The Great Fury (8 page)

They discussed further detail what was known locally of the case and the related newspaper reports. Then they drank the whiskey in silence while Morag thought about it.

As the light began to fail Morag stood to go.

“You'll not be staying?” Deirdre guessed.

“If this Oengus has come of age maybe we can capture him,” Morag said.

“And eat him?” Deirdre added.

“Certainly the manly parts of him,” Morag suggest with a malicious grin.

“For eternal life?”

“I doubt it, but he may be a way to find a connection to the Sidhe and their portal to Otherworld,” Morag corrected. “Capture first, decide what to do second.”

“I have enough water of life for a few more generations, and so must you,” Deirdre offered.

“When it is gone it will be gone. This is our opportunity. The Sidhe might pay a ransom. Perhaps more of the ‘water of life'?”

“What can I do?” Deirdre offered.

“Would you like to come to America?”

“Do you want me to come to America?” Deirdre asked.

“I think so. But you'll have to clean yourself up and maybe look about fifty. You'll need the right papers but I can organize that. I have a job for you.”

“A specific job. Is this really why you called?”

“A job for a competent witch.”

“Wow,” Deirdre squealed with delight, using an American accent and excited at the prospect of an adventure with the infamous witch Morag.

Chapter Nine

Back from her trip, Morag the witch waited patiently for her team to assemble.

They gathered in the night, creatures out of place and out of their time.

First came the red haired woman, Dearg Due, a vampire known in ancient Irish Mythology and now an emigrant working in a blood bank in Queens.

Dearg Due's former lover, the Greyman arrived next. Known in ancient Celtic times for his embrace of death and so called for the cloak of grey mist that surrounded him and his lost soul. Reputed to fear the light, his job as cook in MacDonald's enabled him to work night shifts and avoid the daylight.

Last and least likely, came the sweet and gentle faced Leanan Sidhe, temptress and controller of men, although her surname Sidhe was the Gaelic for Fairy.

She worked in a bookshop in the poetry section, seducing young men and when possible, driving them to suicide.

All were magic beings of Irish Provenance, and although in ancient times their fame had spread through the Celtic world they were now largely unknown and their magic forgotten.

Morag took great pride in the fact that she had managed to gather them all together in New York where they could serve her purpose and that of her lover Lived Dutronc, President of Live Corp, a hedge fund specializing in the profitability of evil.

There was no one on duty in the reception area of the Brownstone Building in the Financial District that served as the Headquarters of Live Corp. However the infra-red eye detector worked the door and admitted them as they arrived and took the eye scan.

The lobby led through to a conference room. There Morag waited with a smile, effusive yet reserved, as did freshly brewed coffee and Danish pastries on a side table with the appropriate crockery of delicate china and golden spoons. And a silver jug of fresh blood for Dearg Due.

They took their places at the table, taking the refreshment provided as they went but careful not to scratch the ancient mahogany tabletop and to use the pad provided to rest their cups and cake.

“Live Corp is pleased to welcome the magic task group,” Morag began.

They would speak in the ancient language of the Thuatha de Danann as it was their native tongue and it made conversations more secure.

“I have called you together as we need to advance our program of activities,” Morag explained.

They looked at her, waiting for more detail.

“The main purpose of this meeting is to agree a launch date for our water project. However, I mentioned at our last meeting that I was about to visit Ireland. This I have done and can report back tonight.”

They all smiled in remembrance although none of them had been to Ireland for more than a century.

“Also in advance of the meeting I asked Dearg Due to perform a task and we will get her report later. But first the background.”

“On your trip to Ireland,” the Greyman clarified.

“Much has changed there,” Morag continued. “But,” she smiled, “the old ways are still strong in remote areas.”

“Neanderthals,” Dearg Due said, meaning it as a compliment, adding, “The Neanderthal genes are more pervasive in the populations of far flung areas and I think it helps the magic,” “Whatever,” Morag acknowledged. Dearg Due was known to have suspicious pseudo scientific opinions.

“How did the trip go?” the Greyman asked.

“Very well. I recruited the extra person for our water project as required. I will introduce her later.”

There were smiles of approval around the table but no one spoke, rather letting Morag finish her report.

“Then I used the visit to research some weird newspaper reports in the Kerry area concerning the disappearance of a New York fireman and his nephew, named as John O'Shea and Oengus.”

