Laced

42

A

She didn’t know what to do. They had listened to Shane Magillicuddy ramble on about how wonderful the rings were, how any Irish man or woman-or anyone in the world, for that matter-would be thrilled to have one.

I know! A

That idiot dentist! If only he’d done a decent job, she wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Bobby had gone to bed.

A

“Fancy hearing from you,” Hortense said caustically. “To what do I owe this honor?”

“I just wanted to see how you were.” A

“Where are you now?” Hortense asked. “I can never keep track-”

“You know I can’t tell you,” A

“Of course. How is the dear boy?”

“He’s not too happy. He had a cap fall out, and the local dentist where we are now isn’t very good.”

“When are you coming to Sweetsville?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Someone’s ringing the bell. I’d better go.”

“I’ll hold on,” A

“No, but call me tomorrow if you have any time.” Hortense hung up the phone.

A

Shane Magillicuddy was a widower who lived alone in the house he had pla

“I plan to enjoy these rings until the night of the auction,” Shane crowed in one of the articles. “I hate to give them up, but I could use the money. And I’ll have a grand time giving half of the auction proceeds to charity.”

He must still have the rings in his possession, A

“Bobby!” she called. “It’s time to get up!”

43

“For he’s a jolly good fellow,” Dermot’s friends sang as they shared a champagne toast on his luxurious private plane.

Dermot beamed. “I won’t deny it!” He laughed and waved his glass in the air. “We’re all jolly good fellows.”

There were eight fellows in all, including Dermot and his assistant, Robert. Several hours earlier Dermot had told Robert to call his guests and tell them to get to the airport as soon as possible. “There are rings and paintings waiting for me in Ireland! I’d like to leave this minute!”

That was easy for Dermot to say. Robert packed Dermot’s bags and took care of all the arrangements. Dermot didn’t have to lift a finger. The other six men, some of whom had to sweet-talk their wives into letting them go on this unexpected trip, were left to fend for themselves in the packing department.

But they all made it to the airport for the earlier departure.

“We’re ready for takeoff,” the pilot a

“Ireland, here we come!” Dermot cried. “We’ll be at He

44

Bobby was not pleased when A

“Please, Bobby, do this for me,” she begged. “I have the feeling that these Claddagh rings will bring us luck. If we score them tonight, we can fly to Los Angeles tomorrow.”

They both dressed in black and gathered the tools they thought they might need to break into Shane Magillicuddy’s house: a hammer, a garden shovel, and a crowbar, among other useful items. They also had rope and tape that they would use to tie up and silence Shane Magillicuddy if need be.

It was three in the morning when they arrived in Salthill. The seaside resort on the north side of Galway Bay was very close to the ancient village of Claddagh where the famous rings originated.

Shane’s old stone house was set back from the road, and mountains loomed behind it.

“This is lovely,” A

“It’s too close to Galway for us, but at least this street is isolated,” Bobby said, licking his newly glued cap with his tongue. He had used the temporary cement that Sharkey had given him and had been shocked to see a red smiley face painted inside the cap. What a dope that dentist is, he thought.

“A

“Shane Magillicuddy is old, frail, and lives by himself. You heard him on Reilly’s show tonight. He’s sweet and i

“Where are we going to park?”

“It looks as if there’s an old shed down by the water,” A

Bobby turned off the lights and steered the car to the side of the shed, out of view of Magillicuddy’s house.

“Now remember, hon,” A

“I know, sweetie, I know,” Bobby said, still licking his cap. It felt as though it could be coming loose. “Let’s get going.”

The two black-clothed figures got out of the car and quietly closed the doors. With nimble steps they hurried across a field and around the back of Magillicuddy’s house.

Bobby handed A

All was quiet in the kitchen.

He nodded to A

Stealthily they crossed the dark room, turned left, and started down a hallway.

With startling speed, a German shepherd bolted out of a back room and raced toward them, barking furiously. Terrified, Bobby and A

“Tiger, what’s the matter?” an elderly man’s voice called out.

The dog turned away from Bobby for just an instant, giving Bobby a chance to scramble to his feet and make his escape. As he scampered toward the car, he could hear the dog racing around the house, barking his head off.

A