Because You're Mine(4)

How could such a bright light just . . . cease to exist? He’d been her real family. She hadn’t seen her mum or her sister in years, and the Lord alone knew if they were even still on this earth. She touched her belly. At least she had his child.

A knock came on her door, and she turned. The police had called an hour ago, and she’d expected them before now. She opened the door to find Barry standing there with two policemen.

Her manager stood in the hall with his hands in the pockets of his impeccable suit. A lock of blond hair fell across his forehead. His grave eyes looked her over, and both policemen were somber.

Alanna focused her blurry gaze on the nearest policeman. She wiped her eyes, then drew in another trembling breath. “Come in.” She stepped aside to allow them to enter, but her pulse throbbed in her throat. “Do you know what happened yet?”

Detective Adams was a small man with red hair. His pale skin was covered by a mass of freckles on his face and arms. The delicate skin under his eyes sagged. He wore khaki slacks and a light-blue shirt. He glanced at his notebook. “A bomb exploded under the car. We’re still investigating.”

“A bomb.” She swayed and reached out to steady herself on an armchair. Someone had done this on purpose. It wasn’t some accident with the petrol tank. Her knees threatened to buckle again, but she managed to stay upright as Ciara, dressed in jeans and a Ceol T-shirt, came rushing through the still open door. She said nothing but came to stand close to Alanna. The presence of her friend gave her strength.

She stared out the window at the rainy Charleston streets. It was a soft old day. The sky was crying for Liam. She tried to focus on what the detective was saying, something about investigating the bomb-making materials, but her vision wavered and her ears seemed to have gone deaf.

“I must sit down,” she murmured.

Ciara guided her into the armchair and pushed her head between her knees. “Breathe.”

Alanna obeyed, and her vision began to clear. When she raised her head, Barry was just ending a call, and the policemen had gone.

Barry knelt in front of her. “I can get Liam’s body transported back to Ireland as soon as his body is released. Adams said he’d push the coroner on the autopsy, and we should be able to leave in three days. Does that suit? I’ll reserve the flights.”

“That’s perfect, Barry.” She fumbled for her purse. “Let me give you my card number.”

“I’ve already taken care of it,” he said. “Don’t worry about anything. I need to go to Dublin on business anyway, so I got myself a ticket as well. If there’s anything else I can do, please tell me, Alanna. I feel badly there’s nothing I can do to help.”

“You’ve already helped so much, Barry.” Her lips felt numb.

“I’ll pick you up at ten on Friday morning to go to the airport. You have my number. Call me if you need anything.” He rose and stepped back.

“I’ll need tickets for the rest of the band. I-I need them with me.” She reached out and sought Ciara’s hand.

“I’m sorry, but no. All that was available were two first-class seats. We can get them the evening flight though.” He turned toward the door. “I’ll leave you alone now to grieve. I’m so sorry, Alanna.” The door clicked behind him.

She would have liked to have had Ciara with her especially, but it was more important to get Liam back to the Emerald Isle, on his own soil.

Alanna sat in the blessed quiet and listened to the traffic outside along the street. They’d had such plans to see everything in Charleston this trip—the old plantation houses, the swamps, the City Market. Now all those dreams had to be packed up in a trunk that could never be opened and carted back across the sea.

“I’m going to go downstairs and get you something to eat,” Ciara said.

Alanna knew she’d never eat a bite, but she needed to be alone for a bit, so she nodded.

Once her friend was gone, she stared at the phone. Liam’s parents needed to know, but oh how she hated to call them. If she were a coward, she’d call their vicar and ask him to go by and drop the news, but Alanna didn’t want to put that burden on him. He had enough problems of his own with a sick wife and two kids. She got out her cell phone and rang her father-in-law. It was around noon in Ireland. Her call would likely interrupt their dinner, and she nearly disconnected, but it clicked through before she made up her mind.

The maid answered, and Alanna asked to speak to Thomas.

“He’s at his meal, miss,” the maid said. Her tone of voice always made Alanna shrivel.

“There’s an emergency,” Alanna said. “This is his daughter-in-law.” Only she wasn’t anymore. The Connolly family would be only too happy to scrape her off their shoes.

Thomas came on the line a few seconds later. “Alanna? What’s wrong?”

She caught her breath. How could she tell a father that his only son was dead? Her vision blurred and she blinked rapidly. “Thomas, it’s very bad news I bring you.”

“What’s happened to Liam? Someone mugged him, took all his money. I knew it would happen. How much do you need?”

He sounded weary, as though he was used to them dunning him for money, and anger swept away Alanna’s grief. Never had they asked Liam’s father for a dime. “It’s nothing like that.” He started to interrupt her, and she went on quickly before she lost courage. “Thomas, please. It’s much worse than you understand. Liam, he—he was in an accident.” Though she could hardly call the deliberate planting of a bomb an accident.