“We saw the extracts in the briefing documents,” Leanan reassured and the others nodded in agreement.

“I took myself out towards Dunquin and then to the Great Blasket,” Morag continued. “I spoke to the boy Kevin who ferries the tourists ashore. Then I went up the Great Blasket. I walked to the former O'Shea farm and beyond, following the traces. It led me to a stone built Cloghan. At the entrance to the Cloghan there was a gap of a stone freshly taken from the ground. I believe that is a sign that they, that is, Oengus and his uncle John, were there before they disappeared.”

“Not unusual, people do have accidents off Dunquin, the currents there are known to be difficult,” the Greyman offered.

“Agreed,” Morag conceded. “But then there was their unexpected return. And subsequently local gossip that the boy Oengus was going off to America in search of his Uncle John.”

“Ok?” Dearg Due said, expecting a conclusion from Morag.

“We have used the resources of Live Corp to check this out and to confirm that John O'Shea has returned to his residence in New York,” Morag continued.

“Excellent,” the Greyman approved.

“I believe we as the magic group should follow up on this,” Morag said.

“You won't get more remote than those Islands,” The Greyman commented. As he spoke his movement caused his grey cloak of fog to shift around him. Dearg Due stared and wondered whatever she had found attractive about him in their past.

“You visited the Great Blasket,” Leanan said and asked, “Why not the Skelligs?”

“No, I stayed on focus. I know it is said that the Faerie Queen favors the Skelligs for her regular two hundred year Strategic Review Conference and blow out party. However, in the past we have used Live corp. expertise to explore the Skelligs and despite probing in great detail we have never found any evidence.”

“And failed to locate a portal to Otherworld,” Leanan finished for her.

“Indeed,” Morag acknowledged.

“But?' Dearg Due prompted.

Morag's eyes flashed as she smiled, revealing the excitement she had been concealing.

“I think the portal to Otherworld is on the Great Blasket,” she said with a grin.

They were stunned for a moment.

“You sure?” Dearg Due pressed.

“A route to the waters of life?” the Greyman asked.

“Of course we'd need a password,” Dearg Due added.

“Who has the password?” Leanan asked.

“Let's take it slowly,” Morag said to calm them down. “To reprise - As you know the New York Fireman called John O'Shea...”

“Uncle to the child Oengus,” Dearg Due said impatiently. They had been over this ground.

“Oengus, was the name of the Celtic God of love,” the Greyman offered.

“And?” Leanan prompted.

“I am of the opinion that Oengus has somehow caused a settlement between the O'Shea clan and the Sidhe,” Morag explained. “This means he has been activated into his future role and destiny.”

“Evidence?” the Greyman asked skeptically.

“The fact that the uncle John took Oengus to Great Blasket, and the observable fact that crops can now grow again on the family farm on the peninsula,” Morag offered.

“But you think he and his uncle know how to use the portal to Otherworld and he might lead us there?” the Greyman offered.

“This he has inadvertently done. I believe we now know where the portal is. What we need now is the keywords to activate the portal,” Morag said.

“Morag, if we plan an intrusion into Otherworld we will need to be sure that we have a portal. Are you certain?” the Greyman asked.

“I have briefed my boss Lived Dutronc on this and he feels we have to stay on plan. The water project is his priority. If we wish to find portals for our next project, then it can follow on,” Morag said firmly.

“So why the excitement?” Leanan asked.

“We have to investigate,” the Greyman said. “When reports like this arise we are as it were put upon to enquire. It is what we do.”

“May I remind you all,” Morag said, “that our immediate plan is to cause Armageddon in New York and crash the stock exchange.”

“How does this Oengus come into the picture?” Leanan asked.

“We multi task,” Morag said. “Major on water project but we investigate the Oengus case and see where it leads.”

“Why would the Sidhe want him in New York. Does he have a mission? Is it to fight evil?” Leanan asked. “Might he be linked to our plans?”

“Why so?” Dearg Due asked.

Leanan shrugged, that made sense as much as anything made sense.

“We will move up on our program,” Morag decided. “And now that Oengus is activated for some reason and in New York, we will add as a target the timely capture of this young man,” Morag said in businesslike tones.

“Does he have powers?” Leanan asked.

No one replied to this point.

“In advance of this meeting I asked Dearg Due to begin work on capturing Oengus and his uncle John,” Morag said, adding, perhaps now is a good time Dearg Due?”

