The House by the Liffey (6 page)

As well as being frightened, miserable and in some distress with her skin problem, Izzy was bored stiff. She had nothing to do, not even anything to read and no one to talk to. So she had ample time to work out ways of arousing the sympathy of the so-called doctor and maybe even some means of escaping from this appalling cellar. She had worked out one particular strategy which she thought would rattle him and maybe the others too. To keep herself occupied she practised some of the ploys that she thought might work.

Like all the others, the call to the family at Riverside had been made outside the cottage to get the best chance of good signal, so she hadn't heard it. However, when Willie got back inside and reported a successful contact, Izzy could hear what was said. She was now really adept at listening from the top of the ladder. The nasty “Bob” was clearly highly delighted.

‘That'll give the stuck-up Tom Butler something to think about. A million pounds! I hope it bankrupts him – serve him right. He'll have to sell Riverside and move into some other little place. It'll be the biggest comedown imaginable. And I'll get my share, won't I?'

‘You're such a big eejit, Bob. A million is probably chicken-feed to the Butlers and for God's sake stop referring to Tom Butler – he died years ago. You can't have forgotten
that
?' He was making Willie really irritable.

Bob muttered something Izzy couldn't hear, but then someone else arrived at the cottage.

‘You're back at last, Eddie. What took you so long?'

‘I was afraid to go to a chemist anywhere close, so I drove quite a fair way towards the city. Of course they were closed, so I had to hammer at the door and say it was a bit of an emergency – a child in great distress. After I'd got the ointment for the child's rash, I went to a nearby shop for some ice cream. At least now I've something she'll eat.'

What didn't occur to him to say was that he'd asked them in the shop to wrap the ice cream in newspaper to help keep it frozen, since he had a bit of a journey to take it to a sick child.

Eddie took the ointment and the rather soft ice cream down to Izzy.

‘Now, Izzy, we'll put some ointment on the rash and I've some ice cream for you.'

Izzy quite deliberately allowed the tears, never too far away at the moment, to flow freely.

‘Thank you, Doctor. But I'll put the ointment on myself. My grandpa told me I mustn't let anyone here touch me.'

Eddie thought he hadn't heard correctly. He made no comment but waited while she ate the fast-melting ice cream and then used the ointment. As she was lathering it into the worst affected areas she turned to the spot beside her on the bed and spoke to the empty space.

‘There you are, Grandpa. I've done it myself and it feels better.'

She seemed to be listening and then answered the soundless speaker.

‘Yes, I suppose he's been quite kind but he's still one of the people who stole me away.'

By now Eddie was feeling decidedly uneasy.

‘Who're you talking to, Izzy?'

‘Oh, it's Grandpa Tom. We talk to each other often. He says he'll watch over me. I just call him when I need him and I've asked him to stay with me all the time here.'

‘Well… what do you talk about?' An Irishman to the core Eddie couldn't totally dismiss the idea of the supernatural and, although he would never have admitted it, he was deeply superstitious. Now he felt the hairs on the back of his neck begin to prickle.

‘We talk about anything he wants to tell me, but sometimes I ask him about things too. Otherwise it would be very difficult for me here, all by myself. No one to talk to and not even anything to read.' The tears started again. ‘So Grandpa and I talk together. It passes the time. It could get quite serious for me if I didn't have him here. I could go into one of my fits again.'

‘
Fits
! What fits? I didn't know anything about fits. Nobody said anything about that.'

‘How could you know about it – we've only just met.'

‘Yes, but . . .' He stopped just in time, before he had given the game away about an informer who was
supposed
to have told them all this kind of possible complication.

‘What else does your grandpa say?' He strained his eyes, staring hard at the empty space, actually afraid he might see Tom Butler's ghost.

Izzy turned to the empty side of the bed again.

‘Do you want to give the doctor a message, Grandpa?' There was silence while she cocked her head to one side, obviously listening carefully.

‘Oh no, Grandpa, he couldn't do that.'

‘Do
what
?' Eddie was now thoroughly spooked.

‘It's all right, Doctor, it's something quite impossible.'

‘What the hell is it? What's he saying?'

‘He says I really need to have a walk in the fresh air. It would make me feel a lot better. But don't worry, I know you can't fix that.'

‘No, I can't let you do that but maybe I can find something for you to read. We're a bit isolated up here but I can find some old newspapers. Maybe they'd be better than nothing.'

So they were up the mountains! She could have cheered. He seemed quite agitated and probably didn't realize he had given that much away.

‘That would help. I wouldn't be so bored. And I need some hankies too. I've had to blow my nose on the blanket which isn't very nice. I
never
do that at home.' She paused briefly. ‘What do all of
you
do to pass the time?'

‘Oh, we play cards, smoke, drink beer, listen to the wireless and so on.'

‘Well some of those papers and a pack of cards would help. Then I could at least read and play patience.'

