‘Shh, now. That’s a nasty word. We prefer to say he helped women in trouble. Isn’t that better?’
Charlie was impatient to hear what he had to say, but she wouldn’t tell him so.
‘Now, sometimes the form of help was different. Sometimes the babies were born, but they needed a better home. Aidan felt they wouldn’t be properly cared for where they were, so he would help find a place for them to live.
Charlie felt an electric jolt of shock. Connelly had been a baby trafficker, something that had never occurred to her.
‘I see you’re surprised, but that’s the kind of man he is. He even gave up his own flesh and blood children, because it was too dangerous for them to be around him. That’s a true sacrifice. Don’t bother asking me any other questions. You have your answer, and you will soon see your friend. Now, it’s time for me to tell you what you have to do in return for what I’ve given you.’
Charlie made an effort to wrap her mind around the information he had just given her, and she tried to force herself to concentrate on his next words.
‘You’re going to take a message to your friend Marty Sullivan. There’s no need to tell him who it’s from. He’ll know it’s me.’
‘What message? What do you want me to tell him?’ She didn’t try to deny she knew Marty Sullivan. It was too late for that.
‘There’s no need to ‘tell’ him anything. That’s the nice part. You’ll just leave him a little present. You’re going to get an embryo. I don’t care where, but it must be human, and you’re going to leave it on his doorstep. He’ll understand.’
Chapter 56:
Charlie was horrified. The thought of leaving a human embryo on the doorstep of the Irish Mafia leader in Montreal was spine-chilling. Not only did she have no idea how to find an embryo, the whole idea was revolting and unimaginable. She also knew Sullivan would know it was them who had left it there, and there would be hell to pay, conceivably with their lives.
When the man stood up and walked out of the room, leaving her with those images, she wondered whether she should call him back and have him finish her off right away instead of leaving her live in fear of Marty Sullivan.
The next time she heard the door open, an hour or so later, she hoped the man would respect the other condition of the bargain. She saw the outline of two men backlit with the light from the hallway. One was short, stocky, and upright. The other was tall, lean, and hunched over. The former shoved the other forward. He hit the floor with a clunk and a groan, and before Charlie even had time to stand, the room was cast in darkness again.
‘Simm! Hold on, I’m coming.’
She got on her hands and knees, and crawled in what she hoped was the right direction. Her heart pounded in her throat, and she prayed she wouldn’t be sick. Her fears had been right. Simm hadn’t been treated as well as her.
She heard another groan and a shuffling sound. It helped to keep her moving in the right direction. When her hand touched him, she felt around carefully, not sure what she was touching and how severely hurt it was. When she felt his bicep, she oriented herself.
‘Simm? Where does it hurt?’
‘I’m okay,’ he moaned.
‘You’re not okay. You can’t even stand.’
‘I can. Just give me a minute.’
‘Where does it hurt?’
‘Right now, everywhere, but if you give me a couple of minutes, I’ll be fine.’
‘Let me help you,’ Charlie insisted.
‘Are you alright? Did they hurt you?’ he asked.
‘I’m fine. They didn’t touch me.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course, I’m sure. I would know, wouldn’t I?’
‘Maybe you’re just saying that.’
‘Stop arguing. I’m fine. Apparently, Aidan gave orders I wasn’t to be harmed. It seems they took out their frustrations on you instead.’
He groaned again as he tried to sit up. Charlie ran her hands up his shoulders to his neck. Her fingers touched something warm and sticky.
‘You’re bleeding!’
‘Don’t worry about it. It’s superficial.’
‘Come on. I’ll help you up and get you to the bed.’
She gripped him under the arm and hoisted. With a lot of effort on both their parts, Simm stood, and she guided him to the bed.
‘It should be over here. Yes, there it is,’ she said, as her shin connected with the edge of the cot.
When Simm was sitting, Charlie tugged off her cardigan, felt around until she found the cut on his forehead, and used the piece of clothing to stem the flow of blood.
‘Ouch!’
‘I want to stop the bleeding. Hold still. This is hard enough to do in the dark.’
‘It’s okay. Foreheads always bleed a lot.’
‘How badly did they beat you? Do you think anything’s broken?’
‘I don’t think so. At first, they just shoved me around a little. I think this last bit was just for your benefit. Either that, or they knew it was their last chance, and they didn’t want to miss out on the fun.’
‘I feel awful for you. I was worried they’d do something like this.’
He put his arm around her and pulled her close.
‘It’s okay. I’ve been through worse.’
‘Really?’
‘No, not really.’
‘I’m sorry, Simm. This is all my fault.’
‘How could it be your fault? You didn’t tell them to do it, did you? You didn’t plan this whole thing.’
‘I may have made them angry.’
There was total silence. If it wasn’t for the warmth of his body beside her, she would believe she was alone in the dark again. Even that warmth seemed to turn cold to match the tone of his voice when he spoke.