“OK,” Dearg Due agreed.

“Dearg Due could you fill us in on progress?” Morag asked.

“I have already eliminated his uncle's boyfriend in one tasty swoop,” Dearg Due said with a satisfied grin.

“What?” the Greyman asked astounded.

“As instructed I proceeded to the given address of residence in the Bronx to locate a fireman,” Dearg Due snapped back.

“Yes, and there were two firemen in that apartment,” the Greyman said, adding, “It was all in the newspaper reports on the murder.”

Dearg Due stiffened. She did not like any criticism from the Greyman, implied or otherwise.

“And for how long did you observe that apartment?” the Greyman added.

“Not long, it was just a simple night job, quick in and out. Five minutes max.”

“Dearg Due you must do the detail. Observation would have revealed your target. Instead you did a rushed job,” the Greyman accused.

“Please, no quarrels,” Morag intervened.

They both looked coldly at each other but neither spoke.

“It appears John O'Shea had a friend who shared his bed. You killed his friend,” Morag said, seeking clarification.

“I read about it in the New York Times. It's been knick-named the vampire murder because the body was drained of blood,” Leanan added.

“It's what I do and who I am. I had a situation,” Dearg Due said with a shrug.

“Hmp” the Greyman commented.

Dearg Due ignored him.

“It was a cold day and I needed warm blood,” she added. “Also he was a big man. If I was to capture fireman John I needed to eliminate his partner. I'm strong but two firemen, no way.”

“We are where we are,” Morag interjected.

“Is the uncle still working?” the Greyman asked.

“Yes we believe so but Dearg Due reports that he has not returned to his apartment. Of course it was sealed as a crime scene. He was at work when the murder occurred so he had a tight alibi and in consequence the police have no interest in him. But I suspect he fears he was the target and is hiding out.”

“A fireman has to check in and out. He must have a cell phone,” the Greyman added.

“You are going to call him?” Dearg Due asked.

“No dear, I'm going to ask Morag if the resources of Live corp. can stretch to locating the cell phone. We find the phone we find him,”

“Clever,” Dearg Due admitted.

“But if we've spooked him he's clever enough not to have a traceable phone,” Morag added.

There was a tension in the room. Morag tapped the table with her pencil. They waited. Clearly she was considering options.

“Where is the boy Oengus?” the Greyman asked.

“Evidence suggests he is already in New York. The boy came through on a flight from Ireland, that much we know,” Morag said, adding by way of explanation, “flight records.”

“On a mission?” the Greyman asked.

“Possibly, indeed likely. However his only known contact is his Uncle John,” Morag explained.

“Now the uncle is in hiding. But the boy won't know that?” the Greyman asked.

“Yes, and he will probably try to visit his uncle's New York address,” Leanan said.

“You are on the right wavelength,” Morag said with a grin. “One of the boys in the street gang where the uncle lives is called Hugo,” Morag began.

“And he is paid to watch by Live Corp.” Dearg Due added.

“Spot on!” Morag agreed, happy her team was focused.

“And?” Leanan asked. It irritated her that Morag was so roundabout in her dealings with the team, withholding information until they teased her out.

But Leanan did not show her exasperation rather smiling her best smile she asked,

“Do we have any photos, for example from passport records?”

“We have a description; the unaccompanied minor was described as about sixteen years of age and rural in dress and sophistication. I doubt he's been off the family farm since the day he arrived there. New York will be a big strange place for him.”

“Any address?” Dearg Due asked.

“We have used the services of a detective agency. As the agency is third party we should keep them in the dark. They checked airport arrivals and cab drivers working the airport and came up with an address in Greenwich Village and detail of a red haired girl, looking like a student, who met him at the airport and took a cab with Oengus. Detail as provided by a cab driver.”

“The address where he dropped them?” the Greyman asked.

“Doesn't check out,” Morag said. “But I expect the area is right. They got dropped off and went somewhere, possibly nearby.”

“What do we do?” Leanan asked.

“Leanan and Dearg Due I want you two to try find him.”

“OK,” the said in unison.

“Liaise with Hugo,” Morag added.

Leanan wrinkled her nose thinking why couldn't she have said that at the start? “Do you have his cell?” she asked.

“I suggest Dearg Due does not visit the crime scene,” the Greyman cautioned, biting off the urge to add ‘again.'

“Probably not,” Dearg Due agreed.