Merchants with Evil Intent (25 page)

      
She pointed towards a booth. “How’s
this?”

      
He rolled his eyes. “That’s what I bloody
said, gel!”

      
“No, you said ‘snug’.”

      
“That’s what we call them ‘ere,” he
snorted.

      
Camryn blushed again as she sat.

      
Mickey handed her a menu and cleared his
throat when she didn’t take it from him. She was busy looking around.

      
There were framed posters of famous Irish
musicians such as U2, The Chieftans, Thin Lizzy and her all time favorite, Van
Morrison. Hm… she wondered if the song “Wild Night” by Van Morrison was the
inspiration for the pubs name.

      
A bouncy waitress named Kelly came to
their table.
“Afternoon.
Can I get you anything from
the bar?”

      
Mickey asked for a pint and Camryn asked
for two shots of their best Irish whiskey and also a pint for herself.

      
“Are you goin’ to drink both those shots
yourself?” pouted Mickey.

      
Camryn grinned, “Only if you don’t want
one.”

      
Kelly returned promptly with their drinks
and took their food order. They both opted for a plate of fish and chips.

      
Camryn raised her shot glass. “Well
Mickey, after today you’ll never have to see my sorry ass again!”

      
Mickey had no clue what she meant, but
drank his shot anyway. He savored the flavor as it slid slowly down his throat.
He watched in amazement how fast the lass drank hers and his eyes widened when
she gulped her pint.

      
“That whiskey was so good I believe I’ll
have another. Care to join me?”

      
“Are you goin’ to make another confusing
toast?” he smiled.

      
“What I meant by that is all I need you
to do is help me find a store where I can buy an electrical adaptor and then
drop me off at the nearest B&B and you’ll be free of me.”

      
His eyebrows furrowed. “Lass, I’m no’
supposed to leave you. Those were strict orders from the bloke who hired me.”

      
She waved a dismissive hand.
“Orders smorders.
I don’t listen to that guy, why should
you? Besides, if I want to go anywhere I’ll rent a car.”

      
“Really, Miss O’Mara…”

      
Camryn raised her hand, “Cam, please.”

      
He blushed, “Cam, ‘
twouldn’t
feel
right taking the money and not carrying out me job.”

      
“Yeah, but
it’s
different now.”

      
“How?” he questioned.

      
“Because I have a creep trying to find
me,” Camryn whispered.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Damn! Do you see the car?” Declan asked
Eoghan.

      
Eoghan twisted in the seat.
“T’was red in color, aye?”

      
Declan blinked, uncertain. “Was it? Oh
bloody hell! I don’t know!”

      
“Some detective you are,” jeered Eoghan.

      
“Can’t you find her using your ghostly
powers?” Declan hissed.

      
“Ye horses arse, you know I canno’ do
that!”

      
Declan pulled in front of the Wild Knight
and slammed his fists against the steering wheel. “There’s only one thing to
do.” Eoghan lifted an eyebrow and Declan continued. “Check every feckin’
business in town.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camille looked around Joe’s apartment and
smiled. She expected sports memorabilia littering the walls but instead found
very tasteful paintings. Upon further inspection she noticed the signature on a
painting and gasped.

      
“You painted this?” she asked, surprised.

      
“Not only this one, but all of them,” he
boasted.

      
She walked around the apartment observing
each painting in silence. “Wow. These are really great, Joe. I had no idea.”

      
He shrugged, “Not many people do. It’s
very cathartic for me after a long day of work. It helps to take my mind off things
for a while.”

      
“The theme seems to be dwellings. Are
these places you’ve been to?”

      
“Nope.
I just
like to paint buildings. One day I’d like to paint people. Nudes, maybe,” he
grinned.

      
She shook her head and playfully slapped
his arm.

      
“Your room is ready and Snoops is pretty
satisfied. I hope you’ll find it comfortable, too,” he murmured.

 
     
 
“Joe, I can’t thank you enough for letting me
stay with you for a few days.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

 
    
“Hey,
I’ve told you, you can stay here for as long as you want. No strings attached.
If in a week you decide I’m a douche bag, I’ll understand. I won’t like it, but
I’ll at least understand.”

      
She laughed and hugged him. “You might
decide I’m a douche bag.”

      
“Not a chance, Miss Mayden.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
“When you say ‘
creep
’
what do you mean?” asked Mickey as he drank his second shot.

      
Camryn leaned closer; a cloud of whiskey
vapors encircled them. “I mean my boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend, followed me here
from the states. He’s accused of kidnapping women for human trafficking.”

      
Mickey leaned back against the bench
seat, his mouth agape. “And you’re part of it?”

      
She shrugged. “I think I was his next
intended victim.”

      
“Shite!”