He turned to go up the ladder and then, looking almost embarrassed, he pulled a bar of chocolate out of his pocket and offered it to her.

‘I got this for you too. I thought maybe you'd like a bit of chocolate.'

It was the first time she'd smiled at him and it was like the sun coming out.

‘Oh! Thank you, Doctor. I love chocolate. That will help me to feel better too.'

When he went back up the steps and into the main part of the dwelling he tackled the others about the inadequate information they had been given about the child.

‘Why weren't we told that she was one of those who hears voices, like that Joan of Arc one? Or that she's liable to suffer from fits? Our so-called “informer” hasn't done too well in many respects.' Eddie sounded really upset and angry, this partly from being unnerved by his latest experience with Izzy.

‘What the hell are you talking about, Eddie?'

So Eddie told them blow by blow. Mac and Willie laughed derisively at Eddie's story.

‘Give over, Eddie. The kid's pulling your leg. But she's a plucky one and clever with it. I have to admit that. I'll go down the next time and if she tries any of that on me I'll put her over my knee and give her a good walloping.'

‘I wouldn't try it, Willie. I didn't know about her fits, just like I wasn't told about the dermatitis. If it's a form of epilepsy and the fit is not treated the right way, she could die. Next time we report in I'm going to complain about not being given full information as to possible health problems.'

‘Well, we need to keep her alive at least until she's spoken to her parents. After that if she dies, well so be it. I couldn't care less so long as we get the money.'

‘Ah come on, Willie. Poor little kid. You wouldn't really want her to die now would you?'

‘I don't give a damn, just so long as we
get the money
. And you watch it! You're getting way too sympathetic. Maybe we should let Bob down there to deal with her after all.'

At the mention of the ghost of Tom Butler they all noticed that Bob, whose medication, for the moment, was keeping him fairly well in control, hadn't sneered at the idea. In fact he had turned quite pale. Although he would never have given the others the satisfaction of saying so, he was now determined that he would never go down into that cellar. The thoughts whirled around in his head. He'd have to find an opportunity to get the brat upstairs where he could punish her well away from Tom Butler's ghost. It was one thing to try to kill off the living man but quite another to face his ghost. You couldn't kill a ghost and, what was more, ghosts had strange powers of their own. Oh no! He was going to stay well away from that cellar.

Bob wasn't the only one to have feelings of this nature. Even tough Willie and mighty Mac had some uncertainty about the idea. Although, like Eddie, neither would ever have admitted it, they too were not immune to superstition and each suffered a twinge of discomfort at the idea of a ghostly presence in the house, even if only down there with Izzy. Most strongly affected of all was Shamus, the van driver. He was by far the youngest and so the least experienced of the team. His grandmother told fortunes and predicted future events by using simple playing cards. Although the family pulled her leg about it, she was often uncannily accurate in the way things turned out. Because of this he was strongly susceptible to the idea of otherworldly influences, and so, more than any of them, Shamus was nervous at the suggestion of a ghost. From now on it would take him all his time to pluck up the courage to go into the cottage at all, especially in the evening, and nothing on earth would have persuaded him to go down into the cellar.

In complete ignorance of the fact, Izzy couldn't have chosen a more effective way of making them all feel uneasy.

Milo and Noola were at the end of their tether and neither was willing to take any of the medication offered by Paddy to help them through. A sleeping pill was the most Noola was willing to consider. Milo wouldn't countenance even that. They were both almost beyond any semblance of rational thought or response and Maggie and Tommy, although in almost as desperate a state, were supporting them as best they could. Sean remained their sheet anchor.

In spite of repeated calls to his home, there was no answer from the bank manager and Milo came to the conclusion that he and his wife must be away for the weekend. He would have to wait until Monday morning to try to contact him again and collecting the million pounds could be an impossible task in the time. So Milo and Sean put their heads together and tried to work out other ways of collecting the strictly specified type of cash without arousing any suspicions. They were joined by Bertie and Jack who made some very helpful suggestions and offered an alternative means of collecting the used sterling for them, one which wouldn't raise any questions. Milo and Noola, with Tommy and Maggie listening, talked around the idea with Sean and then, with relief and enormous appreciation, agreed to go along with it.

The two men asked to make some phone calls in private. They got the hoped for response and explained to the others that they must leave at the crack of dawn the next morning promising to be back by the end of the day with the money.

As soon as he got the opportunity, Tommy spoke privately to Milo and Noola. He looked as awful as they did, for he had the extra distress of knowing now, for certain, that a blood uncle of his was involved in the abduction.

‘I want you both to know that I'm willing to give
every penny
I can lay my hands on to help pay this ransom to get Izzy back safely. Please don't refuse me. Allow me to do this for her, for you, for the whole family and . . . for myself.'

