Private Dublin

Chapter 42

They’d taken my phone, so I hurried to a bank of payphones inside Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, a large expanse of glass and ornate white-painted ironwork in the heart of Dublin, to place a collect call to the London office.

“Emily Knighton, please,” I said to the switchboard operator. “It’s Jack Morgan.”

Moments later, Emily came on the line. “Jack, is everything okay?”

“I was attacked and abducted late last night,” I replied. “They took my wallet and phone. Will you get hold of Maureen Roth in LA? She’ll know how to secure my phone and will instruct someone to inform my banks.”

“Are you alright? Is Andi with you?” Emily asked.

“No. I haven’t seen her since last night. And I’m fine. Just annoyed I failed to identify a threat. A man we previously encountered was behind the shooting in LA. He has targeted Justine, Mo-bot, Sci and me.”

“Who is he?”

“Raymond Chalmont,” I said. “Tell Maureen I’m sending her a proper briefing as soon as I can.”

“Will do. Anything else?”

“Can you connect me with Andi? I need to check she’s safe.”

“Sure,” Emily replied. “Just a sec.”

The line went silent for a moment before there was a ringing tone.

“Hello,” Andi said.

“Andi, I’ve got Jack on the line,” Emily told her.

I scanned the faces of the people passing by the bank of payphones, looking for danger, but saw only the disinterest of those who were preoccupied with their own lives. And in the age of cellphones, none of the other payphones were being used, so I couldn’t see any immediate threat.

“Andi, I was attacked and abducted from Ballagh,” I told her.

“Oh my God, Jack. Thank God you called. I went to the rendezvous as agreed, and you weren’t there, so I didn’t know what to do. What happened?”

“I’m not sure,” I replied. “There must have been a camera I missed, or else they were keeping watch for Farrell themselves. They smashed their way into his place and overpowered me.”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yes. Where are you?”

“About a mile from Ballagh House. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I thought I’d stay close to the estate to see if you made contact.”

“Meet me back at our place as soon as you can.”

“I’m heading there now,” she replied, and I heard her start the car.

“I’ll be with you as soon as I’m certain I don’t have a tail,” I said. “Thanks, Emily.”

“No problem, Jack. I’ll get those messages to Maureen.”

“Appreciate it,” I responded before hanging up.

I stepped away from the phones, alert and on edge, scanning the faces of the shoppers passing by, preparing to begin my circuitous route from the mall back to the house in Fitzwilliam Square.