Part 20 (2/2)
”To you, Rose MacKenzie, friend of my enemy. May you save Liam O'Shea before it's too late.”
Chapter Thirteen.
Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
a”Oliver Wendell Holmes HOME.
Liam paused on the flagstone walk just within the fancy ironwork gates and wondered why the word still rang so hollow.
Once it had meant somethinga”a dream and memory to his mother: a prosperous farm in Ireland, security, hope. Then hope had died, and ”home” had become a filthy tenement in a new land that didn't deserve to be called anything but h.e.l.l.
Liam was the only one left to keep his mother's dream. And now ”home” was before him, a Queen Anne mansion equal to the city's best, rising in splendor amid a gated garden handsome enough to shelter and protect a bloom such as Caroline Gresham.
In that it would serve its purpose.
Liam walked to the door and gripped the highly polished bra.s.s doork.n.o.b, feeling the solidity of it under his palm. If it hadn't been for Chen's urgent message, he'd be with Caroline now, attempting to reverse the damage Perry had done during his absence. Caroline would be upset enough when he told her she wouldn't be seeing Perry before her birthday ball.
If Perry wasn't a murderera”and Liam had seen and heard enough to seriously doubt ita”the Englishman had still betrayed him with his designs on Caroline.
As for Maca Liam smiled crookedly. She was probably cursing a blue streak at this moment. Not that he could blame her. He'd used her as bait for a trap, and she'd come out of the affair smelling like a rose.
He'd judged her unfairly, photograph or no photograph. Mad she might be, but she was not a traitress. He owed her for that misjudgment, and he intended to repay the debt.
Of course she could not stay in San Francisco. Liam had already given the matter careful consideration, and he knew where to send her. Somewhere she'd be safe, and could live her life as she wished. Once he made his offer, he knew she'd see the benefits of it. His ranch in Napa would suit her far better than the jungle.
In the meantime she was secure at the Palacea”guarded, of course, because he knew how rash she could be. He couldn't have her running about the city, for her sake as well as his own.
Dealing with Mac would have to wait until morning. And there would be no seeing Caroline tonight, whatever the urgency. He'd spoken with the man Chen had mentioned in the message, and plans for the raid had already begun. Such opportunities had to be seized as they came. They waited on no man's convenience, least of all Liam O'Shea's.
At least he could do his work tonight free of the certainty of Perry's guilt. Or Mac's.
He turned the k.n.o.b and pushed open the door. Almost at once a barrage of barking, both high-pitched and low, echoed through the entrance hall. Norton was first to arrive, his long ropey tail beating the air. b.u.mmer the Second scrambled in pursuit, claws skittering on the parquet floor and displacing the carpet runner.
Liam caught Norton's enormous paws halfway to his shoulders. ”Well, boy, I see you still haven't learned your manners.”
The Irish wolfhound answered with a wet slap of his tongue across Liam's jaw. b.u.mmer danced around his legs, his terrier's eyes bright with a plea for attention. Liam eased Norton back to the ground, crouched, and braced himself as b.u.mmer jumped into his lap with a joyful yip.
”And you, imp of h.e.l.l. Have you been driving Chen mad with your antics?”
b.u.mmer wriggled, and Norton rolled over majestically to present his lean belly for rubbing. Liam stroked the wiry coat. ”And well you're named,” he told the wolfhound. ”The emperor would have approved.”
Norton yawned. b.u.mmer launched himself from Liam's arms and dashed full speed at the man entering the hall from the rear of the house.
”Mr. O'Shea.” Chen had only a moment to nod before b.u.mmer began performing fantastic acrobatic leaps about his soft-shod feet. ”Welcome home.”
Liam rose, nudging Norton gently with the toe of his boot. ”Thanks, Chen.” He watched Chen scold the terrier in quiet Cantonese, earning rare obedience from the dog. ”I went to see our contact, as you advised. Everything is set for tonight.”
