He paused and I knew he was thinking of his fourth and youngest. “And Bryn?”
“Bryn. Ma wee lamb.”
Not so wee anymore, I thought, considering that she was in her thirties.
“That is my one regret for having left,” he said, his gaze off in the distance . . . or the past.
It was a subject he had always shied away from. I decided not to let him this time. “What happened, Charlie?”
He shook his head, again trying to dismiss it. But when his eyes became moist, I knew he was finally going to confide in me. “She was only a nipper. Eight years old. Spending the night at her friend’s.”
My stomach tightened and I regretted having brought up the subject. I braced myself as I knew what was coming.
“The girl’s father . . . the bloody bastard molested her.”
“Jesus Christ, Charlie.”
He sighed a ragged sigh that left his shoulders shaking. “If only I’d been there to protect the wee lass. I’m a poor excuse for a father, I am.”
“You couldn’t be with your children at all times, Charlie. Even if you hadn’t left, even if you’d been there, it could have happened.”
“It wouldnae have. If I’d been there, I would have listened to my Jenny.”
“Jenny?”
“Aye, she was living with me at the time, but she’d gone to her mother’s for a visit. She sensed something wasnae right. She told her mum not to let Bryn go, but Natalie didn’t listen to her.”
“I’m sorry, Charlie.”
“Aye, so am I, laddie. So am I.”
There was nothing I could say to stop the pain or the self-flagellation. It was, I feared, something he would regret and blame himself for until the day he died. I hoped that Jenny was not doing the same thing to herself.
“Do you remember when Sharkey first returned from Thailand and told us about Sarai’s background?” Charlie asked. I knew where his thoughts had gone.
“Aye, I do. Do you think that she’d been sexually abused?”
“That’s exactly my thought. She does remind me of Bryn in some ways. They’re both very restrained and shy.”
“Of course, in Sarai’s case that could be cultural, or simply that she’s in a foreign country.”
“Aye, but I see the sadness in her eyes. They’re both so timid, especially around men.”
“It could simply be conditioning from her bad experiences with men,” I said, “But Sarai even seems uncomfortable with Mok at times.”
“I have noticed that. And it appears that she’s learned to be cautious with women as well.”
“Rightfully so,” I said. “The poor lassie. She is very sweet.”
“Aye and completely smitten with our friend Eddie. I hope he will treat her well.”
“I think he has demonstrated that already. You do not fly off to Thailand unless you care about someone.”
“’Tis true, Malcolm. We’ll just have to wait to see how long it lasts.”
“That we will,” I said although I was not as skeptical as Charlie was. But then I knew far less about the frailty of relationships.
* * *
The Innisfree docked four days later. She was beautiful as she sailed across the Sound. I had considered buying a boat in my ignorant youth, but having done my usual obsessive research and discovered that boats are basically holes you sink money into, I had declined. I should mention that to Andy Currie some time. I could hire one easily enough and have the pleasure of sailing yet no worries about or commitment to the upkeep. Or I could enjoy the use of a friend’s.
I made a point of going to practice that evening, if for no other reason than to see Sharkey and his friends and to hear how their trip was.
“It is beautiful,” Sarai said. Despite the gleam in her eyes as she reflected upon their journey, the sadness was there, deep and alive. I wondered if I had seen it in Bryn’s eyes and not realized it.
Mok was grinning with enthusiasm. The trip had done them both some good. “It was—what word?—surprise. Good surprise.”
“A grand trip, it was,” Sharkey agreed and I could see that he had enjoyed it even more for the pleasure he had provided others.
While Mok was not able to join our games due to age and lack of registration, he could certainly enjoy our practices. He was skilled and of course younger than the rest of us and scored easily. He seemed to enjoy the many accolades he received. I would have liked to see him against players of his own age and skill. Judging from the intense expression he had when he was chasing or dribbling the ball, he was a highly competitive player.
Sarai watched from the sidelines, her eyes more often on her lover than her brother, at least from my intermittent observances when I wasn’t actively involved in the play. There was no doubt in my mind that she cared for Sharkey a great deal. I did wonder if she had cared for other men in her life or if she had denied herself that experience. She did seem like a teenage girl in love for the first time. I had to wonder if observers could see that in my expression as well when I was with Jenny.
“Shall we go to O’Connell’s?” Charlie asked after practice, looking as parched as I felt.
“I’m afraid I’ve some preparation to do for my trip tomorrow,” Sharkey responded.
‘You’re off again?” I asked, noticing Sarai’s wince at that concept.
“I’m afraid so. I’m off to Montreal again.” He took Sarai’s hand and looked at her. “Only for a few days.”
“No need to worry,” I assured her. “You have Charlie and me down the street, and of course your brother is here with you.”
Again her features tightened, a reaction of which I suspected she was unaware.
“Mok is leaving as well,” Sharkey explained. “He’s off to San Francisco. We’ll go to the airport together.”
Once again Charlie and I assured her that we would both be in town all week and that she could call on us if she needed anything. Unfortunately it did not seem to comfort her in the slightest.
