“That’s a long time. Glenn and I will have you guys over for drinks soon, and you can tell us all about it.”

“And you can share stories about Ireland,” Rod said.

“Hand me your mobile, and I’ll tap in my number.” James held out a hand. Wyl pulled his personal phone from his pocket and handed it over. James tapped in the number, and his phone chirped with a text. “Got it.”

“This is our third day in Ireland,” Rod said. “So, we’re still adapting to the time change. We need to head to our flat. I understand you and Glenn live in the same complex.”

James nodded. "We do.” He stood. “Let’s catch up in the next day or two.”

“How about brunch on Sunday at our place?” Wyl said. “We’re in 220. Eleven-ish?”

“Sounds like a plan. Let me check with Glenn, but I’m sure we’re not busy.”

“Perfect,” Rod said. “We'll trade stories Sunday.”

“I enjoyed meeting you guys. I'm eager to discover the part of Wyl and Rod not in our information,” James said. “I need to stow my gear. Cheers!”

“Friendly guy,” Wyl said as they left the pub. “O’Brien mentioned James’s partner Glenn.”

“Two couples make it easier for us to appear as friends,” Rod unlocked the Mercedes. “Enjoying time together is not as unusual as a couple and a single.”

“Excellent point, Rod,” Wyl climbed in the passenger seat.

Back at the flat, they undressed for bed.

“I am glad our overall plan included meeting another gay couple.” Wyl toed off his boots. “I wondered what our social life would be in a foreign country.”

“Me, too. I find it interesting our contact is a musician.” Rod tossed his shirt into the corner, and tugged his t-shirt off over his head. “My reason for being on this mission becomes clearer every day.”

“So MacGowan is a musician?” Wyl unbuckled his belt and undid the button on his jeans.

“He’s an opera buff, which isn’t the same as being a musician,” Rod said. “Still…I'm interested in discovering how deep his appreciation of opera goes.”

“You’re right. No wonder Steinburg picked you for involvement in this mission.” Wyl eyed Rod. “Your background is as important as mine.”

“I’m glad my background is important enough to put me here with you.” Rod tugged Wyl into a hug. “I would be frantic if I stayed on the ranch, and you traveled here.”

Wyl wrapped his arms around his husband. “Not half as lost as me. You have no idea how much support you give me.” He pulled Rod into a kiss.

The kiss broke. “Let’s climb into bed. We need to save the world in the next few weeks.” Rod said.

Wyl chuckled. “I’ll save the world. You worry about protecting me.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Saturday, Ailbe and Declan enjoyed a quiet morning at the table in their breakfast nook. Declan worked the newspaper crossword while Ailbe perused the GMIT campus newspaper he picked up the afternoon before.

“An article here reminded me about a cybersecurity symposium next week at GMIT,” Ailbe said. “One of the featured speakers is a security ace from the States, Wyl Sterling. The article paints him as a top security expert before he retired last year. I'd love to learn his perspective.”

“Sounds like a learning opportunity for you,” Declan mumbled while he tried to figure out 15-down. “You fekked with this project for months. Perhaps you can pull him into your little scheme.”

“This little scheme, as you put it, is slated to put millions in your pocket.” Ailbe glared at Declan over the top of the newspaper. “You're not contributing much of anything.”

“Hey…I clean up your garbage,” Declan sneered. “Who else would take care of your mistakes? I contribute plenty.” Declan glanced back at his puzzle, a smug grin on his face.

Ailbe tensed. “You have a point.” Ailbe laid the newspaper down and feigned an expression of concern at Declan. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. The call from Dr. Riordan’s office threw me for a loop.”

“Hey,” Declan put down the crossword and laid his pencil on the folded newspaper. “I have your back. So can the criticism. I want you to succeed. I have my eye on a little chateau in Staufen, Germany. A place nobody would think of looking.”

Ailbe chuckled. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”

“Aye. I’ll be away from you and away from Ireland.”

“So, back to reality, want to go with me to the symposium event on Wednesday? We still need to play the happy couple.”

“Can’t,” Declan said. “I’m giving a test. I’ll be tied up all morning.”

“Your loss.”

"Next week, the evening lecture series at the university features another American, Dr. Rod Bonner. He is speaking on Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni. Mozart is one of your favorite opera composers.”

“I'm not familiar with Dr. Bonner's background, but I would enjoy hearing what he says about this particular Mozart opera. Let’s plan to go. I want to meet him.”

“I’ll call for seats on Monday.” Declan focused his attention back on his crossword puzzle.

“Wait a minute.” Ailbe rifled through the stack of periodicals on the window seat near the breakfast table. “The name rings a bell.” He pulled out the copy of The Advocate and eyed the cover. “Damn…the Texas Sterlings are here in Ireland.”

“The handsome cowboys we almost went to San Francisco for?” Declan waggled his fingers for Ailbe to hand him the magazine.

“Yes.” Ailbe handed the magazine to Declan. “I wonder what brings them to Ireland?”

“I bet we can find out. Let’s plan to attend Dr. Bonner’s lecture on Mozart. We can invite them out for a drink afterward and learn more about them.”

“Declan, you hit upon a keen plan.”

“Every once in a while, I think of something besides killing.” Declan laughed.

“We’re still planning to go to the racecourse today, aye?” Ailbe slugged down the last of his coffee. “The weather should be sunny all day. I bet the course is fast.”

“If we go around 11:00," Declan said. "We can have lunch before the races start.”

“I thought you would enjoy both."

“What’s a three-letter word for Big Blue?” Declan asked, returning his focus to the newspaper crossword.

* * *

The breakfast dishes clattered in the sink as Wyl rinsed them. “Babe, why do we wash the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher?” Wyl asked, rinsing the silverware before dropping it into the silverware basket.