Chen was accustomed to Liam's lack of ceremony. His serene expression didn't change, but Liam saw the concern in his eyes. ”And the matter of your expedition with Mr. Sinclair?”
”That's a long story. You knew something was wrong when I didn't return with Perry?”
”Indeed. When I observed that some aspect of your plan had gone amiss, I alerted our friend in the Gresham household to be particularly watchful. I knew you would want a full report of all unusual activities when you returned.”
Liam relaxed. Chen had been as efficient as always; he'd expected Liam to come home. ”I've seen Miss Gresham, briefly. What do you have to report?”
”During the week since Mr. Sinclair's return,” Chen said, ”Miss Gresham has been to two parties, one ball, and one outing to the park, each in the company of Mr. Sinclair.”
No less than Liam had expected. ”And Mrs. Hunter?”
”Has apparently been present, though indisposed, during all meetings in the Gresham home. There has been no activity or conversation worthy of undue concern, according to the reports I received.”
So Perry had made good use of Liam's absence, but he hadn't pushed too far. Apparently he hadn't felt ready to press his suit. Time had run out for Perry sooner than he expected.
”Very good,” Liam said. ”I'll take care of the rest.” He turned his thoughts to the more pressing problem. ”As for the raid, send a message to our friends in Chinatown. We'll meet in the usual place at midnight, and be ready to move by one.”
”I will begin immediately.” Chen stepped over b.u.mmer and took Liam's hat, turning to signal down the hall as he did. A pet.i.te and pretty Chinese girl in a silk tunic emerged from the servants' quarters, smiling shyly.
”You remember my niece Mei Ling, Mr. O'Shea,” Chen said. ”She has done well in her work as maid since she came to replace Mary. Her English is already becoming very good.”
”I'm glad to hear it.” Liam returned the girl's smile. ”You're comfortable here, Mei Ling? Not afraid?”
She ducked her head. ”Not afraid. Safea here.”
Probably safer than she had been even in the hidden sanctuary where the other rescued slave girls boarded until they could find new homes far from their erstwhile masters. The tongs still found ways to trick some of the girls back into their clutches, but they'd been less and less successful of late. Liam knew how to deal with corrupt lawyers and bought policemen.
”Yes,” he said. ”You're safe here. Let your uncle know if you need anything.”
The girl gave a self-conscious nod and retreated back down the hall. Liam's smile faded as he thought of the countless children like her who had been far less fortunate. But if all went well tonight, a dozen of her sisters would have a second chance at freedom in their new country.
There was just enough time for a few hours' rest. Fastidious Chen was probably near to swooning at the sight of his employer; Liam hadn't shaved or bathed in two days. On expedition that was common enough, but tonight he couldn't afford to be less than sharp and alert.
”I'm going to clean up, Chen,” he said. ”Don't bother with a meala”a sandwich will do.” Liam patted the top of Norton's s.h.a.ggy, ma.s.sive skull and started toward the staircase. ”One more thing. If you receive any messages from Mr. Bauer, bring them immediately. He's doing some work for me.”
Not by the twitch of a brow did Chen reveal a hint of curiosity. He might a.s.sume that Liam had engaged the private investigator to help with the raid against the tongs, as he'd done in the past. But Liam had set Bauer a far more personal task.
With a bow Chen withdrew, b.u.mmer at his heels. Norton bounded up the stairs ahead of Liam. Thick, richly patterned carpet m.u.f.fled the footsteps of man and beast. The sound of the clock in the parlor filled the echoing quiet. Handsome, expensive paintings on each wall flowed one into another as Liam pa.s.sed by.
Home. It should feel more welcoming after three years and all the money he'd put into the place. Nothing had changed; why should it? He'd wanted the beauty and grandeur for Caroline, not himself.
He'd be happy with a hut in the jungle, with lakes and streams for was.h.i.+ng and flowers for decoration. A place without high walls that closed the world into a pretty little box.
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