see what I can find out.” Ryan stood up, and Sean followed suit. “But tell the two of ’em not to leave the area, not that they’ll listen to yeh.”

  “If I see them again, I’ll do that.” Maura escorted them out, then closed the door, locking it, and leaned against it. It was still half an hour shy of opening time. From the other side of the room, Mick was staring at her. “Are yeh all right?” he asked.

  Maura considered for a moment. “I’m more all right than I was when I walked in, I guess. Look, I would have told you before, but this only came together late last night, and this morning they seemed ready to talk. I figured it was important to get the story to the gardaí, if there’s any way they can help.”

  “I understand,” Mick said. “So yeh’re tellin’ me that a gang family might show up here at Sullivan’s at any time and demand the whole story?”

  “That’s what scares me. I ended up in this mess for no reason, but now I’m trying to do the right thing for the largest number of people, and I’m not sure what that is. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, or anyone else, at least. And I hate it that there are so many parts of this I can’t control. I hate feeling helpless.”

  “Yeh’re far from helpless, Maura. Yeh found the kids and yeh got the story out of ’em, and you gave it to the gardaí. Like yeh said, yeh can’t do everything, and this is dangerous business, so yeh shouldn’t try.”

  “I’ll have to tell Rose. I’ll tell Billy too, but I think this is outside of his experience. Although I’ve been wrong before. When did the gangs start up in Limerick?”

  “Before yeh were born, Maura,” Mick said.

  “So what do we do now? Close up and hide until the sergeant sniffs around Limerick?”

  “Do yeh honestly think it would make a difference? They’d find yeh wherever. Half of Skibbereen knows where yeh live.”

  “So it’s business as usual?” Maura wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

  “I’d say so. Look, I’ve got yer back. Yeh can give Rose the choice of stayin’ away if yeh want.”

  “Damn. She’s a smart girl and independent for her age, but she’s only seventeen. Do I have the right to let her make that decision? Or do I send her home?”

  “Maura, I wish I knew what the right thing would be.” Mick sighed. “I’ve no more experience with this kind of thing than you. I fact, you’ve probably more, since yeh were raised in a city. I think Rose needs to know what’s goin’ on. Sophie is by way of bein’ her friend, and she’s goin’ to ask.”

  “I guess. Look, this may be a stupid question, but do gang members carry guns here?”

  “They could do. Guns are rare hereabouts, as yeh know, and they must be registered, but if yeh’re ignorin’ one law, why not others? I’d be surprised if they thought they’d need them here. Could be they think we’re all livin’ in a fairy-tale world here and they think they can scare us into givin’ up whatever they’re after.”

  “The Big Bad Limerick Wolves, eh? Well, for now, I’d like to think that Conor Ryan can keep things from getting any worse. We’re lucky to have someone with Limerick experience in this.” Maura thought for a moment, “Here’s another dumb question. How long does it take to drive from Limerick to here?”

  “That’s right, yeh’ve never seen the place. Less than three hours, say.”

  “That far? Anyway, once the identity of the body is released, we’ve got just over three hours before somebody could show up here. Or maybe all the relatives would have to get together to talk about it. Or maybe they’d put together a convoy and arrive all at once.”

  “Yeh’re soundin’ a bit hysterical.”

  “I know. Should we close, at least for a day or two? Or put up a sign that says POSSIBLE GANG ACTIVITY—ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK?”

  Mick looked as confused as she felt. He spread his hands but said nothing.

  Then Maura heard a key in the lock and Rose walked in, and the clock ticked forward to opening time, and it was kind of too late to do anything. Maura sent up a small prayer that she wouldn’t regret opening this day.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “Something wrong?” Rose asked as soon as she saw their faces.

  “I really have to work on my poker face,” Maura said, exasperated. “Okay, Rose, the short answer is yes. I found Sophie, and the guy turns out to be her brother Niall. They came over to Ireland illegally a few months ago, with the help of a guy from Limerick who wanted to, well, sell Sophie’s services. She and Niall got away from Limerick fast and ended up here, and they stayed in Skibbereen because Sophie found the job at the café. I told her to go back there today—if there’s any trouble I’ll explain it to Sinéad.”

  When Maura paused for a breath, Rose said, “That’s not all, is it?”

