by E B Corbin
She watched her mother step up to the doorframe, pull off one of the gray blocks, and after careful deliberation, extract one of the wires.
Roxanne shut her eyes, waiting for a blast to knock them off their feet.
Nothing happened. When she opened her eyes, Roxy grinned like the Cheshire Cat, gently opened the back door and motioned Roxanne through. In one easy motion, she stuck the wire back, replaced the blob of gray stuff and smoothly shut the door.
"Run!" she ordered.
They scrambled for the closest stand of trees without stopping to look back. Roxanne ducked behind a large tree trunk, waiting for Roxy to catch up. Before going any farther, Roxy grabbed a fallen branch with a few dead leaves still clinging to it. As they started forward, she dragged the branch behind them to mask their footprints in the few inches of remaining snow.
Roxanne marveled at her mother's shrewdness in making an escape, while she slowed her pace somewhat to make it easier on the older woman.
"Keep moving!" Roxy barked just before an explosion ripped the air.
Roxanne dropped to the ground, expecting the same detritus as in the boat's last salvo. Her body vibrated from the shock waves, her ears rang as the roar died. But they were protected by the tree branches and nothing hit near them.
"Jesus!" Roxanne cried when she caught her breath. "You blew it up!"
"That was for Chester."
"Should we go back to see if any of them survived? Maybe we can help."
Her mother shook her head. "What for? Clancy, Pearse and Seamus might have heard the explosion and could come back. Besides, nobody survived that blast."
"But... how do you know that?" Roxanne's brow creased as she used her hands to rise on shaky legs.
"I know them," Roxy assured her. "Trust me. I've seen a lot of death and destruction caused by these people. Nothing we do can even compare. If any of those three sleeping in the house survived the blast... which I doubt...they'll have a bullet in their head real soon for allowing us to escape."
"But..." Roxanne started.
"No time to talk. We've got to keep moving. Before they start searching for us."
"They could think we're lying dead under some rubble."
"They won't. They'll take a few minutes to probe the debris but when they don't find us right away, they'll start the hunt. They can't chance us roaming around. Let's go." Roxy held out her hand to steady her daughter before pulling her through the thickening trees.
Roxanne stumbled along behind her for several minutes until her mother came to an abrupt halt.
"Shit! Get down!" She pushed Roxanne to the ground next to a fallen log.
"Wha...?" This was all becoming too much for Roxanne's shattered nerves.
"Shhh...someone's coming." After searching for better concealment, Roxy gestured for her to stay low and joined her behind the log.
Roxanne's breath came in short bursts. She could feel the blood pounding through her veins as they hunkered in the snow.
Then she picked up what her mother must have heard--the crackling sounds of someone pushing through the brush.
- 27 -
Roxy stood and waved at the new arrivals. Then she turned back to her daughter and offered her a hand to get up from their frozen hiding place.
"Are you crazy?" Roxanne tried to pull her mother back behind the log. No way would she expose herself to more danger. Not when they were so close to escaping.
Roxy smiled down at her. "Come on. It's safe."
Safe? Roxanne hadn't felt safe since this whole episode began. She shook her head with force.
"Honest," Roxy laughed. "It's all right to come out. Conor and Niall won't hurt us."
Roxanne remained where she was, unable to set aside her misgivings about those two. Unbidden questions popped into her mind and wouldn't let go. What were they doing here? Whose side were they really on? She didn't know these men--didn't know who or what to believe.
As she deliberated, her mother skirted the log to hug both Conor and Niall. "How did you find us?"
"We were keeping an eye on your daughter. We saw Clancy grab her at Chester Callahan's place and we followed." Conor called to Roxanne, "You can come out now, lassie. We need to get moving. They could show up any minute."
Reluctantly, she pushed herself up from the snow-covered ground. Conor's words made sense. She'd rather take her chance with these two than face the others again. She brushed snow from her jeans and parka and stepped around the log.
"You were at Chester's? Why didn't you help us?" she demanded.
"We thought if they didn't see us, they would lead us to Roxy. We had no idea the arses would shoot anyone," Conor said with a deep frown.
