Shadows of Deceit

by Patrick Cotter

  They both attempted to stifle what was amusing them but without success. Several moments passed before Harry could speak again, “I’m sorry Eileen it was my fault, I have a great respect for Tommy. It’s just that what you said was so unexpected…a bit like a punch line in a joke.” Harry recovered his composure,

  “This tumour was never picked up?”

  “No, despite X rays and other tests.”

  “That is awful Eileen. I quite like the guy, I’m sure he didn’t deserve all that. Life is shitty enough at times, but that situation is really dismal.”

  “Anyway Harry that’s another secret revealed.

  “I won’t repeat any of it Eileen, but thanks for letting me know.”

  Eileen looked at the clock,

  “Time to go I think, before the daylight ends. I’ve enjoyed this day out Harry, it’s been really special.”

  They walked to the car holding hands. Harry kissed her as he opened the door.

  “You’re a smashing bloke Harry, thank you.”

  On Saturday evening the whole group, including Dermot, had turned up for the meeting at the garage. Darlath sat next to his Father with Steve on the other side, then Harry, Andrew and Tommy sitting between Darlath and Andrew.

  “What a happy family gathering.” Dermot said grumpily.

  “I’m pleased you’re here Dad.”

  “Let’s just get on with it son.”

  He replied without looking at Darlath.

  Tommy spoke next,

  “Darlath please tell us if the goods are as you described previously.”

  “Generally yes, but with a few minor changes gentlemen. There are boxes of liquor, tobacco some pharmaceuticals plus the cases of the counterfeit notes. However, the notes, I’m told, are now repacked into smaller metal containers so they’ll be easier to offload and move. These metal cases are about two-foot square and about nine inches deep. So they are slimmer and easier to handle.”

  Tommy spoke up, “So we use the same vehicle arrangement as last time, the Scammell plus the Standard?”

  “That’s correct.” Darlath said.

  “We’ll leave early with the lorry and the car will follow on as before?”

  “Yes Tommy, with you driving your favourite engine again.”

  Dermot interrupted the light mood; he shifted his weight in the chair and gasped as an intense pain tugged at his stomach. Sweat began pouring from his forehead.

  “Dad?”

  “Leave me be, I’m alright, just let me get my breath.”

  His fingers gripped the side of the desk. After a long pause the pain subsided enough for him to relax slightly. The others just looked at the floor or at each other and waited until the old man could continue.

  “What date Son, and time?”

  His voice now low and gravelly. He turned his head just enough to look into Darlath’s eyes.

  “The night of the 6th February gentlemen. The boat should arrive at one in the morning. It’s the same crew so they know what’s expected and I’ll travel across with them, as before.”

  “The funding.” Harry asked, “Is it Wemyss this time?”

  Darlath turned to face Harry,

  “Yes Wemyss, I’m going to see him tomorrow to get the cash.”

  The meeting continued for another half an hour. In that time they went through the lists of things to take, as last time. Lanterns, torches, food, drinks, change of clothes, the rowing boat and most importantly the ‘stories’ required for any disruption of their plans by Police road blocks.

  After the meeting Darlath returned with his Father to the hotel. They sat drinking in the lounge for an hour. Their discussions avoided the subject that they both wanted most to exchange. Instead they talked about the progress of the war, the cold weather and football. The waiter continually served drinks to the two as they sat together uneasily until finally after Dermot had downed several large whiskies Darlath noticed that his Father was crying.

  “Dad I’m sorry.”

  Dermot slowly got up to leave,

  “So am I Son, so am I. You will never know by how much.”

  He walked slowly into reception and rang for the lift to take him to his room. Darlath sighed heavily and watched his Father leave before making his way across town to Andrew’s flat.

  Chapter 24

  The next morning Tommy was awoken by the telephone,

  “Dermot you’re early what can I do for you?”

  “Michael’s been detained in Ireland. The Garda rang me on his behalf to let me know.”

  “Shit. What for exactly?”

  “They wouldn’t say except they mentioned that the Police over here would be calling on me in order to verify some background information on Michael.”

  “What information?”

  Dermot’s voice was now panicky,

  “Well I can only guess it’s to do with the cottage. It’s my property as you know, but I let him live there rent-free. I can’t think of anything else except of course if Michael’s said anything about our projects.”

  “God I hope not. Listen Dermot I suggest that Darlath accompanies you at any Police interview.”

  “Well I’ve tried to get hold of him. He was going to stay at my hotel last night but we fell out a bit and he never used his room. I don’t know where he is.”

  “Dermot look it’s still very early, you get washed and dressed and have some breakfast. I’ll ‘phone round a bit and try and find him. Then I’ll either ring you or come over to the hotel to see you. Just stay there, but telephone me if the Police want to meet with you today. Is that clear Dermot?”

  “Yes, thank you Tommy.”

  Dermot replaced the receiver.

  Tommy immediately telephoned Steve and explained what had occurred.

  “Dermot’s a bit confused that’s why I said he should have Darlath with him when the Police contact him. Trouble is we don’t know where he is.”

  Steve had already guessed that he would have stayed overnight with Andrew but didn’t want to divulge this to Tommy or anyone else in the group at this stage.

