“You serious?” she repeated.
Oengus grunted.
“You gay, I mean attracted to boys?”
Oengus came part of the way out from under the bedpost.
He was puzzled. “Boys?”
Nina wondered did he lack enthusiasm. She expected boys to show enthusiasm so she could say no and manage them. This was new. She wanted more of him. And Hugo would expect her to be forward and engage the boy until they were done with him.
Oengus tried to contain his emotions. He wondered if Nina in all her natural beauty would be generous if he pressed but he’d been warned. He had been told to be responsible. Not like his father.
Oengus sighed. Women were so complicated.
Hearing him sigh Nina kissed him. Oengus felt a surge of emotion and came up hard, hitting his head against the bed frame.
They both laughed.
“I guess you like girls,” Nina said with a smile.
Oengus reached for her.
There was a click.
“Found it,” Venus mewed.
A square metal object descended from the underneath of the cross plank of the bed frame.
“Is it a safe?” Oengus asked.
“Might be a cash box or valuables,” Nina said, surprised at this development. She looked at the cat with renewed respect. Had the creature put a claw on something and clicked the controls that let it descend?
Oengus put the point of the knife to a corner but Puca beat him to it, having spotted a small button on the side. He landed on Oengus’s arm and pecked the button. The metal box opened and a rectangular object fell out. Oengus caught it before it could hit the floor.
“It’s an iPad,” he said.
“It’s an Apple air, if my guess is right” Nina said.
“I hope you are not going to do what you looked like you were going to do with that young girl?” Venus mewed in stern tones. Oengus blushed. Puca gave a pigeon laugh and flapped about.
Ignoring the remark Oengus took the iPad and pulled Nina to her feet. There’s a table in the kitchen,” she said and led the way. Oengus followed, holding the iPad in one hand and Nina’s hand in the other. He gave her back her knife and she slid it out of sight.
“That cat sounds like he’s talking,” Nina said in a confused voice. “He mews a lot.”
“She, Venus is a she cat,” Oengus corrected.
They sat at the table and Oengus activated the iPad. It flickered to life.
“Low battery charge and you need a password,” Nina said with authority.
“What’s the number of the apartment?” he asked Nina, remembering his conversation with his Uncle when he’d visited in Kerry.
“Donno, wait... try 2579,” Nina said.
That didn’t work either nor variations of 2579.
“You are only a small inconsequential thing,” Oengus said to the computer. There was no sign it agreed or disagreed.
Then Oengus smiled. He had an idea. He typed ‘42579 ’ incorporating the floor number with the room number.
“You are in,” Nina said. “Try the ‘my-documents’ folder or the email.”
Oengus pushed the iPad over to Nina.
With confidence she went through all the apps.
Then she said, “Nothing, not even a contact name or number,” she said and handed it to Oengus.
“I don’t think it’s been used,” she added.
Oengus frowned and opened the email folder. It was blank. “I notice it’s not got a Wi-Fi connection,” he said.
“There’s a café near here with free Wi-Fi,” Nina informed him.
Hugo was waiting at the foot of the steps when they emerged. Nina had stuffed the iPad into her backpack. Beag was flying in pigeon mode and Oengus held Venus in his arms.
“Found anything?” he asked.
Nina gave a knowing laugh and Hugo grinned, thinking he’d cleaned it out. Finding something would be a surprise.
“Where you going man?” Hugo asked.
“He’s upset about his uncle so I’m taking him to a café, you know the one that’s near 38th and Lexington.”
“Angelo’s?” Hugo checked.
“We’ll there for about an hour, I’ll see you later,” Nina said.
Hugo nodded. He was pleased that Nina was doing her job. He took out his cell phone.
“Message from Hugo,” Leanan said. “Oengus has turned up and is in the company of a girl called Nina.”
They were together behind the black-clouded windows of their limousine.
“Hugo said the girl is one of his gang,” Leanan added.
When her cell rang again. It was Hugo.
“Right,” she said and hung up.
“The girl is taking him to Angelo’s café at thirty eight street and Lexington Avenue.”
The Greyman pulled out and made a turn. Both were delighted not to have to exit the car in bright daylight.
“Not much battery and we don’t have a charger. What do you want to do?” Nina asked.
They had sat in a corner booth with coffees and Danish.
“Just go in and open mail and ask it to refresh? There might be incomings?” Oengus suggested.
There was one email in the in box when Nina passed the iPad over to Oengus.
The email had a title ‘Oengus.’
“Might be for you?” Nina guessed with a smile and sipped her coffee.
Oengus opened the email.
The email was written in Irish Gaelic.
“Interesting,” Oengus remarked.
“What does it say?” Nina asked.
“It says, ‘if you are Oengus this is your iPad. Tell me the name of the goat that was bad tempered.’”
“What?”
“Wait.”
Oengus pressed reply and typed.
He explained as he typed,
“The goat was right famous. It’s a legend in Kerry. Story goes, the goat was in field called ‘Gort na Ghoathe’ and that’s what they called the goat. You had to go around the field or he’d run at you and butt till he dropped you. When they took him for the Killorglan Fair that was the end of that. About forty years ago, but they still talk about him in Kerry and someone wrote a song about the goat.”
