Page 66 of An Angel's Share
I have to rein in my ego and think about her right now. Fuck, this is so hard. I turn on my heel and dive in with Dermot and Patrick, sending Marshall along with Aoife.
Patrick is struggling between talking business and not upsetting his dad. In the end, he can’t contain himself.
“Do you really think it’s fraud?” I can see in his eyes, he’s terrified. At last our words have penetrated his mind. He’s clearly been listening to people tell him it wasn’t illegal or immoral. Just smart business.
“Legally, other than maybe the person on the inside, you probably haven’t done anything wrong,” I reassure him. “But morally, you are in deep shit. Think, Patrick. You’ve taken money for exporting to yourself. You control the flow, the amounts. It’s hardly a fair fight. And if they find out you actually never sent some of the stock? Well, game over.” He looks straight ahead, clearly contemplating his actions. “Where’s the money? If you’re invoicing all those casks, surely the board of trade would want to verify it?”
He grimaces. Oh fucking hell, he hasn’t fiddled those figures as well.
“Liam amended the books. As we invoiced the company in the Isle of Man, it then invoiced New York. I’ve seen the figures for the Isle of Man. It eventually was all paid back toO’Clerysto finance my projects.” He’s rubbing his hands nervously.
Well, that’s a lie. I’ve seen the actual Isle of Man bank accounts—the money never moved. It’s stocked full of money. At least five hundred million euro, all sat waiting to move for a holiday in the sun. They already did a trial run to see if anyone noticed, the money being electronically moved and then sent back. James tracked it, which is how we know about the accounts in the Caymans. In her name. Lies upon lies.
Liam has lied to him. Probably in cahoots with his cousin, the export director. All very neat and tidy for a little bit of fraud and theft. Probably couldn’t believe their luck when they realised the amounts of profit to be siphoned off.O’Clerysis a gold mine. Liquid gold.
“Okay, things won’t be traced back then to you,” I tell him. “But listen, I need access to everything to ensure it. You know I’m working for you. Last year I sorted out all the IT systems. But I need full access, Patrick. Yours, Liam’s, Aoife’s, everyone’s. Talk to Marshall if you need to, but we need to ensure this never gets out.O’Cleryswill be finished, and I am not being dramatic. Your dad, Seamus, and Marshall won’t survive it. They are men of integrity, don't put them in this position.”
He looks into my face, it’s as serious as it gets. “Liam said you were trying to take over. Get rid of me.” I see the depths of his insecurities laid bare.
I snort. “No. I run a fucking massive company. Have you not looked me up? I don’t have time forO’Clerys.Not really. I’m happy to check in once this is all sorted, but I want to let you get on with it. I want Marshall and my sister happy. I want us all in the best-suited positions. I want to protectO’Clerys,not take it off you. This is just adding to my issues,not helping me at all.” I’m being as open and honest as I ever have with him.
He’s watching me closely. He nods, and looks startled when his dad speaks from the front of the car. I think he forgot he was there.
“Patrick, you should only trust your family, no one else. Jonno stopped a few issues last year with updated IT. You know this. It’s time to make a few decisions, son.”
I smile at Dermot. The man is quieter than Marshall, but I know he sees everything. They are all very astute. I nod at him, and look at the hospital looming ahead.
“Let’s support the family and hope for a good outcome for Seamus.” I hold my hand out to Patrick. He takes it immediately and shakes it. “But let’s keep this conversation to ourselves for now. Loose lips sink export ships.” I grin at him, and he smiles. Dermot nods and we all alight the vehicle in a much better place than when I got into it.
31
Aoife
The week goesby in a blur of activity. All centred around the hospital. Daddy looks like he’s on the mend. His colour has gone from a pasty yellow to a healthier ruddy red.
It wasn’t a heart attack, more like a warning shot, severe anxiety. I’m not surprised, with what went down at that meeting. I think he’s heartbroken, not necessarily an actual broken heart. But I am determined he will make a good recovery.
Mammy is on the same page, a full and healthy recovery for Daddy, but her tactics are entirely different. Anyone would think she’d had a heart attack. She’s on a healthy eating campaign, which everyone in the house has to abide by. No drinking, all food low fat. She is practically patrolling the kitchens with a clipboard, policing the kitchen staff. I even caught her in the kitchen checking in and weighing salt portions.
If she’s not policing the kitchen staff, she’s policing me.She’s dragged Liam and Maggie in to support her. One of the three is at my side constantly, and it’s getting on my nerves. I’m still avoiding Jonno, but the more days that pass and I don’t really interact with him, them, the worse I feel.
When I have time on my hands, I dissect the conversations we've had. The time spent with each other. Even now, he’s always attentive—drinks, food, battling Mammy if I want to eat. All she is talking about is fat content, salt, being overweight. It’s like she’s forgotten pregnant women have different needs, cravings.
But he hasn’t tried to get me alone, and I’m not sure what I think about that.
Evie and her brothers have stayed and are supporting Marshall and Jonno. In fact, they’re supporting everyone except Patrick and Liam. I’m sure Evie has tried to catch me a few times, but to be honest, I’ve run. Well, waddled off at the highest speed I can waddle at. I’ll break like a dam if she catches me, my tears just below the surface at all times.
My envy, however, is off the Richter scale whenever I see Jonno with the kids or her and the brothers. It’s like a hot spike in my chest, how much of a family they are. Marshall is spoiled and looked after. Any places he wants to visit, they arrange, anything he wants, they make it happen. I know Jonno is really doing that for me. Liam seems to have checked out and is focusing weirdly on mammy.
It isn’t until the day before Daddy is due home that I inadvertently listen in on a conversation that changes everything.
I’m sitting in the small library where there is a small toilet. The very toilet, in fact, that Christy admitted to listening into a conversation in the coffee shop a few weeks ago. I hear Evie come into the room, talking to Jonno. In fact,telling Jonno off would be more of an accurate statement. The other two brothers follow them in.
I think about coming out, and am just pulling my underwear up, when they start.
“Have you spoken to her?” Evie is demanding. “You need to sort it, Jonno. She doesn’t look right. Have you told her how much you love her? Have you told her you wanted her whether she was the thief or not? You need to tell her.”
My breath stutters in my chest and I freeze. My underwear is not sorted correctly, but I just plonk myself back onto the toilet. My ears are on high alert.