      
“Exactly,” she agreed.

      
“What are ya tellin’ me gel? This bloke
is dangerous?” Mickey asked, wide eyed.

      
Camryn snorted.
“Duh!
If he’s capable of kidnapping women, he’s capable of just about anything
nefarious and I’d rather you weren’t involved. Trust me, I’ll be okay,” she
smiled tightly.

      
He shook his head. “I’ll no’ be leavin’
you alone.”

      
Camryn stood on wobbly legs. The whiskey
made her limbs numb. “I’ll be back.”

      
“Cam?”

      
She grinned. “I have to use the washroom.
Promise, I won’t ditch you with the tab!”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan burst through the doors of the
Wild Knight, scanning the area.

      
“Dec?
Did you
forget something?” Kelly asked from behind the bar.

      
“Did you see…never mind.”

      
He stepped outside and found Eoghan
admiring the statue of himself.

      
Through the side of his mouth Declan
said, “Anything?”

      
Eoghan crossed his arms over his chest.
“Would I be standin’ here if I found the wench?”

      
Declan shot an irritated glance and
walked from shop to shop looking for her.

      
An hour later he trudged to his Rover and
slammed the door shut.

      
He knew it was her, but where did she go?

*
     
*
     
*

      
After they filled their bellies with food
and drink Mickey and Camryn stumbled to the car. The sun began to set but at
least it wasn’t raining.

      
Mickey moved the car across the street to
the Gordon B&B where he and Camryn each secured rooms.

      
It was only a little after six at night,
but Camryn plopped down on the queen-sized bed and fell fast asleep.

      
Mickey, on the other hand, placed a call
to John O’Mara.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Under no circumstances are you to leave
her alone. I don’t care if she threatens you!” John bellowed into the phone.

      
“Sir, I’ve no intention of leaving the
gel. I wish I’d been informed that she was bein’ followed,” Mickey stated
firmly.

      
“I didn’t know when I hired you, so my
apologies. Tomorrow, drive her to the airport. I’ll have a ticket waiting for
her.”

      
“Beggin’ your pardon sir, I doona think
she’ll go willingly.”

      
“I don’t care. Do whatever you have to
do,” huffed John before he ended the conversation.

      
Mickey pulled his mobile from his ear and
snorted. Arsehole! No wonder Cam didna want to talk to him.

      
He
left his room and lifted his hand to knock on her door when he heard soft
snores coming from behind her door. He turned back to his room, removed his
jeans and climbed into bed himself.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan drove in dejected silence. Maybe a
run on the strand t’would sweeten his mood. Get her out of his head, if only
temporarily.

      
As soon as he got home he ran upstairs,
with Nellie hot on his heels, and changed into running pants and trainers. “Are
ya ready for a run then, gel?” he asked Nellie. Her black and white paws danced
on the hardwood floors. He nodded, “Right then,
let’s
go.”

      
She pushed past him on the stairway and
sat patiently by the back door until he arrived. “In a bit of a hurry, are ya
lass?” he laughed. Nellie stood on all fours, wagging her tail in response.

      
Declan pulled the door closed behind him
and broke off into a sprint, Nellie by his side.

      
He breathed in the salty sea air. He
sorely missed the scent while in the states. Ah, yes, the states. Damn, she
still lurked in the back of his mind. It was obvious she wanted nothing to do
with him, since she hadn’t returned any of his calls.

      
He ran harder, faster.

      
The
sky darkened and the wind whipped his hair into his eyes. His breathing became
labored so he slowed his pace and eventually bent over

at
the waist, resting his hands on his
knees. Nellie circled him with tail and tongue wagging.

      
“Gimme me minute, gel,” he rasped, trying
to catch his breath.

      
He caught movement from the corner of his
eye and stood upright, peering into the darkness. His dark eyebrows furrowed
and the hair on the back of his neck tingled.

      
In one quick motion Declan was on his
stomach with a mouthful of sand and someone on his back.

Chapter
9

      
Declan ferociously bucked until his
assailant was thrown. He scrambled to his feet, put his head low and ran at his
attacker.

      
He knocked the person onto the sand and
straddled him, pinning the guy’s arms under his knees. He brought his fist back
and stopped abruptly.

      
“Jaysus!
Ian
! You arse!”

      
Declan rolled off his younger brother and
laid on his back panting.

      
“Ya still got it, brother!” Ian laughed
as he pulled himself into a sitting position. “Thought after two years away from
the Garda ya might’ve gone soft.”

      
Declan pulled himself up onto his elbow’s
and sneered. “Didja come here to be an arse or is there another reason for your
visit?”

      
Ian stood, extending his hand to his
brother and pulled him up. “Not much of a watch dog ya have there, aye? Didna
even bark at me.”