  “Smart girl. No, it’s not. The guy who brought them to Ireland is the same guy who was found dead under the bridge, Paddy Creegan, and apparently he was a gang member in Limerick. He tracked down Sophie and Niall where they were squatting near here and wanted to take Sophie with him because he figured she owed him or he had the hots for her or something. But the rest of the guys at the place didn’t like the way Padd
y tried to drag her off and kind of ganged up on Paddy and he ended up dead, and nobody could be sure who killed him, or maybe they all did. So they decided to let one of the guys, who had a car, take care of dumping the body, and the rest of them scattered, except for Sophie and Niall. When they didn’t hear anything about the body, they thought maybe they were safe. Niall got behind the bar here that night because he wanted to know if people were talking about the body. Only we didn’t know who he was then.”

  “Slow down, Maura,” Rose protested. “So, let me see if I’ve got this right: the dead guy was from a Limerick gang, and came looking for Sophie and Niall, and ended up dead under the bridge. And I’m goin’ to guess that the two of yiz are looking so worried because yeh’re wonderin’ if his gang mates will come lookin’ fer revenge?”

  “Yeah, I am worried about that,” Maura told her. “So after I heard what Sophie and Niall had to say, I asked Sean Murphy and Conor Ryan to come around before we opened, and I told them everything I just told you, only with all the details.”

  “And what did they say?” Rose demanded.

  “They took it seriously, and the sergeant said he’d touch base with his old pals in Limerick and see if he could learn who might be looking for Paddy or even come after him for some reason. And that’s all I know. To tell the truth, Rose, Mick and I aren’t sure it’s safe for you to be here, if there’s going to be trouble.”

  “And how are these guys going to know where to come lookin’ fer yeh?”

  “This is where the body was found, and that was in the news.”

  “Oh. That’s right. But why are they to think you had anythin’ to do with the poor man’s death?”

  “Shoot, I don’t know!” Maura said, more loudly than she intended. “Until this morning I didn’t know much of anything. Now I know too much. All I want is to protect everybody—Sophie, Niall, us here.”

  “And yeh’re not sure the gardaí can handle it?”

  Maura smiled ruefully. “I’d put my money on Sergeant Ryan—he’s tough. Sean’s a good man, but he’s out of his league with gangs from the city.”

  Rose faced her, hands on hips. “And yeh really think I’m going to go home and sit stewing about what might be goin’ on here?”

  “I was kind of hoping you would,” Maura told her. “I don’t want to be responsible for anything happening to you.”

  “That’s a kind thought, Maura, but I can take care of meself—I’ve been doin’ it for a couple of years now. I’d rather be here.”

  “Let her stay, Maura,” Mick said quietly. “She’s safer here with us. The gardaí know what’s goin’ on.”

  Maura’s shoulders slumped. “Fine, stay. If something bad happens, it’s not my fault.”

  Maura looked up to see Billy making his slow way into the pub for his first pint. She went over to see him settled in his chair. “Ready for a pint?”

  “I’m thinkin’ a coffee would suit me.”

  “Fine. I’ll get it.”

  “Come back with it and sit with me, will yeh?”

  Maura dredged up her first smile of the morning. “Of course I will, Billy.”

  A couple more people came in, and while Rose served them, Maura made Billy’s coffee. A nice normal day, right? Ha! She hadn’t seen Gillian since she’d made the pictures. Heck, she hadn’t seen Bridget for nearly a week, and that was not normal. Not that Mick neglected his gran, but Maura enjoyed Bridget’s company and knew that she didn’t get as many visitors as she once had. But Maura had been so twisted up about this body and what it meant that she hadn’t felt like paying a call. She wouldn’t lie to Bridget, and if Bridget brought up something she’d heard from someone else, she’d have to answer honestly. But, as she’d thought earlier, this business of gangs and killing had come after the time that Bridget and Old Billy were out and about, and apart from sharing nuggets of human wisdom, they couldn’t do much to help her now.

  “Yeh’re looking upset,” Billy said when she returned with his coffee.

  Maura had to fight not to explode. “Why does everyone keep saying that? What is it that gives me away, anyway? Should I shave off my eyebrows? Start wearing glasses?

  “So there is somethin’ wrong,” Billy said in a low voice that only she could hear.

  “Yes! There, you got it out of me. I know you’d like to help, but I really don’t think there’s anything you can do.”

  “I’m sorry. Will the trouble be endin’ soon?”

  “I hope so. Tomorrow, maybe even today.”

  “It’s to do with the dead man, I’m guessin’.”

  “Yes, you’re right. And please don’t tell me he’s a fourth cousin of yours and you grew up with his mother.”

  “Sorry, m’dear, but I’m not related to the whole of Cork. You’ve identified the man?”

  “We have.”

  “And he’s nothin’ to do with you?”

  “Not a thing, unless you count bad luck.”

