He checked in with Devin at the hospital every so often.
She was fine. Brendan was fine.
At seven a.m., he received the call he expected; Will Chan and Kat Sokolov had arrived. They had landed in Dublin; they would be there within a few hours.
Rocky was grateful that they were on their way. Kat was a tiny, very pretty blonde—the last person one would expect to be an excellent medical examiner. Will Chan was intriguing—his background was Trinidadian and Chinese and a mix of American-Northern European. He’d been in magic, in theater, in film—and computers. If anyone could figure out a computer or machine engineered haunting, it was Will.
Together, they were a handsome, engaging—and deadly competent couple.
Rocky was cheerful as he rose and headed down to the pub.
Michael and Aidan were there and hailed him when he came in, urging him to join them.
“Where is the missus?” Aidan asked him.
“She spent the night at the hospital with Kelly,” Rocky explained.
“Ah, of course,” Michael said. “He’s doing well? Brendan is doing well?”
“Stable and holding,” Rocky assured them. “How about you two? You sleep well? Any interruptions?”
“The banshee?” Michael asked solemnly.
“Don’t make him think we’re daft,” Aidan said. “No, but, I admit—I didn’t sleep well. It’s unnerving. First Collum. Then, Brendan. And that wailing people talked about. I slept with my door bolted, I’ll tell you that.”
“I considered going back to Dublin,” Michael admitted.
“You can’t. We’re always here for St. Paddy’s Day,” Aidan said.
“Aye, but, people aren’t usually dropping like flies around the feast day,” Michael said. He looked hard at Rocky. “Do you think we’re in danger?”
“I think that something is going on. And I will find out what,” Rocky said.
“We’re all right—we’re all right as long as Seamus and Kelly are all right,” Aidan said.
“And you think something is going to happen to Seamus next?” his brother asked, appalled.
“They’re next,” Aidan said softly.
“Have you been back up here lately—as in around when Collum died?” Rocky asked.
“Aye—we came for the funeral,” Michael said sadly. “Collum’s funeral.”
The two sounded sincere.
But, it was difficult to be sure.
“I meant before that,” Rocky said.
“Are you suggesting something?” Aidan demanded.
Rocky shook his head. “No. I’m wondering if you saw or heard anything peculiar.”
“I hadn’t been here in months,” Michael said.
“Nor I,” Aidan said flatly.
“Well, thank you. We will get to the bottom of it all,” he assured them with a smile.
He rose and left them.
Upstairs in his room, he checked his e-mail. He had received information from the home office. He went through everything that they’d been able to pull on Michael and Aidan Karney, Siobhan McFarley, Dr. Kirkland, Sheriff Murphy, Allen Fitzhugh, and Gary Duffy.
Sheriff Murphy had a wonderful record. He’d been a police officer in Dublin with dozens of commendations before coming home to Karney to take on the role of sheriff.
Dr. Kirkland had once had a run-in with the law; charges had been dropped. He’d been soliciting a prostitute. That didn’t make him a killer. But, it was interesting.
There were no police records of any kind on the others.
But, there was an interesting notation.
Aidan Karney had made a charge in the village—at the local pharmacy.
He had done so on the day before Collum Karney had died.
Devin jumped up with a cry of delight when she saw the tiny blonde visitor enter Brendan Karney’s hospital room.
In doing so, she woke Seamus and Kelly, who had been dozing in other chairs.
“Kat!” she said.
“Hey! A trip to Ireland, a bit unexpectedly,” Kat said, greeting Devin with a hug. Devin quickly turned to introduce her to Brendan and Kelly.
“She’s another of your team?” Seamus asked, perplexed, most probably because Kat didn’t look ferocious in the least.
“Trust me, she’s hell at a shooting range,” Devin said, laughing. “And she can fathom any secret from the dead,” she added.
Kat nodded, looking at Seamus. “Sir, we need your signature. We’ve set the wheels in motion. I can perform an autopsy tomorrow, with your permission.”
“Tomorrow? Oh, no. Nothing happens like that on St. Patrick’s Day!” Seamus said.
“It does when the right people are involved,” Kat said softly. “And I think, with the information we’ve been given, that it’s imperative we have your brother out of the ground as quickly as possible.”
Seamus looked at his daughter and nodded.
“Anything you need,” he told her.
“For now,” Kat said, “I’m here to spell you, Devin. Will is with Rocky at the castle. They’re expecting you back.”
“Great,” Devin said. She looked at her Uncle Seamus and Kelly. “Do either of you want to come with me?” she asked.
Kelly shook her head, looking at her father.