McBride? Thats great, Craig said. And, heythank you, anyway.
Egan waved a hand in the air. Youd be working it no matter what. He looked down at more papers on his desk, as if hed already moved on. Craig headed to the door.
Frasier, Egan said.
Yeah.
Watch out for Kieran. I dont like it that the dead woman was going for hernot just for someone in the offices of Fuller and Miro. For her specifically.
Yes, sir. I do watch out for her.
Three brothersthat should help, Egan said.
It should, Craig agreed.
In a way, it did. Any of the Finnegan brothers would happily block a bullet for their sister. Then again, it had been Danny trying to help a friend that had gotten Kieran messed up with the diamond heistswhen Craig had met herand her brother Kevin had been dating the most famous victim of the recent perfect killings that had plagued the city. Her brothers were wonderful, but theyd grown up rough-and-tumble after their mother had died, and Craig knew that Kieran often worried about what they might doeven in the name of justice and righteousness.
But it was true that they would jump in front of a speeding bullet, trainor anything elseto save her from harm.
You were there last night. I heard you stuck with Kieran while the cops dealt with the situation. So you already know most of whats in the folder. But there you are. Mike should be in soonyou can read up on what they did get and then...
Yeah?
Nothing like an autopsy on a Saturday afternoon, right? McBride made the call on that one, getting the autopsy a priority on Saturday. Since theres an unidentified baby involved. He was quiet for a minute. Thank God the baby wasnt killed, too.
The baby could be our best lead.
Egan shook his head. We dont know anything about her yet. Thing is...you just never know. Historically, children have indeed died for the sins of the parents. When the Russian revolutionaries held the royal family, they determined that they had to do them all inincluding the children. Because children grow up. But the baby is safe. Cared for, and guarded, as well. Youre talking a beautiful little childalready an American princess in the media. Like I said, McBride is calling the shots on this one. Anyway, there you go. Just what you wanted.
Craig forced a smile. Ah, yeah, sure. Just what he wanted. Not really at all.
He dreaded what was to come. He knew Kieran. There was just no way he was going to keep her out of it.
Which meant it was really only self-preservation to dive into the whole thing just as deeply as he could.
CHAPTER THREE
So much for waking up early and being so antsy shed rushed through a shower.
It was frustrating as hell, but Kieran kept watching the news. She couldnt stop herself. It was like the pre-election coverage of the last election. A train wreck. And shed still felt compelled to watch.
Although, this was different. She had known the woman.
Well, she hadnt known her, but she had spoken with her right before she had been murdered.
The more she watchedeven though she didnt see anything new reportedthe more she began to wonder and try to figure out just what the hell was going on and how the police would try to put it togethertry to find a murderer.
So far, they hadnt talked about the knife on the air or in the paperonline or in physical print.
Where had the knife come from? The killer had to have had the knife on them. And if so, wouldnt that mean there would be prints on the knife? Of course, those prints would need to be in the system. And what if the killer had been wearing gloves?
She itched to call Craig againbut she wouldnt.
He would call her.
Would Richard Egan get the FBI on the investigation?
Kieran was well aware sometimes the different agencies working on a situation could be territorialand not just cops and FBI. New York was filled with different organizations of law enforcement, including the cops and the FBI but extending to the US Marshals Service and Homeland Security. Depending on who found what when, there could be some disputes.
She didnt know anything about the detective who was in charge of the investigation so far on the NYPD side of it all. Drs. Fuller and Miro had a tendency to work amazingly well with all branchesand she knew that Craig and his partner, Mike Dalton, were both the type who worked hard to see that any rivalry was kept to a minimumthat the crime was of upmost importance, no matter who solved it.
She couldnt help worrying about the case. She was on pins and needles, waiting to find out what was going on. And worse, she wanted to see the baby again. Though the child was being cared for by professionals, and Kieran assured herself everything was fine, she couldnt tamp down the urge to see the baby herselfjust to make sure.
There was no way she could simply sit in her apartment and wait for Craig.
