I have no idea why this lady chose me, Kieran said. None.
And youve never seen the woman before? Kendall asked.
Never.
Nor the baby?
What? Did he think that the infant paid social calls on people, hung out at the pub, or requested help from psychiatrists or a psychologist?
No, she managed evenly. Ive never seen the infant before. Ive never seen the woman before.
All right, then. He suddenly softened a little. You must be really shaken. I understand that, and Im sorry. For now... I dont have anything else. But Im sure you know we may need to question you again.
Im not leaving town, she said drily.
He wasnt amused.
Kieran continued. Ive spoken with Dr. Fuller and Dr. Miro. Ive told them all that I could, and they will be trying to ascertain if they can think of any reasonother than who they are and what they dothat the woman might have come here.
Ive spoken with the doctors, too, Detective Kendall told her grimly. And Im sure well speak again.
Im sure, Kieran muttered.
Good night, Special Agent FrasierMiss Finnegan, the detective said. Youre both, uh, free to go.
He left them. Craig pulled Kieran around and into his arms, looking down into her eyes. We are free. Theres nothing else to do tonight. You want to go home?
I know that we both really wanted to see the band play tonight, she told him. Im sorry.
Kieran, its not your fault. Im sure you didnt plan for a woman to abandon a baby in your arms and then run downstairs and find herself stabbed to death.
Its driving me crazy, Craig! We dont know who she was. We dont have a name for her. We dont know about the baby. I think she was too old to be the mom, but Im not really sure. And if not...she was trying to save the baby, not hurt it. But who would hurt a baby?
I dont know. Lets get going, shall we?
We can still go to the pub. Maybe catch the last of the Danny Boys? she said.
You know you dont want to go anywhere.
Kieran hesitated. Not true. I do want to go somewhere. Im starvingand Im not sure what weve got to eat at the apartment.
Yep. Weve been staying at yoursif there is food at mine, Im certain we dont want to eat it.
Then well go to the pub, she said quietly.
Kieran hadnt realized just how late it had grown until she and Craig walked out of the building. New York City policemen were still busy on the street, many of them just managing the crowd. The body was gone, but crime scene workers were still putting the pieces together of what might and might not be a clue on the busy street.
It was Midtown, and giant conglomerates mixed with smaller boutiques and shops. Most of the shops were closed and the hour too late for business, but people still walked quickly along the sidewalks, slowing down to watch the police and curious to see what had happened.
Kieran looked up while Craig spoke with a young policewoman for a moment. Her brother had once warned her that she looked up too oftenthat she looked like a tourist. But she loved the rooftops, the skyline. Old skyscrapers with ornate moldings at the roof sat alongside new giants that towered above them in glass, chrome and steel. And then again, right in the midst of the twentieth-and twenty-first-century buildings, there would be a charming throwback to the 1800s.
From a nearby Chinese restaurant, a tempting aroma laced the air.
Even over murder.
The cops generally knew Craig; he was polite to all of them. They nodded an acknowledgment to Kieran. Shed worked with the police often enough herself.
Is Detective McBride going to be on the case? Kieran asked hopefully. Theyd worked with Larry McBride before, not even a year ago, and he had been an amazing ally.
Drs. Fuller and Miro worked with city detectives regularly, and nine times out of ten, they were great. Every once in a while, as in any job, there was a total jerk in the mix. Mainly they were professionals, and good at their work, and Kieran knew it. Some were more personable than others. Homicide detectives could be very cut-and-dried. McBride had told her once that Homicide, while horrible, was also easier than dealing with other crimes. The victims couldnt complain about the way he was working. Of course, the victims had relatives. That was hard.
She had come to really like McBride.
In this case, a baby was involved. A woman had died trying to save that baby, Kieran was certain. So she felt they needed the best.
Craig looked at her quizzically. You know that there are thousands of detectives in the city, a decent percentage of that in Homicideand even a decent percentage in Major Case.
Actually, when you break it all down...
