Merchants with Evil Intent (50 page)

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Hey Cam,” Dylan grinned.

      
She shot Ryan a cold glare.
“Hi Dylan, what a surprise.”

      
“Yeah, I can see by your reaction that
you’re less than thrilled to see me,” he chuckled uncomfortably.

      
“I know I am,” mumbled Travers.

      
Camryn elbowed him in the ribs.

      
“No,
it’s
fine,
Dylan. Just a surprise,” she replied, hugging him.

      
He whispered in his ear, “This isn’t how
I wanted to see you again. I mean, shit Camryn, you were shot? Why didn’t you
tell me you were in deep shit out there?”

      
She lifted a shoulder, “It was nothing.”

      
“The hell it wasn’t!” John roared. “You
were almost killed!”

      
Camryn’s eyes widened. “Keep it down for
Christ sakes! We’re in an airport, aye?”

      
“Aye?
What’s
this ‘aye’ stuff?” Ryan asked, scratching his head.

*
     
*
     
*

      
An hour into his call with Colleen,
Declan admonished her for the twentieth time. “Gel ya should’ve called the
minute he was arrested! Ya know I would’ve flown back!”

      
“I was afraid, Dec. Afraid you and Ian
would be mad I didn’t see the signs.”

      
His fingers tapped furiously over his computer
keyboard while he held the phone between his shoulder and ear. “I’ve booked
tickets for me and ma for tomorrow and no grumbles from you. Teaghan’s is
closed for the season and Peter and Kelly can manage the pub while I’m away.”

      
“Since when do you close for the season?”
she asked.

      
“Do ya have another hour to talk?” he
murmured.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Tom McShane wrapped his arm around
Camryn’s shoulder. “Glad to see you’re okay. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”

      
“It was either kill or be killed. I went
with the first option,” she stated matter-of-factly.

      
“And I hear you saved someone’s life in
the process!” he beamed.

      
Camryn’s facial expression sent John to
her rescue. “Hey, Cam, you remember Joe Butler, right?”

      
Butler extended his hand, “Hey Camryn,
welcome home.”

      
She shook his hand, puzzled. “Thanks. No
offense, but I’m a little curious as to why you’re here.”

      
He grinned, “Well, you took down Orlov
and I got Lukov, the ringleader.”

      
“Yeah, he had
help
,”
Travers interrupted. “It’s not like you did it all yourself.”

      
Butler bowed to him. “I stand corrected.
It’s amazing though.”

      
Her eyebrows knitted. “What’s amazing?”

      
Butler shook his head slightly. “How much
you look like Camille.”

      
“The last girl who was snatched,” Camryn
murmured. “Does anyone know how she and the other women are doing?”

      
Travers elbowed Butler in the ribs and
grinned. “Butler does.”

      
Tom McShane laughed, “Come on everyone. I
think I heard John say he was buying pizzas.”

      
John grumbled, “I don’t remember making
that offer.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Oh Declan! Why didn’t you call?” Colleen
complained. “I called and ma never said a word! Always said you were out or
busy! I didn’t know anything about you getting shot, let alone how involved you
are with Camryn.”

      
“No matter.
Once
I’ve helped you get things situated I’ll find Camryn and set things aright with
her. I’ll no’ be lettin’ her go. I love her too much.”

      
“Ah
Declan
, you
may have a rough exterior, but inside you’re a big softie.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
A small caravan of cars pulled into the
O’Mara driveway. While everyone piled into the house McShane stood outside to
smoke.

      
Camryn threw her purse into the house and
stood outside with McShane, begging for a smoke.

      
She inhaled deeply and thought how badly
she wanted a smoke while Declan was in the hospital, then frowned. Pulling out
her phone she punched in his number. While it dialed she shrugged, “Promised
someone a phone call. I’ll only be a minute.”

      
The call went to voice mail. “Hi Declan.
We landed safely.” She walked away from Tom and whispered into the phone. “I’m
really sorry about things.”

      
Little puffs of white mist floated around
Tom and Camryn as they talked. She pulled her black wool coat tighter around
her.

      
“Maybe we should go in, I’m sure everyone
will want to hear what happened.” Tom touched her arm lightly and said, “You
don’t have to tell anything that will upset you.”

      
Over her shoulder she murmured, “It all
upsets me, Tom.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
After a very lengthy call with Colleen,
Declan called his ma.

      
“Ma?
Sorry to
have awoken you. No, I’m fine. Pack a suitcase. You and I are going to Chicago.
Colleen needs our help.”

      
After he explained Colleen’s situation he
pulled the mobile from his ear. His ma’s voice got higher with each sentence.

      
“Ma, she’s okay. I’ve planned on staying
two weeks, but it could longer.”

      
He pulled his mobile from his ear again
while she chattered animatedly about what she’d pack and that she needed to
call John.