* * *
Once Sharkey returned, both Charlie and I noticed, Sarai was a different woman. He provided her with both security and the joy that is reserved for new lovers.
“She’s a lovely lass,” Charlie said after Sharkey and Sarai had made a rare visit to my home.
Sharkey preferred to be the one to entertain, claiming that Sarai was always more comfortable at home and always more comfortable when she was occupied with the cooking. But this time I had insisted that she be relieved of kitchen duties and relax for a change, a concept that proved to be more disconcerting than appealing to the woman who had been conditioned to serve. Or perhaps it was my cooking.
“It would be nice if she were more comfortable with us. She’s met us several times now,” I told Charlie.
“Aye, she has, but it will take a while it seems.”
“It doesn’t appear that she has any friends here, other than Eddie.”
“I’ve noticed that too, although she leaves the house often enough.”
“As detected by your camera?” I asked.
“Aye.”
“Have you followed her?”
“No. She is never gone long. She drives the BMW which is in the garage—most likely to the market and back. I have no reason to follow her, other than to keep Eddie’s exes and children from intimidating her, but there has been no sign of any of them.”
“Maybe they’ve spotted the camera.”
“Not possible.”
I shrugged. “Maybe they’re too angry at their father to come around.”
“Since when has their anger stopped them from taking action? It’s more likely to provoke it,” Charlie said.
He had a point. “Well then, we continue to keep an eye on the lass despite her apparent unwillingness to admit that she feels the need for protection . . . or company. Other than Eddie’s.”
“Aye, that is all we can do.”
And it turned out it was a good thing we had committed to that. Two days later, Charlie called m
e in the early evening. “Maureen has just driven up to the house.”
“Is Eddie there?”
“Let’s go find out.”
I hung up the house phone and walked across the street to Charlie’s. He was outside on the sidewalk by then.
“It doesn’t look as if Eddie is home. Sarai opened the door. Maureen is talking to her.” He winced. “I take that back, yelling at her.”
Maureen had pushed her way past Sarai and gone inside. Sarai stood at the door, apparently frozen with fear. Charlie and I were clearly of the same mind as we made our way across the street.
Sarai looked at us with relief. “How you know to come?” she asked.
“We saw Maureen drive up,” Charlie said.
“Is Eddie home?”
Sarai shook her head. “No. He not. But Maureen insist on come in house.”
“Did you let her in?” Charlie asked.
“She has key.”
An oversight on Sharkey’s part. “Where is Eddie?”
“I not know. He say he has business meeting and leave this afternoon.”
“Left town?”
“I not think so. He say he return this evening.”
“How did he go?” Charlie and I both knew his Lincoln had not yet been returned from the repair shop and the BMW was in the garage.
“Someone pick him up.”
“Did you see who?” Charlie asked.
“I not.”
Maureen appeared with a scowl on her face. “What are you two doing here? No offense, but you seem to be here a lot lately. What? Are you spying on me too now?”
Charlie ignored the questions. “You’re looking for your father, I take it.”
“I am, but apparently he isn’t here.” She glared at Sarai as if it were her fault. Interesting how she had been friendly enough to Sarai when she was the housekeeper. Not so accepting of the girlfriend.
“Well, I’ll be going then,” Maureen said, flipping her brilliant red hair behind her shoulders. “Tell my father to call me. I’ve left six messages on his cell and he hasn’t called me back.”
“Yes, Miss Maureen,” Sarai said, sounding very much like a servant.
“And you two can call the dogs off my husband.” There, she’d said it, but with about as much conviction as a four-year-old who tells you to stop tickling her.
Charlie and I waited there until Maureen had driven away. “Do you really think she wants us to stop tailing Andy?” I asked.
“Not by a long shot. Nor do I think we should stop tailing Aileen. Although there’s no need to see if she’s involved with another man anymore, and there has been no indication of her coming to the house, Eddie’s car has suffered enough. And we will keep all eyes upon the homestead.” He nodded toward the camera that was hidden behind one of the flood lights above the front door.
“And the Shannon brothers?” I asked.
“We will definitely keep our eyes on them.”
“Although it is unlikely that they can be blamed for the slashed tires since Aileen and Eddie were still together at that point.”
“Aye, that is true.”
“And James Webb?” I asked. “I assume you are at least to some degree ignoring Eddie’s request to wait on that?”
“I am definitely checking out the angry contractor,” Charlie assured me.
We turned our attention back to Sarai who had moved inside to safer territory. “Thank you for come,” she told us.
Charlie examined the locks on the door. “Lock the chain after we leave,” he told her.
“But Eddie not able come inside.”
“He’ll knock,” Charlie assured her.
“He won’t mind a little inconvenience if it means you’re comfortable,” I said.
She smiled but her eyes were as dark as the day Aileen had lit into her.
“Ask Eddie to call one of us when he returns,” Charlie said.
She nodded and closed the door behind us. We waited to hear the chain being fastened before we left.
