Red Letter Day (29 page)

'Of course.'

Declan threw back the remainder of his pint and stood up. 'Okay, leave it with me.'

'Thanks, Declan, I appreciate it.'

'Don't thank me, I haven't done anything yet.'

Richard was nursing a second pint when Fergus finally arrived. 'What will you have?'

'Nothing. I need to get back to work.' Fergus shifted from one foot to the other.

'So what did he have to say?' Richard asked.

'The usual.' Fergus pulled out twenty Rothmans and lit one with shaky hands. He'd been trying to give up but he'd figured without Mick Garvey coming back into his life. 'He was definitely behind the break-in, though.'

'Do you think we can get him on that?'

'Not a chance.'

'So what does he want you to do?'

'I don't know. He's being very cagey, said he'd be in touch.'

'What did you say?'

'I told him I could do with the extra money.'

'Good. I've had a word with a friend of mine, he's an inspector.'

Fergus's eyes widened. 'Jesus, Richard!'

'Don't worry, I've explained everything, he's on your side. He's going to find a way to get Garvey but he'll need your help.'

'I don't know—'

'Do you have any better ideas?' Richard hissed.

Fergus dragged deeply on his cigarette. 'You just don't know what he's capable of.'

'Of course I do and more to the point, the police do. They're professionals, Fergus, and they're your only hope of getting him off your back for good.'

Fergus stubbed out his cigarette and, looking defeated and frightened, nodded slowly. 'I'll do whatever you want.'

Celine finished ironing a pair of palazzo pants, hung them up and went to put on the kettle. She hadn't got much done this morning as she'd had visits from her father and Sadie. It had taken all of her patience to deal with Sadie, who wanted every last detail about the break-in and Rose's reaction to it. Celine assured her that it would be business as usual on Wednesday and that they would have plenty of stock. She wasn't sure how true that was. Though Rose had called many of her contacts no one had been in touch with Celine yet.

Her dad had been more philosophical. 'Little thugs, I know what I'd do with them if I got my hands on them!'

Celine smiled as she made her coffee. Her father believed that a kick in the arse was a lot more effective than a spell in a prison cell and it saved the taxpayer's money.

The one person she wanted to see was keeping his distance. Richard's reaction to Mary Boyle's outburst had annoyed her. A shutter had come down over his face and he'd turned into a frosty stranger. Dominic had looked from one to the other and left them to it and, with a heavy heart, Celine suggested they go up to her flat. Even as she explained what had happened she knew that Richard had already made up his mind. He was polite, too polite, and when she had finished he'd headed for the door without a word.

'Richard? Where are you going? Aren't you going to say something?'

He'd stopped in the doorway and looked at her, his beautiful brown eyes sad. 'I have to go. I'll call you later.'

And he was gone. Celine doubted now if he'd be back. She massaged the crick of her neck and closed her eyes. Would she ever stop paying for her affair with Kevin Gilligan? Their relationship had been the biggest mistake of her life and she regretted it more every day. Yesterday, she'd glimpsed a happy future spreading out in front of her. Now she was alone again and likely to stay that way. She didn't think she'd ever fall in love again after Dermot but then Richard had emerged from her airing cupboard and everything had changed. She glanced at her watch and decided to take the repaired stock back down to the shop. She was just walking out the door when the phone rang. She thought of ignoring it but it could be a customer or Brenda or even Rose. She hurried over and picked it up. 'Hello?'

'Celine, it's me.'

'Hi, Marina.' Celine took the phone over to the window.

'Are you okay? Dominic told me what happened. How are things with Richard? What did he say?'

Celine decided to answer the last question first. 'He didn't say anything.'

'Oh, so everything's okay?'

'I didn't say that. He didn't say anything, he just left. I suppose you could say actions speak louder than words.' Celine was trying to be glib but she was surprised by the catch in her voice. Marina heard it too. 'Oh, Celine, I'm sorry! But he'll come round. You need to explain things. I mean, did you tell him that it was all over with Kevin before you even moved to Hopefield?'

Celine closed her eyes. 'But it wasn't.'

'You mean you were still seeing Kevin? You never told me that! Jesus, Celine, you'd think you'd have learnt your lesson.'

'Give it a rest, Marina, it was just a couple of times.'

