Page 220 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Yesterday, Rod and I met Ailbe and Declan at Wilde’s. During the conversation, Ailbe asked me to help him grade the class projects. He claimed the projects were complicated, and he feared he would not be able to finish them. I agreed to give him a hand.”
“So he threw out the bait, and you took the hook, eh?”
“That about sizes it up. Before we flew to Ireland, I created a public email for this mission. I can get messages without compromising my personal email or using our secure email. That is how Ailbe sent me the project guidelines.”
“You’re a smart man, Sterling. I need a copy to take to O’Brien.”
“After I thoroughly review what he sent and mark any relevant points, I’ll get a copy to you.”
“Sounds good, Wyl. Thanks.”
Wyl disconnected the call.
“What’s next?” Rod massaged Wyl’s tense shoulders.
“I need to print this out and read a hard copy to mark items of interest. And I need to send a hard copy to O’Brien via Cross.”
“We don’t have a printer, but we can get one. I noticed a TechStar store when we were in City Centre. They have computers, printers, and accessories.” Rod leaned down and kissed Wyl behind his ear, ending the shoulder rub.
“Can we have lunch while we’re out?”
“Works for me,” Rod said.
Wyl closed his laptop. “You ready?”
Rod handed Wyl his jacket. “You bet!”
* * *
At the front of the classroom, Ailbe assembled his papers after class. A snippet of whispered conversation caught his ear as the students filed out.
Yes, Chief O’Brien interviewed lads who had talked to Keenan.
I heard Fergus got called in twice.
He didn’t get called in twice. He went voluntarily the second time.
Why did he do that?
Something about the change in due dates, he thought O’Brien should know.
The conversation faded away as the lads reached the classroom exit. Ailbe tensed at the last words he overheard. He hurried to his office, dropped his notes and textbook on his desk, and called Declan.
“Declan Knowlan,” Declan answered.
“We may have another problem.”
“What’s that?”
“I overheard my students talking. Apparently, Fergus Rafferty has been to the Gardaí station twice. Several students got called in, but his second visit makes me uncomfortable.”
“Should I take care of it?”
“Please,” Ailbe said. “I’ll call Wyl and make sure he received the project information I sent to his email. I need to get him started before anything else goes wrong.”
They hung up, and Declan pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. “Another situation. Meet me at the docks in half an hour.” He disconnected the call.
* * *