"Did you check on Chester after they shot him?"
"Aye, we did, lassie. But it was too late. He was gone." Conor avoided her eyes.
"Why didn't you call for help?" Her voice came out in a screech.
Roxy wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I'm sure if there was anything they could do, they would have," she said in a voice laden with sorrow and compassion. "You have to face what happened."
"But..." Until now, Roxanne had held on to a sliver of hope that Chester had somehow survived. Her legs began to buckle and tears filled her eyes.
"We have to move!" Niall said.
Roxy held her daughter up with one arm as they followed him through the trees, heading in a perpendicular direction from the path they had taken. With her free arm, she grabbed the same tree branch as before and brushed away their collective footprints in the snow.
Roxanne stumbled along, too grief-stricken to pay attention to where they were going.
Within ten minutes, they arrived at a two-lane blacktop where a tan Toyota SUV hid behind a pine in a small opening off to the side of the road. Roxy followed the two Irishmen as they ran across the asphalt to the car. Roxanne hesitated a few moments before she joined them. Even if she couldn't trust Conor and Niall, the SUV's comfort and shelter from the icy wind would be a welcome change.
Roxanne and her mother piled in the back; Niall jumped in the driver's seat. He pulled out before Conor had the passenger door completely closed. "Keep an eye out for unwanted company," he called out, hunched over the steering wheel in concentration.
"I'll watch the front. Roxy, keep an eye out back." Conor kept his eyes focused on the road ahead.
"Roxanne, it's easier for you to twist around. My spine isn't what it used to be," her mother said.
Thankful for the opportunity to be useful, Roxanne leaned against the door and swiveled to cover the rear. In the distance she saw a dark dot grow bigger as it approached. "Someone's coming!"
Niall growled as he plastered the gas pedal to the floor but the car gained only a modicum of speed.
"Shit," Roxy muttered as a black SUV came from the front and blocked the road. The black dot turned into another SUV and blocked them from behind.
"It's all right." Roxanne tried to ease the tension in the vehicle. "It's probably the DSS agents."
"Great." Roxy's sarcasm was accompanied by Conor's groan as Niall punched the steering wheel.
"What?" Roxanne looked at her mother with disbelief. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather see the agents than those IRA guys any time."
"Even though one of them's a mole?" Roxy asked.
"Well," Roxanne's voice faltered. "You don't know that for sure."
"Yes, I do." Roxy propped her chin on her hands. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!"
Callahan and Tiffany jumped out of the car in front. They used the SUV's doors for protection; their guns pointed at the Toyota in a two-handed grip. More car doors slammed and Roxanne spun to see Ron and Pete in similar positions at their rear.
Acting on pure instinct, Roxanne grabbed the door handle and stepped out. "Wait!" she cried. "Don't shoot!"
Callahan visibly relaxed but Tiffany remained rigid. "Who's with you?" the blond agent shouted.
"My mother and two of her friends." Roxanne wished she would lower the
gun, but figured the agent was only following proper procedure.
"Tell them to get out with their hands where we can see them." Tiffany was not going to cut them any slack.
As Roxanne motioned to the three in the car, she felt Pete and Ron closing the distance from the rear.
Roxy opened the back door and slid out with her hands in the air. "Stay calm, everyone." She shifted to include Pete and Ron. "These gentlemen mean no harm. They're friends of mine and none of us should be treated as criminals." She leaned over the car and spoke to Conor and Niall.
Roxanne stood dumbfounded as her mother took charge of the situation and no one seemed willing to give her any flack. Conor and Niall stepped out with their hands held high. Callahan gestured to the agents to relax. He approached the Toyota as his fellow law enforcement officers lowered their weapons while keeping a wary eye on their former targets.
"Roxy, it's a relief to see you safe and sound." He nodded at her then turned his attention to Conor and Niall. "Step away from the car, please."
When the two Irishmen obeyed without a word, Callahan walked around Niall to reach Roxanne. He took her hand. "Are you okay?"
