Shadow of the Hangman(89)

‘What will happen then, Dermot?’ she asked, worriedly. ‘Will they be going home to America?’

‘They’ve got something important to do first.’

‘Are they still bent on killing someone?’

‘They don’t make idle threats, Mary.’

‘Oh, I do hope that you won’t be involved. You’re in enough trouble as it is.’

‘Tom is family. If he needs me, I’ll be there.’

‘Please don’t take any risks,’ she pleaded.

‘I was born to take risks,’ he said with a laugh. ‘You knew that when you married me. And I’m still here. Nothing can touch me, darling, so don’t you fret.’ Embracing her again, he kissed her tenderly on the forehead. ‘You go back home and tell the children I love them and that I expect to see them very soon.’ He released her. ‘Has there been any sight of the Runners?’

‘No, Dermot, they’ve left us alone.’

‘That means I can move back in with you before too long.’

‘What about Tom and Moses?’ she asked. ‘Will they be coming back with you? It will only put us in danger again.’

‘What did I say a moment ago? Don’t you fret. Everything will be all right. Tom and Moses won’t be coming back. As soon as they’ve done what needs to be done, they’ll be on a ship to America.’ He kissed her again. ‘I thought you’d be pleased to see me and all you’ve done is to worry yourself sick.’

Mary smiled. ‘I’m sorry, Dermot. Being with you again is a joy. I hate not having you with us.’ Her frown reappeared. ‘I had an unwelcome visitor.’

‘Who was it?’

‘Donal Kearney.’

‘What did that traitor want?’ he asked, muscles tightening.

‘He tried to persuade me that he wasn’t the informer,’ she said. ‘Everyone else has shunned him so he tried to win me over. I told him that you’d made up your mind and that nothing would change it.’

‘He dared to bother you?’

‘He was in a terrible state, Dermot. They beat him up badly.’

‘I’m not standing for that, Mary.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘Nobody is allowed to bother you, least of all that two-faced chimney sweep. Where is he now?’

‘He’s trapped in the tenement with his family.’

‘Then I’ll pay him a visit this afternoon,’ said Fallon, anger building. ‘It’s high time that Kearney was wiped off the face of the earth.’





After a fruitless morning asking questions in yet another Irish community, Paul Skillen returned to the shooting gallery for refreshment. When he joined her in the office, Charlotte gave him a cordial welcome.

‘I’d never take you for a costermonger, Paul,’ she said. ‘You may look the part but there’s a kind of nobility about you that always pokes through.’

‘Luckily, nobody else noticed it. The Irish took me as one of their own.’

‘Have you found any trace of the fugitives?’

‘No, Charlotte, I met dozens by the name of O’Gara but none of them had a relative in the American navy. I came back here for a rest.’

‘Then you can join us in a meal when the others finish work. Gully is teaching a young boxer and Jem is fencing someone. He may be small but Jem is a match for most people with a sword in his hand.’

‘Where’s Peter?’

‘He’ll be schooling someone in how to hand over money to the kidnappers. Peter wants me there when the exchange takes place. I’ll take Meg Rooke.’

‘Is she that pretty servant of yours?’

‘Yes, we’ll appear to be in Hyde Park for a stroll whereas I’ll really be there to keep watch on what takes place.’

‘Do be careful,’ he said with concern. ‘The kidnappers may be dangerous. Make sure that you don’t get too close to them.’

‘One of them is a woman, apparently.’

‘Women can be just as deadly with a pistol in their hands.’

Thinking of Hannah Granville, he decided that a woman could be equally deadly without a weapon. She had certainly injured him severely. Paul was tempted to talk about his private life to Charlotte again but he drew back as Jem Huckvale came into the room. There was a friendly exchange of greetings.

‘Some people never learn,’ said Huckvale. ‘I do believe that I could still beat Mr Ridley if he was the only one with a sword in his hand.’

‘I’d like a bout with you some time,’ said Paul.

‘That can be arranged. Whenever I take you on, I’m the pupil and you’re the teacher. The only swordsman better than you is Gully.’