Part 14 (1/2)

We looked at each other for a moment. The memory of Maggie lying next to me flashed once again through my mind. aIf during the night, thereas a storm and youa”a I stopped and had no idea what to say.

Maggie raised her eyebrow and gave me a sarcastic grin. aPerhaps someday, Miss Ryan, you wonat need a tropical storm, hail, and damaging winds,a she whispered and kissed my forehead. aIall wait for that day. Good night.a Perhaps somedaya

Chapter 20.

The morning offered the usual weathera”damp and foggy. I strolled down the path toward the cottage. When it came into view, I got a little nervous thinking about the events of the day before. I opened the door and noticed the smell of kerosene had dissipated. I took the burnt rug and tossed it outside, then took a broom to the small pieces of gla.s.s.

The room didnat look right. Scanning the area, I realized a chair had been moved and the desk drawer opened. I cautiously walked through the rest of the cottage. Each room was in some stage of disarray: mattresses slightly moved, drawers opened, kitchen cabinet doors ajar.

It didnat take a finely honed ex-P.I. to know someone had been in here. Someone carefully searched the cottage, but didnat take the time to make sure all was back in order. Then I s.h.i.+vered at the thoughta”perhaps I interrupted someone.

aI thought you might be here,a Maggie said from the doorway. aGood morning.a aSomeone was in here,a I said quickly.

aWhat do you mean?a she asked as she looked around. aWhat were they looking for?a I showed her all the little differences.

aI have no idea, but look around. The desk, cabinets, and dresser drawers look as if someone was looking neatly through them, not merely ransacked. Whoever it was knew what to look for.a She followed me down the hall to the bedrooms where I showed her the mattresses.

aSomeone looked under the mattress. What do you keep under a mattress?a I asked, scratching my head.

aMoney, for one,a Maggie said, fixing the bed.

I helped her with the mattress. aYes. Maybe letters, doc.u.ments,a I said as we remade the bed.

aThatas the reason for the fire,a I said. aIt got us out of here. A small fire would do the trick. Scare us into staying in the house, so they had a chance to look around. Dammit, but for what?a Maggie looked around, as well. aIam stumped and Iam starving. You have the honor of making me breakfast,a she said decisively.

aYou deserve it, after taking care of me for the past couple of days. I appreciate it,a I said. aSo whatall it be? Ham and eggs? Bacon?a aAll of the above.a Mac and Teri were sitting at the kitchen table. They both looked up when we walked in. aWhere have you two been?a Teri asked, smiling.

Maggie sat down. aAt the cottage. Kate thinks someone was in there looking for something. I think she may be right.a I poured both of us a cup of coffee and sat next to Maggie. aSomeone was definitely in there nosing around.a I explained how the cottage looked and Teri shrugged.

aYouare the expert. I bow to your expertise.a She lifted her coffee cup.

aThank you, milady,a I said and raised mine.

Mac was drawing something on a piece of paper. Maggie looked on. aColor by numbers?a Mac snorted. aVery funny, youave been hanging around Kate too long.a aWhat are you drawing?a I asked, looking across the table.

aIam trying to get the distances correct. Whereas Charlie?a Mac asked.

aOn the phone,a Charlie called from the hallway as he entered the kitchen. aI called Jess, are you ready for this?a aNo, but go ahead,a I said eagerly.

aOkay. Russell Devine is from Dublin. Heas twenty-seven, single. He went to TrinityCollege during the same time Peter did. He didnat graduate. And he has a police record. Six arrests, no convictions. All for a.s.sault. This boy has a temper. He beat a man in Cork so badly that the man was in traction for two weeks. Jess, G.o.d love her, called a friend at the Dublin police. Someone with money and a good lawyer got him out each time. Thatas the police version anyway.a He took a drink of coffee and continued. aHe has no permanent address but is seen frequently in Dublin. Jess canat find whom he works for or even if he works.

aAlso, Peteras last known address was in Dublin with an elderly gentleman, who pa.s.sed away six months ago of natural causes. His name? Daniel Carroll, and guess what he did for a living.a aAnother history professor,a I said.

aRight. He taught ancient Irish history at Trinity. And,a he added smiling, ahe did work for the NationalMuseum in Dublin in his spare time,a he finished and closed his notebook.

aJess has done a fine job, Charlie. Please thank her for me.a I looked out the window, the clouds were rolling by and the wind had picked up, but no rain yet. It was seven thirty. We all sat there in silence. I didnat know what to do next. I needed to organize my thoughts.

