Page 226 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“It’s all over the feckin’ news!”
“Hey…you said take care of it…I made a call.” Declan raised his voice. “That’s the extent of my involvement.” He was now shouting. “If you want it done so feckin’ perfectly, make the feckin’ call yourself!”
“If this project fails, it will be on your feckin’ head, Declan Knowlan,” Ailbe shouted back, “and it better not goddam fail!”
“I thought you had control of this thing!”
“So did I until this happened.” The shouting match continued. “Can’t you do a goddam thing right? I can’t believe I trusted you.”
“And if this is the thanks I get, you can count me out for any more help,” Declan reached for his coat and rushed out the front door, slamming it in the process.
Shit,thought Ailbe,I need to get him back. He could really make trouble if he’s pissed enough.He ran for the front door and jerked it open.
“Dec…please,” he pleaded. “Don’t leave. I didn’t mean to shout at you.” Ailbe was still angry about how Rafferty died, but he needed Declan on his side, and he knew it.
Declan stood at the open door to his car. “You sure sounded like you meant it,” he said, speaking normally. He didn’t want the neighbors snooping.
Ailbe approached Declan. “Come back inside. Let’s talk about how we’ll handle the Gardaí. They’re bound to come around asking questions.”
“You must realize I have no control over how my connections handle your issues. I make a call and pay them off.”
“Pay them off?”
“Sure. You think this kind of service is free?”
“I suppose I never gave it much thought. How much?”
“€5,000 for this type of thing. More if we get specific. That is one reason I let them handle the details.”
“And you paid that for Moynihan, too?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you get the money?”
“I saved up in case you dumped me.”
“Dumped you? Why would I do that?”
“Come on, Ailbe. Our relationship is last year’s news, and we both know it.”
Ailbe studied the ground. He realized their partnership had lost its excitement months ago, but he didn’t know Declan thought so, too. He had this project to pull off, and Declan could derail it if given the chance.
“What, because we have cross words, you think we’re through?” Ailbe hoped Declan didn’t see through the lie.
“We go through the motions of being a couple, but you don’t really love me anymore.”
“I can’t believe you said that.” Ailbe had to keep the charade going, at least until his big day. “What makes you think I don’t love you?”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re wrong,” he lied.
“You sure have a funny way of showing your love.”
“Let’s go inside,” Ailbe gently took Declan by the arm. “We’ll have a drink and talk this through.”
Declan closed his car door as Ailbe led him toward their front door.
