Merchants with Evil Intent (23 page)

      
“Excuse me, is there something I can help
you with?” she asked in a scratchy voice.

      
He appraised the woman as he approached
her. She had short dry red hair and wore a business suit. “Yes, I’m Detective
Butler. I’ve been trying to speak with Dr. Corrigan.”

      
“She took the kids and moved into a
motel. You probably know about her scumbag husband, right?” She pulled out a
smoke and lit up, exhaling hard.

      
“Do you have any way to reach her? I need
to speak with her,” he replied, pulling out another business card.

      
“She’s not in trouble is she?”

      
Joe scribbled his number on the back of
his card and handed it to her. “No, she’s not in trouble. Look, if you could
give her my number I’d appreciate it,” he said passing the card over the hedge.

      
“Sure, Detective. I’ll let her know you
stopped by.”

      
He nodded his appreciation and as he was
getting into his car he heard her say, “I hope they throw the bastard in jail
for life.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Butler was on cloud nine as he approached
Camille’s room. Camille was getting released and asked if he’d take her home.

      
She sat with Samantha on her bed and they
were hugging when he entered the room.

      
“I’m serious, kiddo; you call me if you want
to talk, okay? I’ll always be there for you,” Camille vowed.

      
Joe cleared his throat. The women pulled
apart from each other, wiping their eyes.

      
“Would you rather I came back later?” Joe
asked.

      
“Heck no!” laughed Samantha. “I think
Camille would be devastated. You’re all she talks about.”

      
Camille elbowed her in the side. “She’s
exaggerating.”

      
Sam raised her eyebrows. “Are you effing
kidding me?
After what we’ve been through?
Girl, don’t
pull any punches. Tell people how you feel about them when you’re feeling it ‘
cause
you might not have another chance to. In a moment your
life could be snatched from you.”

      
Camille blinked her eyes. Sam was pretty
deep for her age. She nodded, “You’re absolutely right, Sammo.”

      
Camille stood and walked carefully towards
Joe. Her feet were still sore and in bandages.

      
“Joe Butler, you’ve stolen my heart,” she
whispered.

      
He took her in his arms and whispered, “I
promise not to give it back.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Joe parked in front of Camille’s
apartment. Her eyebrows pulled together for a moment.

      
“Is something wrong?” he asked softly.

      
“I don’t have my purse, which means I
don’t have my keys.”

      
Joe reached behind her seat. “I snagged
this for you,” he murmured as he placed her purse on her lap.

      
Her eyes misted. She wasn’t normally so
weepy.
“How?”

      
Joe shrugged. “It was found during a
search of the building where you were held. Does everything look like it’s
there?”

      
She rifled through and found her keys and
wallet. “Is it safe to go in there? I mean, do you think…”

      
“Camille, I promise, no harm will come to
you. Two of the guys are long gone and one is behind bars. If you’d like we can
have the Super change the locks for you.”

      
She nodded, “Yeah. I guess so.”

      
He touched her arm. “Hey, I’m serious.
Look, I’ll scum-bag proof your apartment myself if it’ll make you feel better.”

      
Camille hobbled to her apartment, much to
Joe’s chagrin. He offered to carry her, but she waved him off with a dismissive
hand.

      
Her hands shook as she tried to put the
key in the lock. Joe covered her hand with his. “Here, let me.” He unlocked the
door and held up a hand as he entered her apartment. She waited in the hallway,
her back against the wall so she could see if anyone approached.

      
He returned a few minutes later and took
her hand. “It’s okay.” He led her to the couch. “Have a seat and I’ll be right
back.”

      
She glanced around the apartment. It used
to be a place where she felt safe, but now she didn’t know if she’d ever feel
that way again. How would she sleep at night? With one eye open and a knife
near her bedside?

      
The door opened and Joe grinned, holding
Snoops, firmly in his arms. He wasn’t a cat person, but this particular cat had
the personality of a dog. Snoops leapt from his arms and ran to her mistress,
causing Camille to burst into tears.

      
Joe frowned. He thought seeing Snoops
would make her feel better. He walked to her, fists jammed into his pants
pockets.

      
“Camille?” he asked softly as he sat next
to her.

      
She held Snoops close to her causing the cat
to mewl. “I don’t think I can do this,” she rasped.

      
Joe’s heart sank. She wasn’t ready for
this, for him.

*
     
*
     
*

      
It felt pretty darn good, to Camryn, not
having her phone glued to her hip the past two weeks. She did check-in with her
parents using Mickey’s phone. They were anxious for her to come home, but she
wouldn’t let a little thing like Viktor stop her from seeing Ireland. Besides,
with each day that passed she felt confident. Perhaps he didn’t fly to Ireland.
Maybe he flew elsewhere and she was the last thing on his mind.

      
Besides, what would he want with her now?