‘How did you make them angry?’
It was a simple question, but the way he deliberately enunciated each word made it sound ominous. Charlie knew there was no way to retreat.
‘I asked for certain things. I asked for you to be set free,’ she said, hoping to appease him. ‘You were also supposed to be unharmed, but obviously they ignored that part.’
‘You asked or you demanded?’
‘Demand is a strong word.’
‘Charlie, I told you to cooperate. I told you to do whatever it took to get your freedom. You were supposed to leave without me. You promised me you would.’
‘But, it worked. The end result is what counts. You’re here, and we’re leaving.’
‘How do you know we’re leaving? How can you be sure they won’t come in here and kill us both?’
‘Because he promised.’
‘He promised?’ he said, his voice rising. ‘Maybe his promises are as worthless as yours!’
‘Calm down. I’m sure it’ll work out.’
‘Jesus Christ, Charlie. I can’t trust you to listen to me. Ever.’
Their argument was cut short by the opening of the door. The man with the lantern was there, along with two others standing behind him. Charlie’s breath caught. Would she be proven wrong? She took advantage of the dim light to look at Simm. His face was bruised and swollen. The cut on his forehead was clotting, but he looked the worse for wear. Seeing the evidence of his abuse in the light upset her, but the look in his eyes made her want to cry. He looked at her as if it was his last chance to see her alive, and perhaps it was.
‘Well now, ye’ve had yer little reunion, it’s time to move on. Go ahead lads,’ he said, gesturing to the men behind him. They moved around him and approached the couple on the b
ed. Charlie was relieved to see they didn’t carry weapons, but they had the canvas bags in their hands. Neither Simm nor Charlie struggled, knowing it would be useless. Simm’s hand closed around hers and gave it a squeeze as the bag closed over her head and the string was pulled taut.
Chapter 57:
‘How do I know ya didn’t do it to her? I should be callin’ the peelers on ya. And ya lookin’ like ya had a right desperate donnybrook. She put up a fight, did she? What kind of scum bastard are ya? I should slap ya inta the middle of next week.’
Charlie tried to tell the man to stop yelling, but no sound came out of her mouth. She concentrated on her vocal chords and tried again. This time a squeak escaped her lips.
‘Charlie? Charlie, wake up.’
She opened her eyes, just to slam them shut again. The light was blinding, but she knew it was the sun this time and not a lantern. A wisp of fresh air on her cheeks helped her believe that she was outdoors.
‘We’re free?’ she managed to say.
‘Yes, I’m trying to get a ride back to the hotel. They took my wallet. I don’t have any money for a cab, and this man thinks I hurt you.’
She turned her head a little to the right and saw a man with a deeply-lined face leaning over her, his thick brows touching above his concerned eyes.
‘Are ye alright, lass? Ya looked like ya been dragged through a hedge backwards. Did this brute do this?’
‘No, he fought for me. He saved my life, and look what they did to him.’
Charlie’s exaggeration had the right effect. The old man clapped Simm solidly on the shoulder. Charlie saw Simm wince, and she presumed the shoulder had already seen enough action today.
‘That’s just what I be thinkin’. Ya look like a man who’d put the fear of God in the divil himself. Here now, help me with the little lass, and we’ll get her into the car.’
Simm sat back with a sigh once they were settled in the back seat of the old jalopy, and it chugged toward Dublin.
‘What happened?’ Charlie whispered. She couldn’t remember anything since sitting on the cot with Simm beside her.
‘They drugged us, with ether, I’m sure. When I came out of it, we were lying on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t get you to wake up.’
‘We’re not the same size. It took longer for it to wear off.’
She held on to his hand, never wanting to let go. The ominous feeling of near-death from earlier still wafted through her mind, and she was sure Simm felt the same.
The rest of the drive was made in silence, partly because of the hair-raising driving skills of their savior. Charlie didn’t know if he regularly drove so erratically, or if it was because he felt a sense of urgency on their behalf, but there were many times she wondered if they hadn’t escaped the jaws of death after all. As they entered the city, the driver lessened his speed, but seemed confused by the abundance of cars and streets, and Simm had to help him find their way to the hotel.
‘If you give me a minute, I’ll go to the room and get some cash. We certainly appreciate your help,’ Simm said as they pulled up to the hotel.
‘Ah, there’s no need for that. Fer sure, this story will be worth its weight in gold with the lads at the pub. They’ll be right impressed,’ the man responded.
Before going up to the hotel room, they said goodbye and gave him directions to get out of the city. Charlie felt absurdly grateful for the comfort and security of a room that had felt so ordinary a few days earlier. Her enjoyment was disturbed by the clearing of Simm’s throat.
‘Charlie, I have to insist that from now on you’ll stay at the hotel while we’re in Dublin. We can’t risk something like that happening again.’
‘It won’t happen again. We’re leaving.’
‘What?’
‘We have to leave. That was the deal.’
