Apparently, emergency med techs were on hand at the festivities; what had seemed like a lifetime was most probably only the passing of a minute or two before men were rushing in, ready to take over.
Kelly would ride in the ambulance; Seamus would follow. Rocky didn’t think that the man was in any condition to drive, but Devin insisted that she was—she would bring Seamus to the hospital.
Rocky didn’t want her to go and him to stay—but one of them needed to go and one of them needed to stay, and that’s the way it was.
Someone had to find out what was happening, what was causing the “banshee” wail at night and what demon—real or imagined—had come to put Brendan Karney into such a state.
“I’ll call you as soon as I know anything,” Devin promised Rocky.
She smiled, looking at him. She loved him so much. She could see the fight he was waging within himself, hating to be away from her at all.
But they’d come to find the truth.
Kelly was her cousin while Rocky was the most experienced agent. They were right doing what was needed right where they were.
As Devin headed out of the car park in the castle courtyard, she could see that villagers and tourists who had been milling around were speaking to one another in hushed whispers, gathering together for support as they watched the ambulance leave.
The pipes were silent.
A few of the vendors were already closing down.
Devin gave them no more mind, concentrating her attention on her driving.
She didn’t exactly know where they were going, and she didn’t think that Seamus was going to be much help with directions.
The sheriff, a man named Bryan Murphy, arrived as the ambulance departed. Rocky was left with the cousins to tell him what had happened.
Murphy was a tall, broad-shouldered man, clean-shaven, and probably in his late fifties. He seemed a capable man, weary perhaps, but determined to learn what he could about what had happened.
“Brendan was fine,” Michael said solemnly. He and Aidan and Rocky stood with the sheriff in the great hall—right before the hearth, beneath the family crest and the weapons—and by the sword and dirk that still lay on the stone floor.
“My brother and I arrived at the village just about an hour or so ago,” he continued. “We checked some friends in down at another B and B, and brought our things up to our rooms in the central tower.”
“Brendan was fine, just fine—all jovial and happy that we were here,” Aidan said.
“Didn’t look sick in the least,” Michael agreed.
“He didn’t look sick at all,” Rocky offered. “He was fine this morning. When we found him, he looked terrified.”
“Can’t see how this happened,” Michael said, his expression definitely confused. “We were all coming out to the courtyard. Brendan was going to announce the dancers, in honor of St. Paddy and the church and all. He was right behind us—and we wandered on down and it wasn’t until we saw the Americans—my pardon,” he said quickly, looking at Rocky, “it wasn’t until we saw Devin and Rocky.” He seemed awkward all of a sudden. “Bryan Murphy, Craig or Rocky Rockwell,” he introduced. “Or did we do that. Forgive me. Brendan was…is a brilliant man.”
“Aye, and so soon after Collum,” Aidan said.
“Another heart attack?” Sheriff Murphy murmured.
“Not just a heart attack,” Rocky said flatly. “Who pulls weapons off a wall when they’re in the midst of a heart attack?” he asked. “Brendan was defending himself from some threat.”
Aidan and Michael looked at one another and Rocky could almost hear their thoughts.
Aye, the banshee!
Sheriff Murphy looked at Rocky. “I understand you’re some kind of FBI man in the States, Mr. Rockwell. You may think we’re quaint and outdated here, but our forensic work is done in Dublin County with some of the finest and most qualified doctors and technicians in the world. I know you feel that we’re lacking—after all, Brendan and Seamus called you and your wife over here. But, as you’ve all told me, Brendan was alone just a matter of minutes. Seamus, Kelly, Michael, and Aidan had just been with him. There was no threat. There’s been no break-in; no one in the courtyard saw any kind of a disturbance. Just as Collum Karney was alone in his room, Brendan was alone here. They were both big men, living hard. They believed themselves to be powerful, strong like the warrior lords of old who ruled here. If you can find anything suspect, I’d be more than grateful to hear about it.”
Rocky looked at Murphy. “Sheriff, I have no doubt that you’re extremely capable and I’m sure in many ways you and your people surpass our expertise. I can’t help but find it odd that one man dies of a heart attack and his brother is found unconscious and nearly dead barely two weeks later—surrounded by weapons as if he were defending himself.”
“You don’t know the village,” Aidan said softly.