"I am now," she said reassured by the physical contact. "How did you find us?"
"Pete and Ron spotted this car sitting vacant about a half-hour ago and called us at the hospital for backup."
Roxanne started to ask why they were at the hospital. Maybe Conor had been wrong about Chester. Was he still alive? Then she remembered that Gabe had been shot, it had nothing to do with Chester. "How's Gabe?"
"He's fine. Turned out to be just a flesh wound--big baby."
She relaxed a bit, glad to hear the news. But her breath caught in her throat while she pondered how to tell Callahan about his grandfather. Deciding there was no easy way, she blurted, "Chester's dead."
"What?" Color drained from Callahan's face. "What are you talking about? Chester's at the farm."
"That's where they grabbed me." She lowered her head as a shiver ran through her. "They sh-shot Chester."
When he seemed to deflate in front of her, Roxanne reached out to him. "I'm so sorry."
"I need to get to the farm." Callahan pulled away to run his hands through his hair. "Jesus! Are you sure he's...gone? Maybe he's got a flesh wound like Gabe."
"No, I'm certain. Conor and Niall checked on him before they followed me here." She swiped a tear from her cheek. "It was my fault."
Callahan seemed not to hear her last words. He stepped back, signaling for Tiffany to join them. "Take care of this. I'm going to the farm"
"What's going on?" Tiffany grabbed his elbow.
"It's Chester. I've got to check on him." Callahan ran to the SUV and sped away before anyone could react.
When the blond agent turned to her with a question in her eyes, Roxanne mumbled, "Chester's dead."
"Dead? You're kidding! How did it happen?"
"It was my fault," Roxanne stated again. Why had she been so impatient? If she'd stayed with Kate instead of rushing out again, Chester would still be alive. That knowledge gnawed at her insides like a voracious rat, giving her no peace. "I went to the farm to get the money and they m-must have f-followed me."
"They? Who?" Ron joined them on the road, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Those...those Irish bastards," Roxanne managed to get out.
"Hell," he muttered while Tiffany stood in a daze.
Pete approached in silence. "Chester?"
Roxanne nodded and started to sob.
"Hey!" Roxy called from the other side of the car. "I know how you feel. I feel worse than any of you about losing Chester but we can agonize later." Her voice cut through the frigid air, sorrowful but strong. "We need to get out of here unless you want to meet up with that navy van again." As she motioned to the rear, she said, "They must have heard the explosion and they'll be searching for us. Could show up any minute."
Pete and Ron swung around to scan the road behind them. So far, all was clear but they kept their guns at the ready. Tiffany tensed and stood up straighter to see past the Toyota.
"What was that explosion we heard a while ago?" Pete said.
Roxy shuffled her feet. "Just us trying to escape."
"Neither of you were hurt?" Ron asked.
"No, but the six Irish guys are now down to three."
"They're dead?" Pete asked.
Roxy nodded. "And so's my pickup. It was sitting right next to the building that blew."
"Sorry about your truck, but we need to find the rest of them." Tiffany seemed the only one not affected by Roxy's take-charge attitude or Chester's passing. "Might as well wait here if you're sure they're coming."
"Can't imagine that they won't be curious about the explosion." Roxy glanced at Conor and Niall. "I suppose you want to talk to my friends, but I can assure you they've done nothing wrong."
"We still need to check them out."
Roxanne took several deep breaths before she could speak. "Roxy's right. We need to get out of here. If those guys find us here we won't stand a chance. They have automatic weapons."
Tiffany signaled Pete then indicated Conor and Niall. "Cuff those two and take them...I don't know...back to the police station, I guess." She tilted her chin. "I don't want to jeopardize Kate or Jonathon. We need to keep an eye on these two. They have a way of disappearing."
"Who us? Disappear?" Conor gave Tiffany a look of feigned innocence. Niall kept his eyes trained on the ground as if it was the only way to control his temper. Roxanne heard a few low growls coming from the bear of a man.
They were in this predicament because they'd rescued her and Roxy as they stumbled around in the woods, so she felt some compassion for them. "You could question them at Roxy's cabin. That way, you don't have to deal with Bud or the chief."