  “Then I’ll say no more.”

  As the went on, Maura flinched each time someone walked through the front door, even though they all proved to be innocent citizens looking for a quick pint. When she went out to pick up something to eat, she found herself looking closely at everyone on the street, not that there were many. What about that car parked up the block that had been there for a while: was there anyone watching Sullivan’s? Friend or enemy? If the coast was clear, would someone come in and confront her about Paddy? Or would a random gang member just toss a firebomb through the front door and take off?

  She tried to shake off her fears, but it wasn’t working. Thank goodness there wasn’t music this week, because that would have complicated everyone’s safety—although it would have been a welcome distraction.

  It was close to four when she saw Sergeant Ryan walk in. But instead of approaching her, he found himself a corner table and sat. Nobody else in the room seemed to recognize him, except Billy, Rose, and Mick, or react to his presence. Maura went over to the table and asked, “What can I get you?”

  “A pint would suit me nicely,” he said.

  “Coming up,” Maura told him, and went back to the bar to pull his pint. Mick raised one eyebrow, but Maura gave a small shake of her head as she filled a glass. When it was ready, she took it to Ryan’s table. “There you go,” she said with false cheerfulness.

  “What do I owe yeh?” Ryan asked, paying a lot of attention to sorting coins he’d pulled out of his pocket. But while he was looking at his hand, he said quietly. “Might be yeh’ll be havin’ a visitor shortly.”

  “From Limerick?” Maura said in the same tone, then raised her voice. “That’s five euros.”

  “Here yeh go,” Ryan said in his normal voice, then lowered it again. “Just tell him what yeh know. All of it. He’s expecting yer news.”

  “Thanks for the tip,” Maura replied, and returned to the bar. Mick gave her a long look, then went out to get himself some food, so she didn’t have to explain to him, though he’d probably already guessed that something was up. Rose gave her a quick glance, but when Maura didn’t volunteer any information, she went back to clearing the tables. And if one more person asked Maura if something was wrong, she might hit him over the head with a bottle.

  She didn’t have long to wait. The next time she looked up, a guy came in alone—not short, not tall, but solidly built, with graying hair cut short. He was dressed like everyone else in the pub, but somehow he looked out of place. Maybe she was jumpy and was overreacting, but he looked … dangerous. No, that was silly. He looked like he knew what he was doing and what he wanted, and it wasn’t just a pint.

  She watched as he scanned the room—Billy dozing by the fire, a couple of guys at a table in the corner. She noticed that he didn’t looked directly at Sergeant Ryan in the opposite corner, but she was pretty sure the man knew who Ryan was and exactly where he was sitting. Finally he walked over to the bar and leaned his forearms on it. “You’d be Maura Donovan,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

>   “Yes. What can I get for you?”

  “A bit of yer time, if yeh don’t mind.”

  She looked briefly at Ryan, who gave her a very small nod. Then she said, “Rose, can you cover? I need to talk to this guy.”

  Rose didn’t comment but nodded and slid behind the bar. Maura turned back to the man at the bar. “The back room’s private.”

  “I was thinkin’ we might have our chat outside. I hear there’s a nice view of that famous ravine from there.”

  “Fine.” If she’d had any doubts of the man’s identity, that statement erased them. He knew about Paddy and where he’d been found. How much more did he know? She led him out to the back, to the small paved area that had a slice of a view of the river. “Have a seat,” she said.

  “I’d rather stand. But sit down if yeh want.”

  She did. Maybe it was cowardly to play the weak woman whose legs wouldn’t hold her, but getting in this guy’s face wouldn’t do her any good.

  “Yeh know who I am?” he asked.

  “I think I can guess, but I don’t know your name.”

  “Danny Creegan of Limerick. Paddy was my brother’s son.”

  “You know I found his body. Right over there, under the bridge.” Maura pointed and was pleased that her hand wasn’t shaking. “I didn’t know who he was then. Nobody did. His face was … damaged.”

  “But yeh know now. I take it his mother won’t be happy with his looks now.”

  “I doubt it. What do you want from me?”

  “Right now I’m gatherin’ facts. If yeh know who I am, you know my line of business. Young Paddy was after joining the family business.”

  Maura nodded without speaking.

  “I’m told yeh’re American, but yeh had family from around here.” Clearly the man was in no hurry. And he’d done his homework, or he and the sergeant had talked about her.

  “Yes. I only knew my grandmother, but she still had friends and relatives here. That’s why I ended up with this pub.”

  “So yeh have some idea of the importance of family hereabouts.”