Hannah looked strained and Devlin put a hand on hers. “It is not on you, any of it, girl, it’s the world we live in. Now, a Bushmills whiskey to put me to sleep and we’ll go home.”
He shouted the order across to the barman, turned back with a smile, then suddenly frowned. “I’ve had a thought.” “And what would that be?” Dillon asked.
“They’ve got to go looking for the site of the Irish Rose,” “That’s right. Somewhere off the Down coast. We landed in the general area of Drumdonald and Scots-town.” “I’m not thinking of that. I’m thinking they have to go looking, which means chartering a boat, but more than that, wouldn’t they need diving equipment?” Dillon nodded. “Of course.” “And you they tell me, are an expert in that field these days.” “I’ve done/by share. What are you getting at?,, “Well, they’ve got to get that equipment from somewhere, and Dublin isn’t exactly saturated with . firms in that line of business.” “No, it wouldn’t be,” Dillon s.ad “What if I told you there’s a firm called Seahorse Supplies on the edge of Dublin that’s owned by an old IRA hand called Tony Bradley? Served under Jack Barry, did five years in Portlaoise Prison. Now if you were Jack Barry and you necdcd diving equipment, where would you go?” “Seahorse Supplies,” Hannah Bcrnsteio said.
Devlin smiled and raised his glass in a toast. “Exactly, which is where we’ll go first thing in the morning.
Everything comes to he who waits.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
IT WAS EIGHT-THIRTY THE FOLLOWING MORNING when Toay Bradley turned his Land Rover into the car park outside the Seahorse Supplies warehouse.
The staff didn’t clock on until nine, but he always liked to get there early. There were a number of vehicles parked already to d.-owith other businesses nearby. He walked through them and paused to get out his keys. There was a small Judas gate in the great sliding doors for easy access. He unlocked it and there was a step behind him.
“Good man yourself, Tony.”
Bradley turned and found the three of them behind him, but it was Devlin he recognized immediately.
“Dear C,-od, Liam Devlin.”
“And another old friend. Surely you haven’t forgotten Sean Dillon.”
Bradley knew fear then of the kind that made his
stomach contract. This had to be heavy, he knew that.
“Scan, it’s been a long time.” He glanced at Hannah nervously. “And who,might you be?” “She’s with us, that’s who she is, so in you go,” Dillon told him and pushed him in through the Judas gate.
Bradley was very frightened now. “I’ve done nothing.
What is this?” “Sit.” Dillon pushed him down on a packing case.
“A question or two, then we’ll let you go,” Devlin Said. “You had Jack Barry here.” He deliberately made it a statement of fact and it worked. “That’s right,” Bradley said eagerly. “Yes-terdaj afternoon.” “Buying diving equipment?” “Yes, he was here with an American, a Mr. Sol-lazo.
He was the expert. Hired a load of diving gear.
I thought it was something to do with the Organization with it being Jack.” “I’m afraid not,” Devlin told him. “Jack’s been a bit naughty. Up to no good, you might saY. Colum O’Brien and the Army Council would not be best pleased.” “My God,” Bradley said, “and how was I to know that?” “Yes, you’re in bad trouble, old son,” Devlin told him. “So you’d better retrieve your position. Colum O’Brien doesn’t know of your part in this so maybe I can help.” “Anything,” Bradley moaned.
Devlin turned to Dillon. “You’re the diving expert?” Dillon lit a cigarette and said to Bradley, “Tell me what they took.” Bradley hurriedly went through the list as he remembered it. “I think that’s all.” He paused, then added quickly, “No, I was forgetting the Master Navigator.
I gave them the new model.” “And a demonstration?” Dillon asked.
“More than that. The American gave me some bearings and I punched it in for them. Those things are like a homing device. They take you straight to the place.” “Which was where?” Hannah cut in.
“How would I know, it was just bloody numbers.” He was getting upset. “I’ve told you all ri knOW.” ”Except where they were going when they left,” Devlin said.