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan awoke to Nellie’s soft snores next
to him. He rolled onto his back planning his day. He’d been home for two weeks
and was hungry for good ol’ Irish cheese and the last of the buzzies had left.
A visit to see Angus was definitely in order.

      
He and Angus grew up together and talked
about being business partners one day. As they grew older their plans changed.
Declan joined the Garda while Angus leaned towards keeping up the family farm.

      
Hard times fell on the MacManus farm and
when Declan heard the news he offered financial support. Angus, being a proud
man, took Declan’s offer only on the condition Declan would be his partner.

      
Declan laughed at the notion. The only
thing he knew about cows was they tasted pretty good on his plate at dinner
time.

      
So he counter offered to be a silent
partner and let Angus handle the rest.

      
His belly growled thinking about the rich
cheese.

      
“Is that all ye can bloody think aboot is
your stomach?” wailed Eoghan from across the room.

      
Declan jumped at the sound of his voice.
“Jaysus!
Get out of me feckin’ head!”

      
Eoghan smirked. He loved to make the
witless pup jump.

      
“You disappeared on the ride back from
the airport two weeks ago. I was hopin’ I’d seen the last of your sorry arse,”
Declan growled.

      
“I grew tired of your brooding,” he
shrugged.

      
“I wasna brooding! How was I supposed to
act when you told me this gel is me intended?”

      
“I expect you to do the manly thing and
seek her out instead of thinking about cheese of all things!” Eoghan spat.

      
Declan pulled the coverings causing
Nellie to jump off the bed. “Since you know it all, what do you propose I do?”

      
Eoghan rolled his eyes. “Make speech with
her in that talkie thing. Don’t be as dimwitted as I!”

      
Declan pulled his feet over the side of
the bed. “Just how dimwitted were you?”

      
Eoghan raised his left eyebrow and tapped
his fingers against the hilt of his sword. In all the years he walked the earth
as a ghostie he’d never spoken of Failend. He sighed and with a sweep of his
hand his sword disappeared. He sat on the padded window seat and got
comfortable.

      
“Failend was a gel in my village, not of
noble blood. Aye she was beautiful with long auburn hair and soft brown eyes.

      
She’d serve food and drink to the knights
when we’d come around after battle. I was quite taken with her, but never told
‘er. Me mum said Failend wasna good eno’ for a knight,” he said bitterly.

      
Eoghan tore his gaze from Declan and
stared out the window towards the sea. “I tried to bloody tell ‘er, but always
lost me nerve.”

      
“Did she like you?” Declan asked.

      
“Aye, I believe she did. She always
served me first and often,” Eoghan grinned. “A way to a man’s heart, aye? I
planned on stealing her away and starting anew when I was called into battle.”

      
Declan scooted closer to the edge of the
bed. After several long minutes he snapped. “Well?”

      
“I died on the battle field. When I came
back as a ghostie the land changed and she was long gone. What I wouldna give to
see her again.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually a cry-baby,”
Camille sniffled.

      
Joe ran his hand through his hair. He
wanted to take her into his arms and console her. “Camille it’s no wonder
you’re emotional now with what you’ve been through. But ya gotta help me out
here. I’m not sure what to do.”

      
She patted his thigh. “I’m not sure what
to do either.” She waved her hand in front of her. “My apartment feels creepy
and I don’t think I can stay here alone. Maybe I should stay with my parents
for a while.”

      
A lump formed in Joe’s throat. “Ohio?”
She nodded dolefully. Damn, he didn’t want her to go.

      
She lifted a narrow shoulder. “They’re
still here. I could pack a few things and ride back with them.”

      
“Or you could stay with me,” he offered.
He hoped he didn’t sound too forward, but dammit, he didn’t want to lose her
when he just found her.

      
She searched his eyes for a long moment.
“Joe, that’s very generous of you, but I can’t impose on you.”

      
“You wouldn’t be imposing. I extended the
invitation for purely selfish reasons.” He cradled her cheek into his hand. “I
know we haven’t known each other very long, but…”

      
“But what?” she whispered.

      
He shrugged and looked away. She gently
pulled his chin to look at him. He released a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid if you go
to Ohio you might not come back and I’m not ready for this to be over before it
began.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Declan!” exclaimed Angus.

      
“Angus, howya doin’?”

      
“Grand! How was your trip to America?”
Angus asked, shaking Declan’s hand.

      
“Interesting.
I
only saw Chicago, but that in itself was eye-opening,” he grinned.

      
“Did you see gangsters?”

      
Declan laughed, “No, not that I’m aware
of. How’s it going here?”

      
“Couldna be better! We have a huge order,
what with Christmas around the corner and all. We can’t make cheese fast eno’.”

      
“Glad to hear it. Speaking of which…you
don’t happen to have any samples do you?”

      
“’Course I do. Come on then!”

      
As they walked towards the offices Angus
cast a side-long glance at his friend and smirked.

      
“What?” asked
Declan.

      
“We’re going international, my friend.”