Chapter 9
Sharkey called Charlie when he arrived home that evening. I was at Charlie’s having a cup of tea. We both exhaled a sigh of relief.
“I hope he does not have any plans to leave again soon.”
“That was my first question as well. He does not, but he did say that at any point, work could call him away on the spur of the moment. I did ask if he wanted me to recommend a bodyguard.” Charlie refilled both of our tea cups.
“Let me guess. He declined.”
“Almost. He laughed.”
“He didn’t.”
“Aye, he did.”
“Stubborn wee Irishman.”
“Well, he’s met his match. If he won’t hire a bodyguard, I’m going to put a man on his tail.”
“This is costing you, Charlie.”
“Don’t worry, I intend to bill him for it.”
Of course he would. And rightfully so. “When do you think Sarai will start to feel safe?” I asked
“When Eddie is home to stay.”
“But it does feel a wee bit as if we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop, does it not? Aside from slashed tires and failing brakes, there is still the threat of Aileen turning her in before Eddie can get her visa squared away.”
Charlie nodded. “Aye. I think we’ll all rest more easily once that’s taken care of.”
“I do think Eddie made an unwise decision to take that job in Canada.”
“I agree with that. It must have been particularly intriguing for him to be willing to leave Sarai as often as he has to.”
I carried my cup into the kitchen. “I think I’ll get on home. I’ve an early lecture in the morning.”
Charlie walked me to the door. The rain had progressed from a drizzle to one that could drench a man crossing the street. I automatically reached for one of the spare umbrellas that Charlie kept in a stand near the door, wondering how many times umbrellas had made their way back and forth between our houses over the years. I wasn’t even certain this particular heavy black umbrella hadn’t belonged to me at one time.
We both stood on his porch looking across and down the street toward the house that had so often been the subject of our conversations recently. The house was dark but for the flicker of an outside flood light. A dog barked, then another, then all three were barking.
The hairs on my arms rose in response. “Do you think we should check to be certain all is well?”
“The dogs could be barking at anything—a squirrel or an owl.”
“Or a leaf falling from a tree?”
“If they’re anything like my dog Jude was! She would bark at rain drops. Fortunately we lived in California at the time,” Charlie said. “Ah, they’ve stopped. All must be well.”
“Aye, good-night then, Charlie.”
“Good-night, Malcolm.”
I crossed the street to my peaceful abode. It suddenly struck me that with all of Sharkey’s drama and dysfunctional family dynamics, at least his home wasn’t empty. Maybe it was time for me to get a dog. I smiled. As if that were the solution for which I was hoping.
* * *
Another soccer practice without Sharkey. That made two in a week, a week when, as far as we knew, he was home. At least his Navigator was home, having been delivered by the repair company. Charlie had taken advantage of the opportunity to learn the name of the repair company in order to question the mechanic. After flashing his detective license at him, the mechanic readily confirmed that the brake line had indeed been cut—intentionally. Charlie also managed to discern that Sharkey had paid the company heftily in order for them not to report the incident to the police. Was it to protect Sarai from the police sniffing around? Or himself?
“Have you seen Eddie recently?” Charlie asked Father O’Malley after practice.
“I haven’t,” he answered. “And I’ve been at O’Connell’s most every night this week. Have any of you boys seen Eddie this past week?” he called out to the old boys.
&n
bsp; All responded in the negative. Maybe he had headed back to Canada after all.
“Let’s stop off at the house on our way home,” Charlie suggested.
We bypassed the pub and headed straight to Pleasant Beach Drive.
“The Lincoln is still here.”
“Aye, I can see that,” I said.
We knocked on the door for a good five minutes before Sarai opened it.
“Are you okay?” Charlie asked.
“Yes, Mr. Charlie.” However, she looked anything but fine. Her beautiful brown eyes had none of the usual sparkle and her face looked puffy from lack of sleep or possibly from crying.
“What’s wrong?” Charlie asked, obviously noticing the same things I had.
“Nothing wrong,” she insisted.
“Is Eddie home?”
She shook her head.
“Is he out of town again?”
“Yes.”
“More business?”
“Yes.”
“But the car is here.”
She blinked hard. Then her forehead wrinkled as if that would help her think. “He take taxi cab to airport?”
I glanced at Charlie, wondering if he was thinking the same thing I was. Sharkey had left town again without letting us know so we could keep an eye on
Sarai. And why take a cab? Had his car been tampered with again?
“Why did he take a cab to the airport, Sarai?” Charlie asked the question that was running through my mind.
She shrugged. Had she learned that gesture since she had come to America? “I not know.”
“Is the car running?”
She looked bewildered. “Yes, I think.”
“So, why would he take a cab?” I repeated Charlie’s question.
“He not like park at airport?”
Okay, that answer made some sense, considering what had happened the last time he’d parked at the airport. But why hadn’t she said that in the first place?
“When does he return?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I not know.”
Short of interrogating the woman, there was nothing more we could do. We took our leave, reminding her to call us if she needed anything.
Saving Sharkey Page 11