I dont know who will be working the caseprobably more than one detective. For right now, it is Lance Kendall. And hes all right, Kieran. Hes good. He was doing all the right things, he added quietly. He looked as if he was going to say something more. He didnt.
He took her hand in his. She held on, letting the warmth of his touch comfort her as they walked down the street.
Hey, remember, Im an agent, and you work with psychiatrists who spend most of their time on criminal files. Its the life weve chosen, and weve talked about it. This will be just another casewhatever level of involvement we have with it. You cant let it take over, or neither one of us will be sane.
She nodded. He was right. There were other cases where they found themselves on the fringe, and, frankly, every day of Craigs life had to do with criminal activity in the city of New York. Theyd already worked on cases of cruel and brutal murders. This was another. And there was always something that seemed to make it betterat least for the survivorswhen a killer was brought to justice.
She couldnt obsess. She knew it.
But this one felt personal!
Yep. She spoke blithely and smiled.
Youre cool? She could tell he didnt believe her; it seemed he didnt know whether to push it or not.
But he was right about one thing. There was nothing for them to do right now except try to get their minds around what had happenedand let it go enough to get on with life.
Even figure out how to step back in order to step forward again.
Yep. Im fine. Lets get food, Kieran said.
Sounds good. Thankfully, we always know where to go!
CHAPTER TWO
Finnegans on Broadway had been a tavern, inn or den of Irish hospitality since before the Civil War. It was just after the war that the Finnegan family had taken over. Some of the family members were Americans; some were cousins who arrived from Ireland at various times in the pubs history. Whoever wound up in charge knew that they were always purveyors of camaraderie. It was a true center of community, where you brought friends, and if you had none, you found some. To many in the neighborhood it had become a personal place, and they felt as comfortable and welcome there as in their own living room. The taps were extensive and kept spotlessly clean; the kitchen created a flow of Irish, American, and Irish American food that could be rivaled by few pubseven in a city like New York.
While all of the four Finnegan siblingsDeclan, Kieran, Kevin and Danielhad inherited the pub, it was run by Declan. Kieran had her work, and Kevin was an actor. Dannyafter a few false starts due to the death of their motherhad become an exceptional tour guide. Then again, though they all loved their dad, each sibling had acted out in a way when they had lost their mom. Not one member of the family had the least problem waiting tables or tending bar when help was needed, and Kieran still did a lot of the bookkeeping while her brothers kept up with stock and repairs.
Craig and Kieran were greeted by serving staff as soon as they walked in. At the barwhich had a clear view of the front doorDeclan saw them enter, and he nodded and raised a hand and looked curiously at Craig.
Kieran had called Declan a few hours ago, to fill him in, but they hadnt really believed at the time they would miss the entire evening. But they had, of course. The band was no longer playing.
It was quiet; the last of the crowd seemed to be paying their tabs, ready to head out.
Kieran, dear, are you all right?
Mary KathleenDeclans fiancée, who was from Dublin but had been in the States for a few yearsrushed up to Kieran.
Yes, Im fine, thank you, Kieran said.
Im going to say hi to Declan, Craig murmured, sliding past the two women. He reached the bar and leaned against it. Declan wiped his hands on a bar rag, shaking his head as he looked at Craig.
Youre a wee bit late. You missed the Danny Boys, Declan said. They were great.
Yeah, we missed them. Thanks.
Ouch. Sorry, Declan said. That was really rude of me. His jaw was set at an awkward angle. Kieran is all right? Im glad she calledknowing wed freak out if we saw something that close to her place of business and we didnt hear from her. Its been on the news, you know. This time, the media hasnt been using her namethey dont have it, apparently.
Yes. The police kept pretty good control of the crime scene in the street and got Kieran out of the limelight before the reporters honed in. They know a woman was murdered. They know she gave a child to someone else, and Child Services will be caring for the baby, who will also be under police protection, Craig said. I guess they want a warning out there that no one should come for the childunless, of course, theyre the rightful parents or guardians. Hopefully, theyd be searching for their baby through the police.