Charlie looked down at Mac. aWhat are you doodling there?a We watched as Mac concentrated on his work. aCharlie, look at this. Itas a scale drawing,a he said and handed him the paper.

Charlie studied it. aThis looks good. I donat know if the mill is that close, though,a he looked up and handed it to me.

Mac had drawn a map of the cliffs and the mill. He had marked the distances above ground and below to see how far we had gone in the cave. It appeared that we were at least two hundred feet from the mill.

aIam not sure how much farther we could have gone. Maybe fifty or sixty feet,a I said. aAlthough it was getting narrow.a Charlie agreed. aA shorter, skinnier person would have no problem, but that ainat us,a he laughed and I agreed.

Maggie coughed and we looked at her. aIam shorter and skinnier.a aNo,a I said quickly.

aNo?a she repeated slowly.

Mac and Charlie took their coffee cups off the table and sat back.

aMaggie, youare not going down there,a I said.

She took a deep breath. aThe last time I looked, I was an adult. I donat need your permission.a aYouare not going down there. Itas too dangerous,a I said calmly.

When will I learn to watch for the telltale signs like the twitching left eye?

Her face was turning a scary shade of red. aItas too dangerous,a she repeated calmly. aBut not too dangerous for you,a she added and gave me a challenging look.

aIam used to this. I wonat allowa”a aYou wonat allow?a she asked slowly. Wrong word. She had her hand on her coffee cup and I wasnat at all sure she wasnat going to bounce it off my forehead. aDonat pull this machoa”Iam in chargea”with me, Kate. If I can help with this, Iall go. You donat have the right to tell me not to.a I leaned forward on the table. aIn charge? When am I in charge? You bossya”a Maggie stood and nearly sent the chair across the room. aIam going!a she announced angrily and stormed out.

I got up and looked at my comrades. aNot the wisest thing I could have done.a As I dashed out of the kitchen, Maggie was at the top of the stairs. aWait a minute,a I said.

She turned and said rather rudely, aOh, go blow it out your a.s.s.a She went into her bedroom, slammed the door, and locked it.

aBlow it out my a.s.s?a I repeated. I dashed into my room and got to the connecting door before she locked it.

aDonat come charging in here like a bull,a she said, her eyes blazing. aI will not be treated like a child,a she said with her hands on her hips.

I was about to tell her she looked like said child but thought better of it. aLook, Iam not treating you like a child. I was down there and itas dangerous. I donat want you hurt, thatas all,a I said with my voice raised as I continued. aHowever, youare right. You can do anything you want, and I donat have a right to tell you not to.a I took a deep breath. aIam sorry.a She softened and ran her fingers through her thick hair. aIam sorry. My temper always gets the better of me.a aYes, there is that.a aI have a chance to contribute. If I can help, donat you think I should take the chance? You would.a I walked to the window and tried to come up with one good reason why she shouldnat help. She was right, and I had to admit it. I was being protective and wasnat being fair; she had a right. aWhen we go down there, you follow me and stay close,a I said as I turned around to face her. aI mean it.a aI will,a she said too quickly. aWhatever you say.a I looked down into those d.a.m.ned blue eyes. aItas a gifta”that you can stand right there and lie with a straight face. It is a gift,a I said and avoided the innocent beguiling smile.

By the time we got everything together, it was nearly eight thirty. Tim was helping Mac and Charlie, making sure we were prepared for our expedition.

Teri and Maggie were talking as I bounded down the stairs. I stopped in my tracks when I heard Teri.

aWhat are you going to wear?a she asked.

aGee, I donat know,a Maggie said thoughtfully.

I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose. aWeare not going to the prom, Maggie. What you have on is finea”it goes with your eyes. Do you have boots?a She nodded. aYes, but not as good as yours.a I believe she was trying not to aggravate me, which I thought was sweet since I wanted to wring her neck.

aFine,a I said. aPut them on and weall meet you both by the car.a Tim and Charlie were checking the flashlights as I walked up to them. aI donat know about this, Charlie,a I said.

aI know, but you canat tell Maggie anything. Seriously, though, she might be able to get farther than we can. Donat worry, among the three of us, nothing will happen to her,a he said.