  “Listen Tommy, I’ll ring round some other hotels where he’s stayed before. You ‘phone Harry, Wemyss and Andrew to see if he contacted any of them last night. I’ll ring you back in half an hour.”

  Harry told Tommy that he would ring Andrew. He subsequently did and as he expected discovered that Darlath had overnighted there.

  “Thanks Harry, I’ll go back to Dad’s hotel then ring the Garda from there to find out what is happening.”

  Darlath hurried across to the hotel and found Dermot sitting in reception. He looked unkempt and anxious but was pleased to see his Son arrive. Dermot explained about the call from the Irish Police earlier.

  “Ok” Darlath tried to reassure his Father, “Leave it to me now. I’ll ring the Garda and if necessary, if there is a real cause for concern, I can contact the Dail authorities and they should be able to dig a little deeper for me if it’s required.”

  The old man slumped back into the armchair, his mind was racing ahead and thinking the worst.

  “Michael may have been carrying some illicit goods from the last haul, after all we stored some of it at the cottage or he may have said something about us!”

  “Dad, go back to your room and tidy yourself up. If the Police interview you like this they’ll know you’re worried. Now please relax and act normally. I’ll come up to your room shortly.”

  “Where did you stay last night Son, I was trying to contact you?”

  “Don’t worry about that now. I went to another hotel that’s all. Now please let me telephone. Go and get dressed properly.”

  Darlath went into the library of the hotel and requested a telephone line. He explained to the Garda about the call his Father had received earlier.

  “Your Fath
er seemed very confused when we rang him. We were going to explain what happened but he didn’t really take in what we were saying. We therefore felt it easier if we arranged for the Glasgow Police to go to him and clarify.”

  “I see, well the local Police haven’t been yet so can you tell me what’s happened. As I explained I work for the Dail and...”

  “Well I’m afraid that your Father’s friend Michael died last night of a heart attack. The only documents he had in his wallet gave your Father’s name and some hotel numbers in Glasgow?”

  “Yes my Father lives in various hotels around the city, he prefers it to living on his own as a widower. This news will really upset him; they were great friends over many years. Dad seemed to think Michael had been arrested, he was obviously very mistaken?”

  “It was an early call sir and Mr Cassidy, your Father, was I feel a little bewildered by what we were trying to explain. You see his friend was detained in hospital last night after collapsing in the street. In the circumstances we thought it best to alert your father’s local constabulary to explain to him in a face to face situation.”

  “Thank you for the information, I’ll break the news to Dad.”

  “And we’ll contact Glasgow and request them to stand down; now that you are able to deal with it. Is there any direct next of kin do you know of?”

  “I don’t believe so. My dad will know. There may be a Will or something. Where is his body now?”

  “Still at the hospital, St Vincent’s on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. It is cleared for release but you need to arrange for an undertaker to attend. I can give you a number if you want?”

  After the call ended Darlath called Andrew and asked him to telephone the others with the information. He would break the news to his Father himself and organize for Michael’s body to be collected.

  The funeral was held a few days later in Glasgow. Andrew did not attend. Darlath assisted Dermot, who was using a walking stick, into the hotel lounge where the funeral reception was being held.

  Dermot leaned on his cane and welcomed the small number of his friends,

  “Tis a pity poor Michael died alone and away from those close to him. There was no time for ‘crying or keening’ before his burial over here. But we will eat and drink to his soul. Gather nearer dear friends of Michael,

  ‘Deal on, deal on, my merry men all,

  Deal on your cakes and your wine;

  For whatever is dealt at his funeral today

  Shall be dealt tomorrow at mine’

  That said gentlemen, ‘Slainte!’ drink up”

  As the guests began to disperse later in the day Dermot sat down next to his son,

  “I’ll put the cottage up for sale; we have no use for it now. I honestly thought that I would be the one to go next with all my health problems.”

  “That’s why it’s important you follow the Doctor’s orders.” Darlath said.

  Dermot turned to face his son and looked into his eyes,

  “Darlath I’m sorry we’ve drifted apart. But I just can’t stomach the thought of the life that you’re leading, or your decision not to try for promotion or higher appointments in the Free State. If this secret ever gets out then you’ll be out of work and…”

  “Dad, I’m not changing. I can’t change, for you or for anyone. I am what I am; probably some people may have already guessed. I’m sorry it’s come to this.”

  A long pause followed as each looked at the other unable to speak further. Dermot’s head lowered as he looked down at his hands, “I’m going under Darlath, I need you with me, but not like this.” As he looked up Darlath noticed tears welling in his Father’s eyes.

  “Dad, I don’t want this pressure; I don’t need it. I’ll gladly help you in any support or treatment you need but don’t suggest that I have to change. Don’t inflict your health problems on me in the hope that I’ll alter my ways to so say improve your prognosis. I can’t change and I alone can’t improve your condition. You must realise this, deep down. As I said, I will help you all I can, but don’t try and make me feel guilty.”

  “What will my friends say when they find out?”

  “Dad you’re not listening to me, tell them the truth!”

