Page 63 of Dublin Debacle

Jack nodded. “Cal.”

Emily shook hands with the man. “Welcome to Ireland.”

The last man stepped forward with his hand held out. “Dane Ryan, Navy SEAL. Ace Hammerson and I go way back to BUD/S. Glad to be a part of the Brotherhood Protectors.”

Jack clasped his hand. “Great to have you with us.” He released the hand and waved toward the back of the pub. “Let’s get started.”

They gathered around the tables Emily and Jack had pushed together and reviewed what had happened up to that moment and what could happen at the rally.

Jack spread out the sheets of paper he’d printed. One was a map. “This is the Customs House on the River Liffey, where the rally will take place. The Garda will be present and probably members of J2. We’ll be looking for these people among the crowd.” He passed out pictures of men. “We were able to get pictures of some of the men associated with Night Shade, a group of men known as mercenaries and assassins for hire. Be on the lookout for any of these men. We think they’ll be dispersed among the crowd to start hostilities. If you see one, stay on him and stop him from initiating a fight, if at all possible. Seamus O’Brien and Rory Gallagher will work the stage to make an announcement that the two sides have been manipulated and are not responsible for the attacks, that the mercenaries were hired to make it look that way. Whether the crowd will buy the truth is to be seen. All we can do is the best we can to deescalate the tension and stop a fight before it begins.”

“What if the fight can’t be stopped? Whose side do we take?” Fearghas asked.

“Neither.” Jack’s lips pressed together. “Get out before you’re harmed.” He met Emily’s gaze.

She nodded. “This isn’t your fight. Don’t engage unless it’s to detain a mercenary or protect yourself.”

Fearghas lifted the bag he’d brought with him and dumped it out in the middle of the table. “I brought communications devices, care of the boss. We need to keep in contact.”

They spent the next few minutes distributing radio headsets and earbuds.

Jack handed a set to Emily. “I know I will never convince you to stay at the pub, but at least wear one of these in case we’re separated. And let me see your cell phone.”

She handed him her cell phone. “Why do you need my cell phone?”

“In case we’re separated, I’ll be able to find you, and you’ll be able to find me.” He opened her phone and shared her location with his phone, and vice versa. “I’d also like to share your location with Lucie as backup.”

“Please do,” Emily said. “Does she track your location?”

“She tracks all of the Brotherhood Protectors.”

“Then I’d like her contact info in case I can’t get in touch with you.”

He worked with her phone and his and sent a message to Lucie. Then he handed Emily her cell phone. “Done. We’re all connected. Although I plan to be with you at all times, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

Emily’s heart warmed at the thought that Jack was worried about losing her in the crowd. “If we lose each other in the crowd, come back to the pub.”

“Agreed.” Jack turned to the others. “If things get crazy, meet back here at the Tap & Tankard.”

They studied the images of the mercenaries that could be dispersed among the crowd. Some used their cell phones to take photos of the photos.

As they prepared to head out, Jack stood in front of them. “This is a potentially dangerous situation you’re heading into, basically unarmed. You have to rely on your wits and hand-to-hand combat training.”

“Who says we’re unarmed?” Dax Franklin slipped his backpack off his shoulders. “I saved the best for last.” He dumped the contents on a table. “They’re not guns, in the traditional sense, but they’re better than nothing. And if we find a mercenary or a hot-headed anyone, it might be better to have a stun gun than a real one in a crowd. They’ll be easy to hide in a pocket, and they aren’t shaped like a gun, so they won’t draw attention when you bring one out. We even have a couple shaped like tubes of lipstick for those inclined.”

They all grabbed for one of the devices.

Emily chose a red one shaped like a tube of lipstick. After Jack showed her how to use it safely, she put it into her pocket.

After one last communications check that all their radios were working, the team filed out of the pub, a couple at a time. They’d split up and take different streets to the rally. Emily and Jack stayed back to be the last out.

Daphne joined Emily and Jack as Dax and Giva left. She stopped inside the front door and stared at Jack and Emily standing in the middle of the barroom. “You sure you want to go?”

Emily nodded. “Can you and Bridget handle the pub for a few hours?”

“Of course.” Daphne’s brow furrowed. “I’m worried about you and your family. You heard Bridget. It’s supposed to be bad.”

“We’ll be okay,” Emily said. “If all goes well, we’ll all be back here in a couple of hours, ready for beer and some of Moira’s good cooking.”

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