Tiffany pondered the suggestion then looked across the Toyota's roof at Roxy. "Okay with you?"
"I don't mind, but those other guys know about my cabin. In fact, I sent them there to wait for the money." Roxy ignored the agent's raised eyebrows.
"You what?" Tiffany made no effort to hide her annoyance.
Roxy looked askance at her as if daring her to question the decision. "I had to get them out of the way for us to escape. Thought maybe you had eyes on the cabin and would catch them before they could return." She pursed her lips. "I guess I was wrong."
Tiffany tensed. "Would be nice if we had a crystal ball and knew what you were thinking." She ceded this round to Roxy with a sigh and glanced at their surroundings. "We need to get out of the middle of the road."
"You can say that again." Roxy gave a quick nod of agreement.
Tiffany guided Conor and Niall to Ron's SUV while Roxy took the wheel of the Toyota. Pete jumped in the rear of the tan SUV with Roxanne and her mother while Tiffany and Ron followed in their vehicle with the two Irishmen.
When they reached the cabin, Roxy turned up the thermostat. Ron brought in wood for the fireplace and busied himself with the logs. Conor and Niall sat in silence on the sofa while Pete stood by the window keeping alert.
Roxanne shuffled around the cabin in an attempt to keep her nerves under control. She longed to know what Callahan found at Chester's but the weight of guilt over the old man's death grew heavier by the minute. She doubted Callahan wanted hear from her, let alone share in his grief.
Lost in melancholy, she barely noticed when Tiffany started questioning Conor and Niall. She forced herself to pay attention.
"What are you two gentlemen doing in the United States?" Tiffany stood in the middle of the room facing the two Irishmen.
"We're on holiday," Conor answered without hesitation. "Thought we'd stop and visit with Roxy. Haven't seen her in years."
She regarded them with suspicion. "And you just happened to come now, when your cohorts in the IRA are trying to reclaim their hidden stash?"
"We didn't know about that when we arrived. We don't keep in touch." Conor spoke with no hint of Irish brogue as Niall nodded in agreement.
"You don't keep in touch with a group you were deeply involved with in the past?" Tiffany angled to gaze at the blue and yellow flames shooting from the logs in the fireplace. "I find that hard to believe."
A loud bang emanated from the kitchen area as Roxy slammed the tin teapot against the burner. "They came because I asked them to. Is that so hard to understand? We're friends...friends help each other."
Tiffany showed no reaction to Roxy's outburst. "So they came to help you find the money?"
"I knew there was more cash around, but I couldn't search for it myself." Roxy turned on the gas under the tea kettle.
"Why didn't you ask us for help?" Tiffany demanded.
Roxy's gaze skimmed over her and settled on Ron. "Because you have a mole in your organization."
"A mole?"
"Yes, a mole. A spy...traitor...informant...whatever you want to call it. Someone's been keeping those IRA blokes up-to-date on all your attempts to recover the rest of the money. I didn't put myself in danger all those years to have some cretins start up again."
"Do you know what they're planning to do with the money?"
Roxy shook her head. "I have no idea."
Tiffany angled away from Roxy and scrutinized Conor and Niall. "Do either of you know?"
"Not a clue," Conor said. "We have some contacts who are still active but none of them are high up enough to know the plans."
Roxanne bit her lower lip as she took in the conversation. Why hadn't Callahan told Tiffany the reason the IRA wanted the money, according to their latest intel. It puzzled her that he had confided in her about the hacking and fake news but hadn't informed Tiffany. Then again, maybe Tiffany knew and was playing dumb. Roxanne wished she could read Tiffany better.
"So they need the money for something, you don't know what, but you're here to stop it." Tiffany began to pace in front of the two men on the sofa. "I'm supposed to believe that?"
"Believe what you like." Roxy drew Tiffany's attention back to the kitchen area. "Why do you continue to treat us like criminals? The Callahans have known me for years; do you think they believe that I'd just hand over any cash I locate to IRA thugs?"