  Dermot stood up and raised his voice,

  “The truth is that I’m dying and you’ve abandoned me!”

  Mourners nearby were startled by the outburst. Darlath looked around and tried to apologise quietly,

  “I’m sorry folks, Dad’s a bit distressed. Michael was a close friend.”

  Darlath managed to usher Dermot further into a corner of the room;

  “That is grossly unfair and you know it. I’ll stay by you, care for you but don’t try and barter that for the way I conduct my own life.”

  “Then there’s nothing I have left to say.”

  “Dad you are so wrong, so stubborn, so blinkered.”

  Darlath peered at his watch.

  “Look I have to get back to Dublin; I’ll contact you after our next project is completed. But if you need anything in the interim, special care, nursing or whatever, then you know how to contact me. Let’s leave it there Dad for now.”

  Dermot slumped down into an armchair and watched his son saying goodbye to the others.

  Apart from Steve the remaining group members left soon afterwards. Several rounds of drinks later Dermot confided in Steve,

  “Darlath isn’t seeing a girl like I thought. I’ve been a fool to think all this time that he was settling down and doing well in his job. Everything’s falling apart, my life is nearly over. I just wanted to see him settled, but now everything is in turmoil.”

  “Why what’s happened?”

  Steve asked knowing full well what the old man was alluding to. Dermot explained what had occurred and asked Steve to keep the information secret. He then continued,

  “But I want to find out who he’s seeing, who’s corrupted and changed him. It may be one of his colleagues in Ireland or someone connected with his work in Edinburgh. I need to know. That’s your job Steve. I’ll pay you handsomely to find out for me. I’m just too tired now to pursue this myself. Will you do this for me Steve?”

  “Of course I will, I’ll help you find out what’s really happening.”

  “A secret though Steve, you tell me first. Understand?”

  “Of course, you’ll be the first to know Dermot.”

  As he left the hotel later Steve was smiling to himself and thinking, ‘After this next project is over then the fun can begin!’

  Chapter 25

  Tommy drove Steve in the Scammell down to Kintyre. Andrew and Harry followed early the next day. Bitter February winds overnight had scattered powdery snow across the valleys that was sufficient to make driving treacherous at times. After many long cold hours heading south the group met up by the cottages near the beach as before. They ate their food in silence and tried to sleep. The hours ticked by, all of them were ill prepared for the freezing conditions being experienced. During the early hours they restarted the engines several time to stop them freezing up but were always careful to post lookouts on the road so that they could turn the noisy motors off if any approaching vehicles came near. At the rendezvous time the group stretched their stiff limbs and prepared to move down to the promontory positions together with the lanterns and the rowing boat. The wind was now from a westerly direction blowing towards the shore away from the icy roaring seas. Each wave produced a fine shower of pin-pricking ice fragments that flew directly into their faces making them raw with cold. This reduced the visibility to, at best, about twenty yards. The overall conditions were much worse than their previous outing to Kintyre.

  The fishing boat arrived about forty minutes later than planned, having been continually tossed about between the troughs and peaks of the heavy waves. Once the signal was received the captain manoeuvred the vessel to with
in ten yards of the beach. Ropes were thrown from the boat and secured on shore. This would act as a safety guideline to use when rowing or wading in the water. The yacht tender was lowered from the boat and a member of the crew jumped into it to receive the first boxes to be brought to shore. Harry returned in the tender using the guideline to pull back to the boat. Darlath climbed into the tender and after loading brought the vessel back to shore. All members of the group took turns with the crew to repeat this exchange. Finally after an hour the haul was safely landed. The boat quickly disappeared from view, its crew members grateful to get away from the breaking waves all around them.

  The group on shore were all soaked to the skin. Very soon the warmth in their bodies generated by the efforts of the last hour quickly evaporated and all began to shiver uncontrollably. Once they had loaded the larger boxes into the back of the lorry Tommy and Steve set off northwards. They didn’t wait for daybreak this time; it was too cold to hang around. Darlath carefully placed the three counterfeit money carriers into the boot of the car and, as previously, Harry drove him and Andrew. The weather seemed less cold now, the clouds were higher and the moon managed to shine through intermittently lighting up the snow-covered hills. Darlath and Andrew quickly fell asleep.

  After travelling north for about an hour Harry began to feel very tired and exhausted from the effort of unloading the boat. But just then without warning he was shocked back into full alertness. In the distance ahead a large yellow flash lit the skies, ‘an explosion, a bomb perhaps?’ he said to himself. Then there was another - nearer this time - and accompanied by a loud roaring sound which woke his two passengers.

  “What’s going on?” Andrew shouted.

  “I don’t know!”

  Another loud concussion shook the vehicle.

  “For Christ’s sake!”

  “We’d better stop!” Yelled Darlath.

  Harry turned the dimmed headlights off and slowed down as he approached the next bend in the road. Suddenly they saw a chain of explosions bursting towards them. Firstly in the far distance then another nearer and another even closer. Harry struggled with the gears momentarily but just managed to increase the speed of the vehicle as he rounded the corner heading for the shelter of some farm buildings. The next explosion erupted loudly to their right throwing earth and debris towards them.