Milo and Noola fully understood. Noola looked at the pinched, almost tormented face. She put her arms around him and hugged him tight.

‘Thank you, Tommy. We know you would give everything you have to help and we'll talk about it when it's all over and she's home again.'

‘That offer means such a lot to us, Tommy. We know you love her as much as we do.'

‘As much as if she were my own child, Lo.'

* * * * *

Sean's edict that the fine details should be kept strictly within the narrow group was observed meticulously. It was frustrating for the rest of the family and the equally anxious staff, but they understood his point about it being so easy to let something slip quite inadvertently. So no resentment was expressed, for they were prepared to do anything deemed necessary for Izzy's safe return. They knew about the message via the brick and the phone call with the demand and that Milo was making the necessary arrangements to get the money. Mageen, Bill, Harry and Sarah had been left legacies by their Butler grandparents. When they heard about the ransom demand they had gone together to the ops room to offer everything they had to help collect the sum needed. Their parents would have expected no less of them but, nevertheless, it brought a lump to Milo's throat and Noola dissolved into the tears that, understandably in the circumstances, were hard to keep at bay.

Freddie had insisted on coming out to Riverside again on Sunday afternoon and was there when the call came through. Mageen was really glad of his company. He had a strong personality and managed to cheer her up, even in the face of the depressing circumstances. He seemed to have quite a positive effect on the others too and his support increased his popularity with the whole family. He also endeared himself to the staff by offering to help fetch and carry tea and coffee and other refreshments for everyone, including to the ops room, diplomatically always making a noisy approach to Sean's domain. Most of all he impressed Milo when he got an opportunity to have a quiet aside with him.

‘If I had any spare funds I would happily give them to you to help out, but I'm afraid I only have the money from my grant.'

‘That is such a generous thought. Thank you, Freddie, but don't worry. We're pretty sure our bank manager will be able to work out something for us.'

Later when he told Noola of this she was very touched.

‘He's a lovely young man. I wouldn't mind at all having him for a son-in-law.'

‘I'd be pleased too, in spite of the fact that I'm reluctant to give my eldest daughter to any other man!'

‘I do love you, Milo. You're a real old softie.' He grinned wearily at her.

‘Yes, I suppose I am and I love you too, so much.'

‘You know the boys also like him and that's a good sign.'

‘Yes. They seem to get on with him really well.'

Freddie was given a warm invitation to stay the night. He politely turned this down but readily agreed to stay to dinner. During the meal Jack tried hard not to watch Mageen too obviously. The more he saw of her the more he was attracted to her. Damn that Freddie, he thought. He tried not to like him, to find fault with him, but he failed. Unfortunately, he seemed to be a thoroughly decent sort. In fact he was very civil to Jack and Bertie, showing what seemed to be a genuine interest in their line of work, obviously in the firm belief, like most of the others, that they were part of Sean's “special force”. But they were used to deflecting the kind of questions he asked and painted a convincing picture of the work of the Irish police force in the far north-west of the country. Freddie, however, did detect Jack's interest in Mageen. He certainly had the looks and attraction to arouse
her
interest. He had merry blue eyes with developing laughter lines and the most wonderful smile. His was the healthy aura of one who spent much time in the fresh air and he had the physique to go with it, just topping six feet and decidedly husky looking, but with no suggestion of surplus weight. Freddie was struck by the fact that Jack and Bertie were very similar in build, although quite different in colouring, for Bertie was dark haired and dark eyed.

For her part Mageen had eyes only for Freddie. This, in some senses, was surprising, for unlike successive generations of the male members of her family, and to an extent the women too, Freddie did not have a strong interest in outdoor pursuits. However, she loved his aesthetic looks; his cool grey eyes and unruly fair hair, all of which gave him an aura of gentleness. He could have passed for a university professor and, somehow, this appealed to her. She was seriously smitten, but in the present circumstances she found it difficult to think or talk about anything other than Izzy's plight. All their conversations tended to follow the same kind of pattern.

‘I'm sorry, Freddie. It must be so boring for you listening to all of us going on and on about it, but we're all in such a state about Izzy, we just can't think or talk about anything else.'

‘
Please
, Mageen, stop worrying. I feel like you do. Izzy seems like a little sister to me too and maybe someday, well… Anyhow, feel free to talk about her as much as you want. I'm more than happy to listen.'

‘Oh, Freddie! You're so understanding and sympathetic. Sure you wouldn't like to stay?'

‘Thanks, but I do need to get back to do some more revision. The exams are looming and I've still got a fair bit of ground to cover!'

‘Yes, so have I, but there's no way I could concentrate on studying at the moment.'

‘Course not. But you never have any trouble getting good results anyhow.' He sounded slightly envious.