Marina sighed. 'Yeah, sorry.'

'Unfortunately one of the nights that he came to see me Richard was here.'

There was a gasp at the other end of the phone as Marina digested this. 'So they've met?'

The tears that Celine had managed to keep a lid on so far threatened to spill over. 'Yes,' she sniffed, realising how it must look from Richard's perspective.

'Oh, Celine. Look, I'll come over later. Hang on in there, pet, I'll see you around six.'

Celine hung up and went into the bathroom to wash her face. She stared at herself in the mirror. Red-eyed and pale, she looked exactly how she felt, miserable. She splashed cold water on her face, ran a comb through her hair and went to get the clothes. It took her three journeys to take them all back to the shop but once Celine had arranged them on the rails she felt a little more cheerful. The place was beginning to look normal again. She turned around as there was a rap on the door and smiled when she recognised one of Rose's regular customers laden down with bags and suit carriers. She flung open the door and relieved the woman of some of the bags. 'Hello! My goodness, this is wonderful!'

The older woman laughed. 'Rose did me a favour. I've been meaning to clean out my wardrobes for months. I didn't realise I had quite so much stuff.'

'This is all yours?'

'Lord, no! I nagged my daughter and next-door neighbour to have a rummage through their stuff too.'

'It's marvellous,' Celine murmured as she removed covers from some beautifully tailored suits. 'I don't know how to thank you.' '

I'd murder a cup of tea.'

Celine laughed. 'I'll put on the kettle.'

Fergus stood outside the pub, shifting from one foot to the other and checking his watch every five seconds.

'Yo, Gus.'

Fergus swung round to see Mick grinning up at him. 'Where the hell were you? We said twelve.'

'Jeez, relax, man, will ye?' Mick opened the door and led the way into the dimly lit pub.

'Just give me the stuff and let me get out of here,' Fergus muttered, his eyes on the crowds around them.

Mick chuckled. 'For fuck's sake, get me a pint and pull yerself together. Ye may as well have a sign over yer head saying "I'm up to something".'

Fergus went to the bar and breathed deeply while the barman poured Mick's drink. He had to calm down or he could blow the whole deal. He paid for the pint and carried it back to the table, concentrating hard on not spilling it all over the place.

Mick grinned. 'Not joining me then?' He took a sip of his drink while Fergus watched him impatiently. 'That's better. Now, listen carefully. Ye do what I tell ye and we'll get on just fine.'

Fergus listened to his instructions, nodding occasionally.

'Have ye got all that?' Mick said when he'd finished.

Fergus nodded. 'Yeah, course I do.'

'Right.' Mick slipped a small package into Fergus's hand. 'That'll keep ye going for a few days.'

Fergus shoved it into his pocket and stood up. 'Okay, I'm off. Will you be in the club later?'

Mick's expression sobered. 'Nah, I've got to go and see someone. There's a piece of shit trying to move in on my patch. He needs to know that I'm not happy about it.' He slid a knife out of his pocket. 'It's not a good idea to mess me around, Gus, remember that.'

Fergus almost ran out of the pub and began to walk towards O'Connell Street. His heart was thumping and he could feel sweat dripping from his forehead. He ran for a bus, jumped on and flashed his monthly ticket. After a couple of stops, he got off, crossed the road and boarded another one going in the opposite direction. After the bus had cleared town, he got off again and walked to the nearest phone box. Taking out a piece of paper he dialled a number and waited. 'I'm here.'

'We're in the blue Mondeo parked across the road,' Declan Murphy told him.

Fergus hung up, crossed the road and climbed into the car.

'Did it go as planned?' Declan asked.

'Yeah, fine.' Fergus handed over the package and then wiped his forehead on his arm.

Declan opened it to reveal a clear packet of tablets. 'How many?'

'Ninety.'

'When do you see him again?'

Fergus shrugged. 'He said he'd call me.'

'What patch did he give you?'

'The nightclub and the pubs in Sandhill.'

Declan cursed. 'The clever bugger is keeping his eye on you. We'll have to move fast.'

'I don't think I can do this.' Fergus closed his eyes and dug his fingers into his seat.

'You don't have a choice.'

Marina was on the train on her way to a swimwear shoot in Brittas Bay when the manageress of Josh's nursery called.

