“I will come as quick as I can.” Ailbe grabbed his coat and headed across campus to the Administration Building, a five-minute walk. The urgency of the meeting and the direct communication from the president’s office made him edgy. What happened for him to be summoned by the president? Not sure what to expect, Ailbe entered the President’s office suite. “Dr. MacGowan for Dr. Riordan.”
“One moment, Dr. MacGowan.” The secretary telephoned the president, and within seconds the office door opened.
“Ailbe…thanks for coming.” President Liam Riordan motioned into his office. Despite his six decades on the planet, he stood an imposing, statuesque man. Well-dressed and confident, he offered his hand.
Ailbe shook his hand as he entered the office. “I am pleased to meet with you again, Dr. Riordan.”
“Please, sit. I’m afraid I have rather tragic news to share with you.”
“Oh?” The leather creaked as Ailbe sat in one of the tufted leather chairs in front of the president’s desk. The so-called tragic news had reached him as soon as the deed occurred and Declan received the call.
Dr. Riordan sat in the other leather chair and faced Ailbe. “Garda found one of your students dead in the River Corrib this morning. They have little to go on.”
Knowing he needed to show surprised concern, he pinched between his eyes before focusing on the president. “I’m shocked, Dr. Riordan. May I ask which student?”
Dr. Riordan nodded, “Keenan Moynihan.”
Ailbe creased his brow in a feigned troubled expression. “One of my best students. His fellow students admired him. He anticipated a promising future in computer science. Did Garda find any leads at all?”
Dr. Riordan shook his head. “The tragedy is so far a complete mystery, Ailbe. University records show Mr. Moynihan possessed a clean background and excellent family support. I speculate it involved a mistaken identity.”
“I appreciate you sharing this tragic news with me, Dr. Riordan. I am shocked. My heart goes out to Keenan’s family. Can I do anything to help?”
“No, Ailbe, I wanted to share this unexpected event with you myself.”
“Thank you, Dr. Riordan. I will share the news with Keenan’s classmates. If I can help Garda, I am available.”
“I appreciate your concern and offer of assistance, Ailbe,” Dr. Riordan stood and offered his hand. “Please inform me of anything from Keenan's classmates. Sometimes, they can make a comment which gives us a lead.”
Ailbe shook the proffered hand. “I will keep my ears open, Dr. Riordan.”
* * *
Over an afternoon pint at O’Connell’s, Ailbe shared the news with. “I received a called to the president’s office today. He told me of Garda finding Keenan’s body in the river. Brilliant piece of work, Declan. Gardaí are stumped.”
Declan listened and smiled as Ailbe complimented his work. “That’s what mates are for, to handle problems. Oh, I’ll need to return the favor one day, but at least we made a point.”
“We did,” Ailbe said. “You should have seen their faces when I told the other students.” He took a sip of his cold Bulmers. “They are a frightened bunch of lads.”
“Do you think any others made the same connection as Moynihan?” Declan remained concerned about student participation in the project.
“No other students have mentioned it, and now they won’t. Doing away with Moynihan achieved what I hoped.” Ailbe sounded confident. “We’re almost ready to launch the program. A few more lines of code, and we’ll be set for October 29th.” He took a pull on his cider.
“Slow down, mate,” Declan raised a hand. “Drinking too fast will mush your brain.”
Ailbe lowered his glass. “Right, you are. I’m glad you’re here to keep an eye on me.”
Declan planned to keep an eye on Ailbe. He wanted this plan to succeed and didn’t want Ailbe’s confidence in the students to screw things up. “Say…let’s go out to Galway Racecourse this weekend. I enjoy seeing the nags run, and it’s fun to bet a bob or two on one of the steeds.”
“Sounds like fierce fun. How about Saturday? We can go for lunch and the afternoon races.”
“That’d be grand!”
Ailbe and Declan finished their drinks and walked out into the chilly autumn air. Ailbe’s students would have the weekend to ponder over the death of their classmate, and Declan would have the weekend to glow in his accomplishment. The win dawned on the horizon.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
5:30 and already dark out. The Thursday afternoon shopping trip ended with a martini back in their flat. Wyl leaned over Rod’s shoulder as he scrolled through online information about Garda.
“Since we have a connection in the Irish police force, I wanted to discover how law enforcement works here.” Rod continued to scroll, sipping the Boru vodka martini, the closest the Irish offered to Tito’s. “An Garda Síochána is the national law enforcement in Ireland. The term for a single officer is Garda. Any multiples of offices or officers are Gardaí.”
“Anything interesting?” Wyl rested one hand on Rod’s shoulder and jiggled his martini with the other, making the ice tinkle against the glass.
“Commissioner Seamus Kane is the top official in An Garda Síochána. General Steinburg mentioned him in our Pentagon meeting. Somehow, we’ve connected with top officials in both countries.” Rod’s voice quivered as he spoke. “I also found information for the local Galway office where Chief Superintendent O’Brien is. I’ll send this address to our cellphones, so we have it.”
“You are getting into this mission, babe.” Wyl stroked the back of Rod’s neck with his thumb. “I like your desire to learn more about who we are dealing with. It gives me confidence about our success.” He squeezed Rod’s shoulder. “Are you about ready to go to Wilde’s?”
“Fifteen months ago, I minded my own business as a professor and college administrator and anticipated another ten years at the school, perhaps more. Until a handsome rancher strides into my classroom and lassos me. Now I’m married to him, the half-owner of a vast West Texas cattle ranch, a sensation in San Francisco, tagged by the government into service and given the rank of colonel, and shipped off to a foreign country on a covert mission with international implications.” He chuckled. “A trip to Wilde’s Pub is in order.”
They put on their coats and went out into the chilly Irish evening.
* * *
The drive to Wilde’s took minutes. Inside, they sat in an empty booth with a view of the stage.
A barman came to take their order. “What’ll you have, gents?”
“We’ll have pints of Guinness,” Rod motioned between him and Wyl. “And a couple of menus.”