It was ridiculous that she had started watching the news at the get-go.
Shed known what she really needed to be doing. She forced herself up, forced herself to turn off the television.
Outside, she headed to the subwayfinally determined on getting to the venue that was always her cure-all for being as antsy as the proverbial cat on the hot tin roofwithout further delay.
The front door to Finnegans was locked when she arrived. She let herself in with her key.
The pub was getting ready to open for the day. Most of the time, Declan spent a good twelve to fifteen hours a day at the pub; it was easy for him since Mary Kathleenthe love of his lifeworked there, as well.
Mary Kathleen had only been in the country about three and a half years. Shed come over to take care of an ailing grandmother, and a family friend had set her up at Finnegans. She and Declan were a perfectand beautifulcouple, in Kierans mind, at least. Declan was tall with very dark auburn hair and the blue-gray-green eyes that characterized their family. Mary Kathleen had eyes that were huge and wide and the color of the sea. Her voice was musical and her accent truly charmingthough she had found it funny one day when a patron had told her she didnt need to pretend to be Irish to work in the pubit was, after all, America.
The alarm had already been turned off when Kieran stepped in. The place was spotless; she was sure that their late-night cleaning crew had been in, one hired just for the weekends when the traffic at the pub was extremely heavy. They had an impressive row of taps; Kieran was proud the place never smelled like stale beer. They maintained it beautifully.
She walked up to the bar, thinking she could put away glasses or do something else useful, but as she was standing there, Declan stepped out from the hallway that led to the offices and the stock room down in the basement. He was wearing a white apron and evidently had been working behind the bar, setting up, and perhaps hed been in back in the kitchen as well, checking with the chef on the daily specials. On Sundays, Finnegans always served a traditional roast with a choice of regular mashed potatoes or colcannonpotatoes and cabbageand a special fresh vegetable. But on Saturdays, Declan and Chef liked to be adventurousas in Irish spicy tacostrust us, the sauce is pure green! Kieran wondered what delight hed have prepared for today.
I figured Id see you, Declan said.
I couldnt sit around, she said.
And you sent Craig off to see his boss, to try to get involved, didnt you? And I know Craig. If he values his peace of mind, hell see to it that hes involved.
She made a face at her brother. She was glad, though, that Declanand Kevin and Dannyknew Craig well and really liked him. Theyd met Richard Egan, Craigs boss, and Mike Dalton, his partner, too. All them had come into Finnegans at various times, whether having to do with a case, or simply to have some good Irish pub food.
The pub itselfand her brothers, upon occasion!had been too involved in deadly activities taking place in the city. Shed actually met Craig in the middle of a diamond heista situation Danny had ridiculously gotten her into while attempting to help a friendand Kevin had recently been a suspect in a murder when an actress hed been dating had been found dead in the church-turned-nightclub that backed up to the alley just behind the pub. The good thing was that they were all friends with Egan and the FBI. By tradition, of course, they always hosted police officers from the local precinct and firefighters from the fire hall down the street. After all, being a cop had once been a major Irish occupationand the city had certainly been filled with the Irish!
Its SaturdayI thought Id help out around here.
And you are always a help, he told her. But as you can see, the cleaning crew was already in. We dont open the doors until eleven thirty. Chef is busy...we have a full staff on. In fact, I think we probably have one server too many today. Sounds ridiculous, but if I dont give them all enough tables, they cant make it in their tips.
Ah, and no worries! came a cheerful cry. Mary Kathleen came through the tables in the dining room, having just left the kitchen, or so it appeared. She was wearing a light spring jacket and carried a large disposable takeout tray. Kieran, hello there, me love! Mary Kathleen paused to kiss Kieran on the cheek. Im off to the mission by St. Peters.
Thats so nice! Kieran told her. Shed known thata few times a month, at leastMary Kathleen volunteered at a mission soup kitchen just down the block off Church Street by old St. Peters.
