In Dublin's Fair City (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #6)

We came out to the river, now shrouded in a blanket of sea mist. Perfect for our intentions, in fact. We crossed the road and kept walking until we found steps down to the water. I went down, but no boats were in sight. We continued and tried again. Still nothing. Cullen was coughing—a rasping rattle that shook his whole body. “He won’t make it out of here alive,” I thought. Another set of steps led down opposite a public house, from which came raucous singing. It occurred to me to go in there and ask for help, but then fortune finally smiled on us. I heard the creak of oars and a boat came into view. What's more it was heading for the steps. I watched as a wiry little man stepped out, tied it up, then headed up the steps and into the pub.

As soon as he had disappeared inside the pub I helped Cullen downinto the boat, untied it, and cast off. Luck was with us. The tide was in full ebb, which made the rowing easy. We passed under one bridge and the next. I kept expecting to hear shouts or shots as we were detected, but none came. At last we passed the great shape of the Custom's House.

“The docks are just up ahead,” Cullen said. “Pull in to the next landing place.”

He seemed a little more lively and cheerful and handed me the rope as I climbed out. “I am certainly more agile without that blasted petticoat,” I said, and he chuckled.

I helped him out and we came up to the quay.

“Fishing boat. Green flag,” he said.

I searched up and down the quay. It was empty.





Thirty-three


Cullen and I looked at each other. “Are you sure this is the right place?” I heard the tremble in my voice.

He nodded. “Right where the Grand Canal Docks meet the Liffy, they said. And see—that's where the docks begin.”

“Maybe there was a hitch and they had to tie up somewhere else.” I tried to stay positive. “You stay there and I’ll look.”

“You can’t look the whole length of the Liffy,” he snapped. “We have to just face it. The boat has gone without us. It wasn’t safe to wait any longer.”

“Then what do we do now?” Until this moment there had been hope. Now hope was rapidly fading. “We have to go back to Mrs. Boone. There's nothing else we can do.”

“I’ve told you, we’re not going there,” he said firmly. He closed his eyes. Then he attempted a deep breath, gasped in pain, and put his hand to his side. “There is an emergency plan,” he said, almost in a whisper. “Another place where a boat could pick us up if they are warned in time.”

“Right. Let's get there.”

“But it's several miles out of Dublin.”

“Oh wonderful,” I said, my patience and optimism now worn remarkably thin. “We’ll just run several miles out of Dublin then, shall we?” “Grania,” he said. “We’ll have to risk going to Grania.”

“Are you mad? If you’re worried about putting Mrs. Boone in danger, then what about Grania?”

“I think we’d be fairly safe there. They probably won’t think of checking on her. Especially as her husband is now in residence.”

“Oh sure. Her husband. That makes it all the more inviting.”

“We need help from somewhere, Molly. And we have to get out of Dublin.come on. We’re but a stone's throw from Grania's here. I can make it just fine.”

I took his arm to support him, and he didn’t refuse me. We cut inland and soon came to the elegant outline of Merrion Square and Gra-nia's house.

“We can’t just walk up and ring the front doorbell,” I said.

“No, I grant you we can’t do that,” he agreed. “What time is it? Not yet eight o’clock. That means the servants will be fully occupied. We’d better go round to the mews and wait.”

We did so, standing shivering in the alleyway beside the stable door.

“The groom must be still at supper,” Cullen said. He leaned back against the woodwork and closed his eyes. “Are you all right?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know how badly I was hit.” “What happened at the prison?”

“Utter disaster. They must have been tipped off to us. Just as we were setting the explosives, a whole band of RIC showed up. I yelled for the others to run, then I pressed the plunger. At least that gave the boys in blue a shock. And did quite a bit of damage too, from what I could see. But they started shooting at us. I didn’t even have a chance to get inside. I had to run away with the rest. What a shambles.”

“My brothers,” I began, not wanting to know the answer. “What about Liam? Did he get away?”

“I’ve no idea. I saw some of our boys go down.”

“I think they shot Joseph,” I said. “I told him to run but there were police everywhere, and it was all I could do to escape.”

“You did just grand,” he said.

I shook my head, fighting back tears. “I was the one who caused the disaster,” I said. “Oh, not intentionally, I promise you. But it seems thepolice had been tailing me from the ship. They had found out about the shipment of rifles, but let me go ahead, waiting to see where I went and what I did.”

Cullen nodded. “As I said, the enemy is not stupid.” He grimaced and his hand went to his side. “I’m afraid your petticoat is quite soaked through,” he said.

At that moment a light shone from a side door and the groom returned, whistling merrily as he sauntered across the mews. The whistling ceased abruptly as he noticed figures lurking in the shadows, and he gave a yell of alarm when Cullen lurched out on him.

“Oh, it's you, sir,” the boy stammered.