Cry of the Hunter - Jack Higgins [44]
It was half-past nine when she returned. Fallon and Murphy were deeply engrossed in a game of chess. She entered the kitchen and took them by surprise. ‘A fine pair you are,’ she said. ‘What if I’d been the police?’
‘To a peeler as pretty as you we’d have surrendered without a murmur,’ Murphy said impudently.
She smiled beautifully, her whole face lighting up, and handed Fallon a newspaper. He opened it at once. He wasn’t a headline, but there was a large piece in the right-hand corner of the front page. It simply said that police were still searching and had every reason to believe he was still in Castlemore. Extra men had been drafted in from other parts of the province. There was a small paragraph about Rogan, who had apparently disappeared off the face of the earth, and a line on Murphy who, it was stated, was believed to be with either Fallon or Rogan.
Fallon looked up and smiled slightly. ‘Not so good,’ he said. ‘They’ve brought extra police in.’
She nodded. ‘I know. Jane Stuart told me.’ Anne sighed and took off her coat. ‘I felt a bit low sitting there, letting her give me confidences when all the time I knew exactly where you were.’
‘Has my escape affected Phil’s position much?’ Fallon said.
She shook her head. ‘Apparently not. One or two stupid remarks in some of the English papers. Muck-raking, as usual. No, his integrity is too well known for anyone to think there was any collusion between you. Most of the Irish papers seem to think it’s rather amusing that you were friends in your young days.’
Fallon sighed with relief. ‘I’m glad I haven’t harmed him,’ he said.
She shook her head. ‘From what Jane said to me he’s rather more than half pleased that you got away. He was absolutely dumbfounded when they told him you’d escaped. He said when he left, you looked incapable of crossing the room.’
Before he could reply the bell rang shrilly. Anne hurried along the hall to the door. She peered out through the wide window and then rushed back. ‘It’s the furniture men,’ she said. ‘You’d better get upstairs. I’ll let you know when they’re almost through.’
They hurriedly mounted the back stairs and took refuge in Fallon’s bedroom. Fallon took out his cigarettes and they lit up and sat on the bed waiting. For a little while Fallon watched from behind the curtain as the men struggled down the garden path with various items of furniture. There were two of them and they appeared to be taking their time.
Three-quarters of an hour passed and Fallon began to stir impatiently and then the door opened and the girl appeared. ‘They’re taking the last piece out now,’ she said. ‘I’ve got the tea ready in the kitchen and I’ve already asked them in. They were only too pleased.’
He nodded. ‘Don’t forget to scream for help if you need it,’ he said facetiously.
She laughed lightly. ‘They’re both old enough to be my father.’
He gently took her hands. ‘Look after yourself,’ he said.
The smile died on her face and she replied soberly, ‘I pray to God everything goes off all right.’
‘It will do,’ Murphy said brightly. ‘Have no fear of that.’
She smiled at him and then looked again at Fallon. For a moment her eyes spoke to him and then she whispered, ‘Good luck!’ and left the room.
They waited on the landing until the voices of the two men had faded into the kitchen and Fallon pulled on his trench coat and rain hat and they went quickly downstairs. The boy was wearing his old leather motoring coat and Fallon said, ‘That’s a hell of a conspicuous thing to wear you know.’
Murphy shrugged. ‘I suppose you’re right, Mr. Fallon. If it would only stop raining I’d throw it away.’ He laughed gaily at his own joke and Fallon smiled. They went out into the road and stood at the rear of the van.
Fallon looked around casually. ‘Nobody about. That’s good.’ The men had already hooked the tailboard into place and he said, ‘Right! Now take it down and we’ll climb up nice and easy, just in case anybody happens to be looking