'He has a temperature, Mrs Flynn, and a bad cough. I really think he should be in bed.'

'I'm not in Dublin, Miss Brennan, I'll have to call my mother and see if she can pick him up. I'll call you back in five minutes.' Marina hurriedly dialled her mother's number and prayed that she was home.

'Hello?'

'Oh, Mum, thank God.'

'Marina? What's wrong?'

'It's Josh. I just got a call from the school. He's not very well.'

'I'll go and get him straight away.'

'Oh, thanks, Mum. And could you—'

'Take him to the doctor? Of course, love.'

'Thanks, Mum, I owe you one. I'll call the nursery and tell them you're on your way.'

'And I'll call you as soon as we get home,' Kay promised.

After thanking her mother again, Marina called Miss Brennan and then sat back in her seat to worry for the remainder of the journey.

'A nasty infection,' the doctor pronounced, patting Josh on the head. 'His throat and his ears, poor little lad. I'll write you a prescription for an antibiotic and give him Calpol or Neurofen to get his temperature down.'

Kay hugged Josh against her. 'And would some ice cream help, Doctor?'

'I insist that he has plenty of ice cream.' The doctor winked at Josh.

Kay was alarmed at the lack of response from her grandson. Usually any mention of ice cream or chocolate had him swinging from the rafters. But today he was lolling back against her, his eyes half closed and his cheeks roaring red.

'He'll be fine in a day or so,' the doctor promised. 'Plenty of drinks, sleep and some TLC is all he needs. Don't worry if he doesn't want to eat.'

Kay thanked him and led Josh out into the packed waiting room.

'I'm tired, Granny,' Josh murmured, sounding frail and frightened.

'I know, love, I'll have you home in no time.'

An hour later, Josh was propped up on the sofa, with a soft blanket tucked around him and his favourite teddy clutched in his little hands. Kay set the video and when she was satisfied that Josh was engrossed in the latest Teletubbies adventure, she crept outside to phone Marina.

'Is he all right, Mum? I've been worried sick.'

'He's fine, Marina, don't worry. The doctor gave him an antibiotic. He has an ear, nose and throat infection, but he should be fine in a couple of days.'

'The poor lamb! Can I talk to him, Mum?'

Kay brought the phone into Josh and after he'd answered his mother's questions with monosyllables, Kay told her daughter not to worry and hung up. 'How about that ice cream now, love?'

'No thanks, Granny, but will you sit with me?'

Kay, a lump in her throat, sat down and put an arm around him. 'That's a grand idea.'

Josh leaned his head against her chest and smiled for the first time that day.

Marina, bent one way, then another, tossed her hair and smiled into the camera, but in her head she was at home with Josh.

'Hey, darling, pull your cozzie up, the editor doesn't want too much boob.'

Marina adjusted her top and thought back to the time when photographers had urged her to show more. She noticed the goose bumps standing out on her chest and hoped that they'd be able to airbrush them out. It was always a hazard doing these kind of shots in Ireland even in summertime. As Marina's face and feet began to ache, she thought how nice it would be if she could give it all up and stay home with Josh. It was awful not to be with him when he was poorly. Thank God her mum was with him. Josh didn't like babysitters at the best of times but when he was ill he hated them. She risked a quick glance at her watch. It was nearly seven and it would be a miracle if she was home in time to give Josh his bath. Marina felt a lump in her throat as she imagined his tears. Kay would be at her wits' end.

'I think we'll do a few more shots in the sand dimes,' the photographer told her and started to march across the beach.

'Great,' Marina muttered, hurrying after him.

It was after nine before she finally got in. The house was in darkness and after taking her shoes off she tiptoed upstairs but a quick search revealed that the three bedrooms were empty. He must have got worse and her mum had taken him back to the doctor or even to the hospital. She went downstairs and rushed into the living room in search of the note that Kay would surely have left.

'Hello, love,' Kay whispered from her position on the sofa.

'Mum! Josh!' Marina fell in a heap at the feet of her sleeping son. 'God, I thought you'd taken him to the hospital. Why are you sitting down here in the dark?'

'He didn't want to go to bed alone so I decided to let him fall asleep in front of the television. He's only just nodded off, poor pet.'