As he spoke Oengus had typed in the name and pressed send.
They waited. There was no response.
“I expect he’s busy,” Oengus said and waited until eventually he powered off. He wondered would Maedbh have a charger back at her apartment.
“I’d better go,” he said.
“Will I see you again?” Nina asked.
“I could email,” Oengus said with a grin and indicating to the iPad.
“Do you have a cell?”
“A what?”
“A cell phone.”
“We call them mobiles in Ireland. No I don’t but I’m going to get one.”
“Let’s go to the Apple shop then,” Nina suggested.
“Then we can text,” Oengus agreed.
“You on Facebook?” Nina asked as they departed the Café.
“Sure,” Oengus said.
Nina took Oengus by the hand and she led him towards the Apple shop.
When they were finished they exchanged cell numbers. Then Oengus said.
“I’ll be in touch.”
He kissed her on the nose and with a smile he said “goodbye.”
“Hold on,” she said with warmth. “I’ll come with you.”
Oengus shrugged and smiled, “sure,” he said agreeably, but surprised at her offer.
“I’ve nothing on today. I’ll just text my mother so she knows I’m ok.”
“I’m walking,” he said.
; “No problem just give me a second,” Nina replied, fishing out her cell phone.
Oengus had decided to walk. He needed to get to know Manhattan and it was a great day for a walk. He had his iPad and now an iPhone. He felt good and couldn’t wait to try them further. If Uncle John got his reply he would contact him soon. All in all, a good day’s work, he decided.
“Hugo,” she texted into her cell as she walked. “I’m still with him and I’ll let you know when he arrives wherever he is staying.”
“Great,” Hugo said when he read Nina’s text. ’Stay with him,’ he texted back. Then he rang the number he had been given.
Leanan listened, “well done Hugo,” she said. “You’ll get a bonus when your girl Nina gives us his address.”
She didn’t mention that she and the Greyman were already in place and following Oengus and Nina. However she was happy that Nina was on foot, as they had to make several passes on route in order to stay unnoticed in the traffic.
Hugo went home whistling a happy song. The woman Morag had promised him a fee if he kept watch for a young man. He had done his bit and could expect his fee shortly and with luck a nice bonus. He wondered was there any other way in which he might leverage the situation to his advantage.
Nina wondered at Oengus and his naivety. He never looked around once nor seem to check to see if he was being followed, but instead struck out at pace. She was glad she was wearing comfortable boots. And she was mad curious to see where he lived and with whom.
Overhead Puca Beag soared and watched. He was glad he’d have something interesting to report.
Chapter Twelve
Using the keys Maedbh had provided, Oengus let himself back into her apartment. He set out a bowl of milk for Venus, put some Muesli on the windowsill for Puca Beag and went and put on the kettle.
Nina observed in silence and sat on the couch and waited until Oengus came out of the kitchen area with two steaming cups of black coffee in one hand, milk in a jug in the other and a packet of biscuits under his arm.
“We need a charger for the iPad,” she said indicating to the machine on her knee. Oengus put the refreshments on the table and looked at Venus.
Venus meowed a response and Oengus said “O.K.” He went to a bureau and opened a drawer. And said “Thanks Venus,” as he took out a charger.
Without speaking Nina took the charger and plugged in the iPad to a wall socket.
“Sugar?” she asked, returning to the coffee and helping herself to milk.
Venus shook her head.
“Sorry, we have no sugar,” Oengus said.
The conversation was interrupted by a persistent tapping on the window. Oengus went and let Puca Beag in.
“You live here alone?” Nina asked.
“No, there’s myself, Puca Beag, Venus the cat and a red-haired girl called Maedbh.”
Nina frowned, she knew there had to be a catch.
“Maedbh, is that Irish?” she asked.
“Yes Nina. She’s a student at New York University.”
“Pretty?”
“I suppose so, but beautiful would be more accurate.”
“Right,” Nina said doubtfully.
Puca Beag came and perched on the coffee table near the biscuits.
With a sigh Oengus gave him one.
“They followed you to this place,” Puca cooed as he pecked the biscuit.
“Who?” Oengus asked.
“Who?” Venus meowed.
“What’s going on here?” Nina asked, confused by the exchange.
“The pigeon thinks someone followed us here,” Oengus stated. Nina stared but held her silence.
“I have no enemies,” Oengus advised Venus.
“That you know of,” Venus responded with a cynical cat laugh.
“They were in a car,” Puca Beag said confidently. “They stopped after you went in. Then they saw you open the window of the apartment and they pulled away. It’s parked outside, just a bit up the street.”
“Finish your biscuit and go outside and keep watch and advise of developments,” Venus instructed.
Beag did not like the look in her eye so he took the biscuit in his beak and flew back out of the room and up on to the roof where he could eat in peace and observe the proceedings.
“Don’t get too friendly with that girl,” Venus advised, referring to Nina.