      
“Aboot that, ma, I doona want Camryn to
know I’m comin’.” He pulled the mobile away again while she questioned him
loudly.
“Ma?
It’s to be a surprise, so be sure to tell
John to keep it quiet, aye?”

      
He rang off and threw the mobile on his
desk. His feckin’ ear hurt from talking on it so much.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Pizza’s were ordered and would be
delivered. No one wanted to miss out on the tale that Camryn and John were
going to share.

      
Everyone huddled into the living room
when Tom and Camryn entered. Van Morrison played softly in the background,
causing Camryn to wince.

      
Greg slapped his hands together and
grinned as Ryan and Dylan brought out the Jameson. Camryn grabbed the bottle
from Ryan and a glass from Dylan. “Me first,” she growled, shooting a wicked
look at Greg.

      
She took her half-filled glass and sat on
the brick hearth. The burning wood crackled and snapped in the fireplace,
making her miss the scent of peat. Her hand shook when she brought the glass to
her lips.

      
John slapped his leg. “Let me start! I’m
happy to announce that I met a very nice woman while I was in Ireland.”

      
Grace grinned and patted him on the back.
“Tell us about her.”

      
While John rattled off all of Siobhan’s
fine qualities Camryn couldn’t help but smile. It was great that after
twenty-five years he found someone. A startling thought came to her.

      
If he married Siobhan then Declan would
become her step-brother. Ugh!

      
“Camryn met a fine man as well,” John
remarked, daring a glance at her. “I hope you don’t mind me telling this Cam,
but she’s engaged!”

      
She was too caught up in her own thoughts
to hear John’s announcement.

      
Claire looked at Camryn’s left hand. She
frowned as she pulled Camryn’s hands apart. “I don’t see a ring.”

      
Camryn came out of her reverie and pulled
her hand away from her sister.

      
“Uncle John said you got engaged. I
wanted to see the ring,” Claire blanched.

      
Cam held up both hands. “No ring, no
engagement.”

      
“When did this happen?” John barked.
“Dammit, Declan is the only guy you dated that I actually
liked
!”

      
Camryn narrowed her eyes and motioned her
head towards Dylan. “Look, let’s be realistic! My home is here. End of
discussion!” She stomped towards the kitchen.

      
How dare he mention the engagement! It
wasn’t his to announce! Then to admit he never thought much of Dylan! Of all
the rude, ignorant…

      
“Cam, I’m feeling out of place, so I’m
going to leave,” Dylan murmured behind her.

      
She turned and held her hands up. “I’m
sorry for what John said.”

      
He shrugged, “
It’s
okay.”

      
“No it’s not. His comment was
inexcusable. You were always good to me,” she said softly, taking his hands
into hers.

      
“So, engagement’s off?” he asked. She bit
her lower lip and nodded. “I’ve got tickets next week to the hockey game, you
interested?” he murmured.

      
She hesitated. “Dyl, I don’t know.”

      
“As friends, strictly friends,” he
offered.

      
Eyeing him warily she nodded, “Friends.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camryn picked at her pizza while Tom
talked about Valik finally turning on Lukov. She nearly choked on her food when
Joe Butler said the name Colleen Corrigan.

      
“Wait,” she spluttered. “Colleen Corrigan?
How does she figure into the picture?”

      
“She’s the wife of Andre Lukov,” Joe
replied. “She mentioned she knew you.”

      
Both John and Camryn nodded their heads.
“She’s Siobhan’s daughter!”

      
They looked at each other, puzzled. “Why
didn’t they tell us?” Camryn murmured.

      
“I can answer that,” Joe said. “I went to
see Dr. Corrigan and she explained to me that her father and brothers were cops
and they’d berate her for not noticing the changes in her husband. Simply put,
she was too ashamed to tell them.”

      
“Declan and Ian
aren’t
like that,” replied Camryn. “Someone needs to tell them if she won’t.”

      
John nodded, “I agree. Cam, go call
Declan and fill him in.”

      
She blew out a hard breath. “You know I
can’t do that.”

      
“Can’t or won’t?” John countered.

      
“Don’t push me on this old man,” she
snipped.

      
The room got quiet when she walked into
the kitchen.

      
“Exasperating girl!”
John growled.

      
Greg glared at him. “Obviously this
Declan guy isn’t someone she wants to talk to so I think you need to back off.”

      
Greg found Camryn sitting at the kitchen
table, arms crossed over her chest, one leg crossed over the other angrily
moving it back and forth. “Hey, ya ready to go home?”

      
“More than ready,” she replied through
gritted teeth.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Cam, if you want to talk, you know I’m
here, right?” Greg offered.

      
She nodded as tears stung the back of her
eyes. She tried to keep it together, to not cry, but it was a useless gesture.
She wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands.

      
Greg pulled her bags from the trunk. When
she tried to take them from him he chuckled. “I think I can manage.”

      
“Can you come in and check things out for
me?” she rasped.