Page 10 of Dublin Debacle

Jack lowered his window to listen for the hum of the engine as it grew fainter.

They stayed for a couple more minutes in the parking lot before Jack felt the danger had passed.

A moan from the back seat made Jack straighten. “Let’s go.”

Emily started the engine, backed out of the parking space and eased the Mercedes up to the road.

Jack looked both ways and finally said, “I don’t see any cars. Go. But don’t go straight there, make a few turns along the way just to be safe.”

Emily held the steering wheel in a grip so tight that her knuckles turned white. She drove through the streets, taking turns and doubling back.

No more headlights appeared behind them.

Eventually, Emily pulled the car up to a curb in front of a long line of townhouses and shifted into park. “We’re here.” She sighed and eased her hands from the steering wheel.

Had they not had someone tailing them, Jack would have liked to ask more questions about Emily’s brother, her father and about her family’s migration from the States to Ireland to the States and back. He had hoped to fill in the gap between her mother going back to the States and Emily and her brother returning to Ireland. However, her uncle took priority.

Jack climbed out of the car and opened the door to the back.

A door opened, and a woman dressed in slacks, a matching shirt and a cardigan descended the stairs.

Emily met her on the sidewalk and quickly embraced her. “Hey, Aoife, thanks for letting us come.”

“I thought you’d be here sooner. What happened?” the woman asked.

Emily shot a glance toward Jack. “We had to shake a tail. We got here as soon as we could.”

The doctor’s eyes rounded as she looked past Emily, Jack and the car as if expecting to see another vehicle appear. When it didn’t, she wrapped her arms around her middle and shivered in the cool night air. “Your uncle should be at hospital. Why did you bring him here?”

Emily nodded. “We couldn’t convince him. Could you check him over?”

The doctor nodded and tilted her head toward the townhouse. “Can you get him inside?”

“We’ll do our best.” Emily came to stand beside Jack as he leaned into the back seat of the car. “Uncle Paddy,” she called out softly. “We’re going to need your help to get you out of the car and into the building.”

Her uncle lay as still as death.

Emily’s brow dipped. She reached for the old man’s shoulder and shook it gently. “Uncle Paddy?” her voice strained. “Don’t you die on me.”

The old man groaned. “I’m still...this side...of the ground, girl.”

She smiled. “Then give us a little help getting you out.” She held out her hand.

He placed his hand in hers and let her pull him to a sitting position, grimacing all the way.

Once he was upright, Jack touched Emily’s shoulder. “Let me.”

She stepped back.

Jack slid his arm beneath the old man’s shoulder and straightened, bringing him with him.

Emily quickly moved to her uncle’s other side and draped his arm over her shoulder.

Together, they moved him up the steps and into the doctor’s townhouse.

“Bring him into the back bedroom,” the doctor said. “I made up a bed for him.”

“We didn’t intend for you to keep him,” Emily said.

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