Although it took them away from the house, given reassurances that they would be told immediately of any new developments, Mageen, Bill and Harry returned to the office in the city on Monday, quite unaware that Bertie and Jack had left a couple of hours earlier, as dawn was breaking. Faithful and concerned, Freddie came home with Mageen at the end of the working day. He stayed as long as possible and joined them for the evening meal but again wouldn't stay overnight.

‘It's a lovely invitation and I'm sorely tempted. Maybe . . . but no! I must be strong-minded and keep at the revision. I can still get several hours in before I go to bed.'

* * * * *

While teams of his men were out posing as hillwalkers and hikers on Sunday, Sean had ordered a start to be made first thing in the morning in the search of the records for doctors who had been “struck off”. There weren't too many, so the job was done within a relatively short time. Armed with this list of names, his men then started a telephone trawl of the chemists around the city, asking for very strictly confidential information to be returned to them immediately if any of these names turned up as signatory to a prescription. His orders were to start with chemists around the outskirts, especially those fringing the mountainous areas. Because it was Sunday, there was no guarantee of always getting a response, but since time was very tight it was always worth the effort. They might have a quick stroke of luck. They felt quite deflated when nothing had turned up by Sunday evening, but were undaunted in their determination to leave no stone unturned in their quest to find Izzy's abductors, the fact that she was a child adding a substantial boost to their resolve.

It was Monday afternoon before they had a positive reaction. A chemist in an area close to the edge of the city reported being asked to open up and give a doctor ointment for dermatitis, which was needed urgently. Yes, a Doctor Edward J. Conran had filled out a prescription, and yes, they had it in the shop. That was the name of one of the doctors who had been “struck off” and obviously it hadn't occurred to the chemist to check. The young policeman could hardly speak in his excitement when reporting this to his superior and he, likewise, when reporting to Sean.

‘It seems this fellow asked them where was the nearest place he could get ice cream too, and as far as they know he went off and bought some. We've asked them to say or do nothing until we get out to see them. Said that it's an emergency we can't discuss at the moment.'

‘Well done, all of you. That sounds as if it could be exactly what we're looking for. Go out yourself and get every possible detail and then come straight over here to me. Oh, and take that young Garda with you, he deserves a bit of a reward. We'll arrange for it to seem as if you're coming to replace some of the daytime security guards.'

It was quite late in the evening when they arrived to make their report to Sean and hard on their heels Bertie and Jack arrived back, also in a car belonging to the Garda and carrying large kitbags. They were elated to hear the news from Sean's men and the usual inner circle settled in to hear the full report.

‘Medication for dermatitis and ice cream! That
has
to be for Izzy. It's too much of a coincidence.'

At long last Noola sounded slightly optimistic. She even managed a wry smile.

‘I wonder how she talked him into getting ice cream for her. Clever girl.'

It was as well she hadn't a remote inkling of the sort of conditions in which her child was incarcerated.

‘Well, at least we've substantially narrowed the area where we need to search for them
and
the ice cream had to be wrapped for taking it some distance. In fact, when you add in the information from Aiden and Brendan's friend in the pub and a slight trace we got from their call, I'm confident that we're looking in the right area. You've done a grand job, men. Well done! It's late now so I'll let you go home.'

The two Garda beamed.

‘If it's helped to find the little girl we'll be well rewarded, Sir.'

When they had gone Jack and Bertie produced their large kitbags and opened them. They were full of sterling notes. There was a few seconds' silence and then Maggie sat down with a bump.

‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I feel weak at the knees. I've never in my whole life seen so much money all in one place.'

‘I don't suppose any of us has. But how on
earth
did you do it, and in the time?' Milo sounded quite amazed.

‘When we alerted our people in the north we gave them the full story as to the demands. They've ways and means the rest of us don't have. They met us at the border. We slipped across and they handed the bags over to us and we made our way back.'

‘They
trusted
you with so much money… in cash?'

‘Oh yes. In our job there is absolute trust between us all. Has to be if we're to have any hope of working together effectively. Anyhow, we know too well what would happen to us if we tried anything silly.'

‘Is it all there?'

‘Yes. A team of us helped to count it out.'

‘I can hardly believe my eyes, but I'm really impressed. Well done.'

‘Thanks, Sean.'

‘And how do we even
start
to thank you and your team and what about repayment?'

Jack and Bertie were grinning with delight at the reaction of everyone.

‘Don't worry about any of that for the moment, Milo, we can sort it all later. Can the money be locked away where no one will see it? We don't want anyone else to suspect where it's come from.'

‘Leave it to me.' Milo knew exactly where he could hide the bags away, with no fear of them being seen.

‘Well, we're ready for the call now. Midday tomorrow! We might as well all go and try to eat something.'

Hungry and tired after a very long and difficult day, Bertie and Jack were vastly relieved at this suggestion. It was so late that they didn't even stop to freshen up, knowing that Mageen would have had her dinner long ago and wouldn't be sitting down with them.