Laced

18

Back at He

The garda had come by to investigate the theft and the fire but had already gone on their way. The owners of the hotel were calling demanding answers, of which he had none. Neil’s wife, Felicity, rang him for the third time in two hours.

“Darling, how are you?”

“Since I talked to you last, the press has gotten wind of the note left for Jack Reilly, and it’s all over the news. I’m sure he didn’t want it a

“I’m afraid I have more bad news.”

“What?”

“Your housekeeper, Margaret, is going bonkers.”

Neil wanted to put his head on his desk. “I know that. You know I know that. But she’s a good housekeeper. Why do you want to discuss it now?”

“She just appeared at the door and asked if I would mind handing over the painting she gave us last year. She was mumbling something about May Reilly and bad luck. She said the design of the lace in the painting is the same as the lace on May’s stolen tablecloth. I hadn’t noticed, quite frankly. Margaret said she had to get the painting back because it would bring us bad luck.”

“Seems as though it already has. What did you do?”

“I gave her the painting, of course. She was acting positively nutty. She said she was going to collect all her paintings.” Felicity paused. “What else was I supposed to do? I hope you don’t mind.”

“Believe me, I don’t. Did she tie the painting to her bike?” Neil asked wearily. “She insists on bicycling in the rain when she has that old rattletrap her husband drove parked behind her cottage. I’ll admit it’s not the greatest, but-”

“Actually, she didn’t have her bike. I ran to the front window and watched her leave. She walked down the street to where her old car was parked, got in the back, and the car drove off.”

“She has a chauffeur now?” Neil asked distractedly.

“It was the oddest thing.”

“You didn’t see who was driving?”

“No. I wish I had. I’m dying to know who it was.”

Neil sighed. “I gave her the day off to go home and calm down. Now she’s being driven around to collect her art. Ah, well, if that’s what she needs to feel better.”

Martin, Neil’s assistant, burst into the office. “Good news, Mr. Buckley!” he blurted.

“Just a moment, love,” Neil said to his wife. “They’re getting a stove for us today?” he asked Martin hopefully.

“No. But the representative of an American businessman, one of those high rollers, just rang us up. His boss read about the auction of the Claddagh rings in Galway this Friday and wants to be there. He is flying over with an entourage. They’d like to book eight of our superior rooms for five nights starting tomorrow.”

“Did you tell them we have no stove?”

“Yes, and he doesn’t care. The best hotels in Galway are already booked, and this fella wants to play golf around here with his pals.”

Relief flooded Neil’s body. “I hope you told him yes.”

A flash of nervousness crossed Martin’s face. “I told him I had to check on availability. Didn’t want him to think it was so easy to get all those rooms at He

“Of course,” Neil said, feeling slightly irritated. “Where is he from?”

“Phoenix. He’s Irish American-Dermot Fi

“If Mr. Fi

“The rep does want us to guarantee that Mr. Fi

“For God’s sake, Martin, get out there and book the reservation before they change their minds!” Neil growled, his face turning red. “I’ll get him his oatmeal if I have to set up a campfire out back and carry the tray on my hands and knees to his room!”

“Yes, sir,” Martin replied, escaping as quickly as possible.

Neil was breathing hard. “Anything else, dear?” he managed to sputter into the phone.

“Darling, take a deep breath.”

“What does it sound like I’m doing?” Neil asked impatiently. “I’m taking so many deep breaths, I might keel over.”

“Don’t keel over. Things are looking up. Forget I ever mentioned the silly painting.”

“I will,” Neil said. “Believe me, I will. As long as Margaret Raftery gets herself back to work tomorrow, be it by bike, chauffeur, or on foot, I don’t care how crazy or superstitious she acts on her time off.”

He wouldn’t always feel that way.

19

“One down,” Margaret said when she got in the backseat and shut the door. She placed the framed painting on the seat next to her.

“Perfect!” Brian said as he pulled away. “I told you it would be easy. May Reilly is going to be so happy. Who was that anyway?”

“My boss’s wife!”

“Your what?” Brian asked, turning around and nearly losing control of the rusty old rattletrap of a car.

“My boss’s wife. What’s wrong with that?”

“Your boss from He

“Yes. I gave them this painting for Christmas.”

Sheila looked out the window. She was biting her nail down to the quick.

“Did she ask you many questions about why you wanted the painting back?”

“Not too many. I feel a wee bit insulted she didn’t put up more of a fuss about giving it back. I gave it to her with this lovely frame that I specially picked out. It was on sale.”

“You didn’t say anything about us, did you?

“No. Why would I? You told me not to.”

“That’s right. Now, is there anyone else who works at He

Margaret shook her head. “I just gave one painting to the boss. Figure I’d butter him up. The rest of us just have a little Christmas grab bag at the employee party. We buy cheap little presents for it. Next year I should put in a coupon for one of your mugs.”

“Our mugs are high quality,” Sheila hissed.

“Whatever,” Margaret said, trying to get comfortable in the old car. The backseat was crooked, and a draft was coming through a hole at her feet. “I wanted to go to the Buckleys’ house first because I knew Mr. Buckley wouldn’t be home yet. I don’t need to run into him on my time off. Don’t you want to even look at the painting? This one’s a beauty if I do say so myself.”

Sheila turned around and admired the painting of an old farmhouse with a lace wreath on the door. “It’s gorgeous.” She turned back to face front.

“I can’t wait to examine the painting,” Brian said, dripping with sincerity. “But right now it’s important I keep my eyes on the road. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure what we can do with these paintings that would somehow honor May Reilly.”

“I need a cup of tea,” Margaret a

“Now?” Brian asked.

“Now. We’ve been in the car forty-five minutes, and I’m down a quart.” She chuckled. “That’s what my mother used to say when she didn’t have a cup of tea at her side.”

They were near Galway.

“We’ll stop and get you tea,” Brian promised. “But first, are you sure that there’s no one else living down this way who has one of your paintings?”

Margaret frowned. “I don’t know people in these parts.” She then snapped her fingers. “Wait a minute! I almost forgot. I gave one to the owner of the gym who judged the contest.”

“What contest?”

“The decal contest for the road race you two ran in. Remember when I saw the decal on your dresser, and I told you I designed it? That’s what got us started with this mess.”