And here I thought you had the night off. Like it was one of those kinds of normal days for you when you were only going to work ten or twelve hours.
This one had nothing to do with me.
Hmm. If they dont have some sick scum of the earth for you to be finding, Kieran will come up with something. He was silent for a minute. Actually, come to think about it, with what youve got on your hands already, you probably shouldnt have gotten involved with a crazy Irish lass like my sister.
Yeah. Probably not, Craig agreed.
A bit too late.
Yeah, I think so.
So someone shoved a baby into her arms, and then ran out and got stabbed. That the gist of it?
Thats the gist of it.
And its your case?
Not at the moment.
I know you, Declan said, and so I also know that I dont really need to be saying this, but...watch out for my sister, huh? Even if shes quiet and acts tough, you know shes got to be really shaken tonight.
I do. And, he added softly, you know I love your sister.
I do, Declan said with a slight smile. Ill go back and see the cook.
Sounds great.
Shepherds pie?
Always good.
Declan started to head to the back. Oh, sorryyou guys want something to drink?
Ill get it, Craig said, leaning over the bar for a couple of glasses. As he did so, Kieran came to his side.
Shepherds pie. And
Soda water, please, Kieran said softly.
You okay?
Im fine. Honestly, she assured him.
They sat at the bar. Declan came back with dinner for the two of them; Finnegans was famous for its shepherds pie. It was a standard, almost always available.
Declan and Mary Kathleen both came behind the bar as the place began to wind down in earnest. Only a few patrons, just finishing up and paying their checks, remained.
Anything new? Mary Kathleen asked Craig.
He arched a brow. Not since I walked in here.
Sorry, she murmured. She looked at Kieran. What was this woman like? Did she say anything at all that would give you a clue about who she was, where she came fromor about why she would leave a baby?
Kieran frowned. No. She didnt speak that much. She said my name, and not much more.
She knew your name?
Well, surely no one would choose a random person in any old office and just toss them a baby! Kieran said.
But, she didnt ask for Dr. Fuller or Miro, right? She asked for you? Declan asked, frowning. He glanced at Craig.
Inwardly, Craig groaned.
Now everyone was worried about Kieran.
Naturally, he was worried, too.
Did you let the doctors know what happened? Declan asked.
Of course, Kieran said. I called them...they had to know. The woman came to their office.
The whole city knows by now, Im sure, Craig said. The street was crawling with reporters by the time we headed here. Hopefully, that will be a good thing. Someone out there might know who the woman wasand where to find the babys mother.
I hope so, Mary Kathleen whispered.
Okay, lets clean up and call it a night, Kieran said. She stood and started picking plates up from recently vacated tables.
Declan looked at Craig with a shrug.
Craig knew all the Finnegan siblings wellhe was pretty sure that he knew what they all might be thinking: better get involved; make it your case. This is haunting Kieran, and therefore, she will definitely be haunting you!
Twenty minutes later, they were at Kierans apartment, which he had mostly been calling home as well for at least the last year. They still used his place now and then. Somehowthough he couldnt remember the last time theyd slept apartthey were still maintaining two apartments. They really needed to get rid of one of them. His apartment was largerthey both actually liked it better. But Kierans was in the Village, and often more convenient when theyd been out for a night, and they had gotten into the habit of staying there.
More of his things were even at her place, rather than his own.
Not even the sushi bar/karaoke place on the ground floor of Kierans apartment building was still going, and the streets surrounding St. Marks Place were quiet, as well.
Kieran seemed really tired as they trudged up the stairs past the silent bar and to her apartment level. Of course, she was tired. Shed worked some grim cases with himlittle could have been much worse than some of what theyd already seen, endured and survivedbut it had to have been traumatic for her, having a baby thrust into her arms.
And seeing the woman who had entrusted that baby to her staggering down the street with a knife in her back...
He intended to give Kieran whatever space she needed; respecting that might be a need to curl up in bed with her own thoughts, praying for sleep.