City of Darkness and Light(9)
“You’re leaving us?”
“I have to report to headquarters,” Daniel said. “This is what we feared might happen. I told you we had brought the Italian gang boss into custody. I’m afraid we suspected they might try to teach us a lesson, but I never dreamed they would take it out on our families.”
“Then it really was a bomb and it was the Cosa Nostra?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said. “I told you that they were particularly ruthless and violent and would stop at nothing.”
“What are we going to do? Won’t they try again?” I was shivering now, my wet clothes sticking to me, my hair plastered to my forehead. The back of my head was beginning to throb too, where I had struck the wall.
“We’ll have to decide what to do in the morning,” Daniel said, “but I’m afraid I really must go now. I’ve warned the night staff not to give out any information about us to anyone so we should be quite safe. Maybe they’ll be satisfied now that they’ve blown up our house and they won’t try again.” He bent to kiss me then rubbed Liam’s curls. “Get some food inside you then try to sleep.”
“As if I can sleep knowing that you’re out there and there are people who want you dead.”
“I can take care of myself,” he said. “Don’t worry.”
Then he was gone. I perched on the edge of the bed, hugging Liam so tightly to me that he squirmed in my arms and broke away from my breast. How could I sleep not knowing if those men were waiting for my husband at this moment, or were looking for my baby and me? How could I ever sleep again? A few minutes later there was a tap at the door. I froze. I knew that someone would be delivering sandwiches and drinks but what if it was a member of the Cosa Nostra, who had found out where we were staying and wanted to deliver the fatal blow while Daniel was away? Hastily I put Liam down on the bed, buttoned my blouse then looked around the room for a possible weapon to defend us. It was Spartan and lacking in ornaments. There was a large jug on the washstand in the corner that looked sturdy enough. Hardly the ideal weapon but better than nothing. Slowly I inched the door open, the jug in my hand and ready. “Yes?” I said.
“Molly, my darling, aren’t you going to let me in?” said a peeved voice that I recognized, and there stood Ryan O’Hare, dressed in a frilly white shirt and a black velvet jacket that was topped with a crimson opera cape. “Holy Mother of God,” he said, reverting to Irishness as he did when upset. “Just look at you.”
“Ryan.” I felt tears welling into my eyes again. “I’m so glad to see you. Do come in. Excuse the way I look. Our house…”
“I know. I just met your husband on his way out. What a shock. I hardly recognized him. I took him for a chimney sweep. I gather someone lobbed a bomb in your direction and the house went up in flames. Thank God you’re all alive.”
“Not all.” I gulped back a sob. “Our little servant girl, Aggie. She was trying to save Liam and she was killed. I feel terrible.”
“My dear darling, Molly, you need a strong drink,” he said. “You’re shaking. And some dry clothes.”
“I don’t have any dry clothes,” I said. “I don’t have any clothes at all. It’s all gone. Everything.”
“Then we must remedy that. Stay there. Don’t move.” He undid his cape and draped it around my shoulders. “That should hold you until I come back.” He went out and soon returned. “Here we are. These should be sufficient for tonight,” he said. He held out emerald green silk pajamas, a black silk robe, slippers. “Give me time and I’ll see what you can wear tomorrow. I’ve always thought you’d look stunning in breeches.” He glanced down at Liam who had now, miraculously, fallen asleep. “I’m afraid I don’t keep a handy supply of infant’s clothes, never having had the need, thank God, but I think I have a traveling rug somewhere that you could use as swaddling clothes, or whatever they do to infants.”
I laughed in spite of myself. “Ryan, you’re too kind. Thank you.”
“Well, go ahead. Put them on. You’ll get pneumonia if you wait any longer.”
“I can’t change my clothes with you here.”
He laughed, that delightfully wicked laugh that was so infectious. “My darling, as if you’re in any danger from moi. Besides, I’m a theater person. I’ve seen it all. So go ahead and strip off, woman. There. If it makes you feel better, I’ll look the other way.” He turned his back and stared out of the window.