“What?” Nina asked, confused that the meow might somehow be directed at her.
“Keep your enemies close,” Venus added. “But Oengus I don’t trust this casual acquaintance.”
Leanan and the Greyman sat in the car on the street where they could see Maedbh’s apartment. It was getting dark and there was no action.
“Phone it in,” Leanan instructed.
“Wait,” the Greyman said.
A beautiful redhead was approaching and taking out keys. They watched as she went into the basement.
“Another for the nest?” Leanan commented.
Oengus had begun by probing Nina’s background. Apparently her mother was a nurse.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Oengus asked.
Venus gave a disgusted meow and shook her head.
“His name is Hugo,” Nina said, surprised at herself for saying the truth. “But it’s not serious,” she added with a smile, still wondering what impulse had made her be so open. Perhaps it was the fact that Oengus had taken her hand and was listening to every word with great interest and respect.
“How not serious?”
“You’ve met him. His name is Hugo. I am a member of his gang. He plays around because he is gang leader,” she explained, her brown eyes serious as she held his gaze, mesmerized by the ever-changing shades of green in Oengus’s eyes. They seemed to reflect his emotions but strangely she felt comfortable and at ease, notwithstanding his propensity to talk to cats and pigeons.
“Are we friends?” Oengus asked.
Nina smiled. “If you want to be my boyfriend you can kiss me,” she offered.
“What about Hugo?’ Oengus asked.
Nina shrugged and gave a wry smile. Hugo might expect her to press him further. As far as she was concerned she had gone far enough and it was up to Oengus to make the next move.
Oengus didn’t know what was expected of him. Did she really ask him if he wanted to be her boyfriend? Wasn’t she also Hugo’s girl? Nervously Oengus pressed the button on the iPad and the screen lit up. He looked at it in surprise for a moment.
“Venus do we have Wi-Fi in this apartment?” he asked.
“The access code is in type on the bottom of the modem which is on the top of the bureau,” Venus replied.
Nina stared. “Did you and the cat just talk to each other?” she demanded, unnerved by the long meow.
“She said the access code is on the bottom of the modem,” Oengus explained.
“You’re weird,” Nina exclaimed.
She reached over, unplugged the iPad, took it from Oengus and with a frown at Venus she went to the bureau and signed in using the Wi-Fi access code.
“Here,” she said, sitting again, plugging back the iPhone and pushing it back into Oengus’s hands.
Venus came and put her head on Nina’s lap. Nina toyed with the idea of breaking Venus’s neck with a quick sharp twist but when Venus gave a friendly purr she contented herself with tweaking Venus’s ears.
There was a red number one on the email icon and Oengus touched the screen.
“From Uncle John,” he said as the Email screen opened. He held the screen so Nina and incidentally Venus could see the message.
It read ‘go to Grand Central Station. Go to the food hall. I’ll find you. Be there from nine a.m.’
“Nine a.m?” Nina groaned.
“You may have to w
ait all day. I suggest you have breakfast there,” Venus meowed as Nina pulled her ears.
They were interrupted by the sound of the door locks being opened from outside.
“Ooops,” Venus meowed and jumped off the couch and back to her basket. She knew Maedbh would not approve if she found her stretched out on the couch.
Maedbh smiled as she entered, a smile that wavered for a moment as she saw Nina sitting next to Oengus on the couch.
“Hi,” she said.
“This is Nina,” Oengus introduced.
“Hi,” Maedbh said warily but with a further quizzical look.
“Nina lives in the same block as Uncle John. She helped me access the apartment,” Oengus explained.
“Oh?” Maedbh said, putting her books on the bureau. Then she went and fussed over Venus, stroking her fur.
“I suspect Nina is the enemy,” Venus meowed.
Oengus heard this and opened his mouth and closed it.
“Nice pussy,” Maedbh said, stroking Venus.
“Tell Oengus to get her to stay. He needs to see his uncle from early tomorrow. He should keep enemies close.”
“What?” Oengus asked, confused.
“I’m cooking spaghetti for dinner. It won’t take long. Nina do stay for dinner?” Maedbh asked.
“My mother will be wondering what I’m doing,” Nina said.
“Phone her,” Maedbh replied and disappeared into the kitchen.
“That cat meows a lot,” Nina remarked.
“Nina would you be able to take Oengus to Grand Central Station tomorrow?” Maedbh asked, sticking her head back around the door.
“At six in the morning?” Nina said, sounding like she was saying no.
“Nina why not ask your mother if you can stay the night. That way you and I can make an early start and go find my Uncle John at Grand central Station,” Oengus suggested.
Nina gave him a long look. “Where would I sleep?” she asked.
“I sleep on the couch but if we put the cushions on the floor you can have the couch,” Oengus offered.
“I’ll ring my mother,” Nina said, taking out her cell phone.
With a shrug Venus went to the kitchen to update Maedbh.
But Maedbh wasn’t in the kitchen so she tried the bedroom. She was surprised to find Maedbh spoon-feeding Puca Beag with muesli.
The Great Fury Page 10