The Walking Ones: (San Juan Islands Mystery Book 10) by D.W. Ulsterman

Author:D.W. Ulsterman [Ulsterman, D.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-23T00:00:00+00:00

19.

“Ah, it’s so good to see the rumors of your arrival in Ireland are true.” Paddy squeezed Adele’s shoulders. “Perhaps together we can manage to finally locate Fin.”

“You really don’t know where he is?” Adele asked.

Paddy shook his head. “He’s gone to ground.”

“Or was taken,” James added.

“Perhaps,” Paddy replied, “but I don’t think so. Fin is quite capable and no easy mark.” He released Adele’s shoulders and turned toward the door. “Let us go inside where we can speak in private.”

“I tried to call you,” Adele said. “The number you gave me when you came to Roche Harbor.”

“That phone was destroyed months ago.” Paddy’s voice lowered as he looked out at the few Travellers who still lingered near the foot of the mobile home’s porch steps. “Those damn devices are far too easy for others to locate someone with.”

“You mean the authorities?” James asked.

“I mean crooked cops.”

Adele nodded. “Like officers Dinesh and Moore.”

Paddy’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve met them?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” James replied. “They’ve been following us since shortly after Ms. Plank arrived in Dublin—most recently at Fanore Beach where we were looking for you.”

Paddy reached for the door. “Come inside.” After they were all standing in the home, he closed the door and locked it. “I’ll tell you what I know.”

James parted the white vinyl window blinds and looked outside. “Should we be worried about Taylor Ward coming back?”

“He won’t,” Paddy answered. “Not today anyways—he’s too spooked and in no position to take us on directly, at least for now.”

“Who’s he working for?” Adele asked.

“Likely the same ones who attempted to force Fin into giving over his inheritance.”

“And who was that?”

Paddy grabbed a dining chair and placed it next to the couch. “Please, let us sit and talk.” After James and Adele were on the couch, he sat and looked at James. “Surely you’ve heard about the ongoing disputes following Ava’s passing?”

“Among the Travellers?” James asked.

“The war over her riches—it’s the very thing she feared would happen and why I urged Fin to take what she left him and put it somewhere beyond their reach.”

“Roche Harbor,” Adele said.

“We thought that by removing the inheritance any motivation to try to take it would also go away, but the opposite has occurred. It seems some are more motivated than ever to lay their claim.” Paddy hung his head. “I’ve failed both Ava and Fin.”

“The Inky Squid.”

Paddy looked up at Adele. “What about it?”

“You were there meeting with its owner, Neil Kelly.”

“Yes.”

“You spoke about Arthur Olegovich with him.”

“I mentioned Olegovich to him because I was trying to determine if anyone affiliated with Vlad Vasa’s group was instigating the move against Fin.”

Adele arched a brow. “And?”

Paddy frowned. “I don’t think so. This is Traveller business—as is so often the case the wounds among our kind have been self-inflicted.”

“Do you recall a woman named Nora who worked at the Inky Squid?”

“Sure, Old Nora is a delightfully short-tempered thing.”

“She was a short-tempered thing,” Adele said.

“Eh?” Paddy leaned forward in the chair. “Did something happen?”

“She’s dead.”

“How?”

“A hit and run while she was walking home at night from work.

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