The mission concentrated on immigrants who needed supporton seeing that they were fed, first and foremost, and then offering information on citizenship, green cards, work and whatever else might be necessary for someone newly arrived to the country, searching for the American dream.
Chef has given me a great big dish of shepherds pie! Mary Kathleen said, nodding affectionately toward Declan. Thanks to the generous soul of your brother Declan. Well, actually, thanks to the largesse of all the Finnegan family.
Oh, no, thats all Declan. He makes the decisions, Kieran said. But Im awfully glad. I know that we were alland different family members have been through the decadesimmigrants. Im delighted were helping people.
She looked around the spotless, still-empty pub.
Want some help at the mission or whatever it is?
Soup du Jour! Mary Kathleen told her. Its greatthe Catholics and Anglos and Jewish community and members of several of our NYC mosques came together to fund it. All are truly welcomeand we do mean all. It would be great if you came with me! Super. People will love you. Oh, and dont go thinking theyre all dirty, that the people who come in are sleeping in doorways and the like. Many work hardits just a difficult thing to come into this country sometimes and instantly make a living, especially in an expensive city like New York.
Naturally, Kieran said. And yet weas Americans, who really have it pretty goodlike to whine!
Mary Kathleen laughed. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with my beautiful adopted homeland. But heres the thingpeople come here because we can whine. Complaining is the God-given right of every American! You just have to remember that throughout history, people have come here for a dream. And right here in good old NYC, there used to be notes on the doors of all kinds of businesses that said No Irish! We have to watch out for prejudice against any new group. People still come for the same American dream.
And even when we think were a mess, were still the best kind of mess? Kieran said. She smiled. Mary Kathleen was going to be a wonderful sister-in-law.
Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time, Kieran quoted. Churchill, 1947, to the House of Commonsif I remember right!
Yes, except Ive been told that he was quoting a predecessor, Mary Kathleen said. Anyway, the point is, people do come here for a dream. And sometimes, its damned hard to realize. In fact, it can be a nightmare for some. They fall on hard times.
Please, I hope you know me better than thinking I would be dismissive or mean in any way. I wasnt thinking of judging anyone, really, Kieran assured her. I was just thinking...
Declan suddenly strode directly between the two of them.
Kieran was thinking she needed to be occupiedor shed drive us all crazy, Declan said. Thank the Good Lord, Mary Kathleen. Its a true kindness you can give her something to do! Go on, Kierandish out some soup. It is a very good thing to do. And when youre done, if youre still walking around like a caged cat, Kevin has to learn some lines for a guest shot on a cop show. You can give your twin a hand!
Cool. Of course, Ill run lines with my twin, Kieran said.
Ah, yes, poor lass! Mary Kathleen said. You do need to be occupied. You canna quit thinking about that poor murdered woman and the wee babe? I dont blame you. So sad. And they still cant find out who the woman wasand they have no idea as to where to find the babes mother?
No, not yet. Not that Ive heard about, Kieran said.
They will, Declan assured her.
Of course, Kieran said. She took the large dish from Mary Kathleen. Were out of here! she told Declan.
Go forth and be bountiful, Declan said drily.
She made a face at him again.
But he was right, of course. She was very, very glad to have something to do.
* * *
The folder that Richard Egan had given Craig didnt yield much more than he already knew; the murdered woman had been found with no identificationno purse, nothing. Shed been wearing clothing with labels from the largest chain retail outlet offering budget-priced brands. There were literally dozens of the shops in the five boroughs alone. Her shoes had been the most common brand of sneaker. The hood shed had wrapped over her head was a scarf that had most probably been bickered over and bought on the street.
She had been about five foot five inches in height, estimated age about forty.
The baby had been healthy and well keptalso wearing clothing bought at the same bargain-priced chain. The blanket covering the baby, however, had been hand knit. The creator had not signed the work in any way. Still, it was one of a kind.
The knife found in the womans back was equally commonsold at outlets across the five boroughs, the state and the country. It was a hunting knife with a leather handle and six-inch blade.
The woman had been struck so hard that nearly four of those inches had gone into her back.