In Dublin's Fair City by Rhys Bowen

Author:Rhys Bowen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780312328191
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

Iwas finding it hard to breathe as I rummaged beneath those first rifles and found more of the same, each layer wrapped in a blanket. The whole trunk was full of guns. When I removed the dresses from the unlocked trunks I found that both had false bottoms and they too contained rifles and ammunition.

For a moment I wondered whether Miss Sheehan was a crook, and then, of course, I began to suspect where they were destined. I had come across Irishmen in America supporting the cause of the freedom fighters back in the old country by sending over money and guns. It had never crossed my mind that Miss Sheehan could be such a patriot. A cowardly one, however, I decided. It was I who would find myself in hot water if the guns were discovered, since they had been sent across the country in my name. And she was safely on the other side of the Atlantic. It did cross my mind to wonder if she knew about the guns or whether we were both being used by outside forces. Then I decided that she knew very well. Why else would she have jumped ship right before it sailed. Why else would she have had the trunks shipped in my name?

I’ll call in the authorities, I thought, bristling with indignation. I’ll let them know the truth. That whole business of trading cabins had nothing to do with unwanted admirers, it was all a hoax to make me do her dirty work for her. I paced up and down in a height of agitation. I didn’t want those things in my room a minute longer. If the policeraided now, I’d be hauled off to Dublin Castle and likely as not be facing the hangman's noose.

But then when I calmed down a little, I sat on the edge of my bed to think. There was a possibility that I’d still find myself under suspicion if I turned to the police. I was possibly still a suspect in the murder of Rose McCreedy. In their minds the rifles and the murder might be linked—maybe they were linked somehow. I paused to consider this new twist. I had always thought that Rose had been killed by someone who mistook her for Miss Sheehan, and I had thought that that someone would be a jilted lover or spurned admirer. But what if Rose knew more than was good for her? That meant that these were people not to be trifled with, one of whom had paid for my hotel room, someone who would not take it kindly if I betrayed him or her. I had no wish to end up like Rose.

And it would only be my word that the trunks were destined for Oona Sheehan and she, safely across the pond, didn’t have to answer any of their questions. I would be seen as a junior lackey who had lost my nerve.

There was also the matter of patriotism. I was all in

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