Simm lowered himself to the chair facing her. He frowned again, and Charlie knew the argument would pick up where it had left off, but there was no avoiding it.
‘What deal?’
‘I made a deal with that man.’ She held up her hand when he started to ask another question. ‘I don’t know his name. He was a man in a suit. He spoke well. He was Irish. He was definitely the boss, although I think Aidan Connelly was calling the shots.’
‘What deal?’
‘We have to leave Connelly alone, and we have to leave Ireland. Right away.’
‘In exchange for what?’
‘A few things. Obviously, I had asked to see you.’ She smiled at him, hoping to put him in a better humor. The scowl never left his face. ‘And I asked for our freedom, which worked,’ she said, spreading her arms, indicating the comfort of the hotel room.
‘A few things. That means more than two. What are the others?’
‘There’s only one other. I don’t know how we’ll handle that one.’
‘What is it?’
‘We have to leave a human embryo on Sullivan’s doorstep.’
‘Oh, sweet Jesus,’ Simm said, his head falling into his hands.
‘I know. I know. We can’t do it for all kinds of reasons. I realize that, but I couldn’t say no. He would have killed us.’
‘And if we don’t do it, he’ll make sure we die anyway. Obviously, this guy’s connected to the Irish Mafia, and he’s got a beef against Sullivan. We’ll never be safe if we don’t do it.’
‘We’ll never be safe if we do. Sullivan will know it was us.’
‘I want you to tell me every word of the conversations you had with this guy. Every word. Don’t leave anything out.’
Charlie had already spent hours analysing every word she had exchanged with the mysterious, suited man. The conversations were imprinted in her brain. She regurgitated it all for Simm’s benefit. His expression turned black when she got to the part about not accepting the man’s offer to set her free without conditions. She continued on, despite her fear the top would blow off of Simm’s head.
When she explained about Connelly’s other activity, she faltered. It was something she hadn’t wanted to deal with.
‘He was trafficking babies?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, unwanted babies, I guess. Or perhaps stolen babies.’
‘Good Lord.’
‘Even his own.’
‘What?’
‘He said Connelly had given up his own babies. That he had made the ultimate sacrifice and sent his own children to be safe elsewhere.’
Simm stared into her eyes.
‘No, it’s inconceivable,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I reject any of the possibilities.’
‘This has been all about you from the beginning.’
‘There has to be another explanation,’ she said.
‘Do you have a birth certificate?’
‘Of course, I have a birth certificate.’
‘And your parents are listed as Patrick and Patricia Butler?’
‘Yes. They’re my parents. I’m not one of those children. I’m not…’ She couldn’t even say it. It was unimaginable.
Her trembling hands were taken between his.
‘We agree you’re connected somehow to all of this,’ he said.
Charlie pressed her lips together. She was incapable of making a sound.
‘We agree, don’t we?’ Simm insisted. ‘That’s why we’re here, because of you.’
‘It has to be something else. Connelly was involved in all kinds of things. It could be anything. We have to forget about it now. We’re not going near Connelly again. We’re going to leave Ireland and go home. That�
��ll be the end of it.’
‘Except for the little issue of an embryo and a Mafia boss.’
‘Yes, except for that. What kind of message are they trying to send Marty Sullivan? I don’t understand.’
‘I don’t know. Apparently, it has something to do with babies. And it must be a kind of threat. Probably Sullivan was involved in the trafficking somehow and they’re threatening to expose him.’
‘Sullivan is involved in all kinds of crime. Why would it make a difference to him if they start a rumor about baby trafficking?’
‘You’re right,’ Simm said. ‘At this point, I can’t answer that question, but I hope someday I will.’
Chapter 58:
They were very obvious about their departure. Simm loudly announced their check-out intentions at the front desk. He asked the clerk to call a cab to take them to the airport. Anyone hanging around was left in no doubt they were leaving the country.
Before leaving their room, Simm had placed a much more discreet call to Inspector O’Reilly to let him know they were leaving, they wouldn’t be back, and they were no longer interested in Aidan Connelly. The police officer didn’t seem surprised by this information, and wished them a pleasant journey home.
At the airport, they didn’t waste any time getting through the check-in process or security. The condition of Simm’s face drew interested looks from the security guards, but it didn’t stop him from passing through. They were at the gate a full hour before it was scheduled to board. Charlie stared at the monitor as if willing it to move up the planned time of departure. She felt watched, even though she knew it was improbable someone would have passed through security just to watch them. But she also knew the organization employed people everywhere, including the supposedly secure area of an airport.
Through unspoken agreement, all conversation was limited to banal observations without any mention of Aidan Connelly. Charlie was happy for the reprieve, and she was aware it was only a reprieve. Simm wouldn’t let it go. His serious expression convinced her he was mulling over the whole case from start to finish, and trying to figure out how they would resolve their present dilemma.
Sins of the Fathers Page 20