Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Saturday morning, Ailbe ran the program. With all data entered, all that remained was activating the script and raking in the millions.
The program halted and asked for input.
“What feckin’ input?” Ailbe groused aloud to himself as he tried to key in a sequence. The program aborted, and he was forced to start over. He tried again and again, always with the same result.
By noon, he knew the problem. “Fekkin’ Sterling did something,” he muttered. “We’ll see about that.”
Ailbe picked up the phone and called Declan. “We need to drive to Westport County and find those Sterlings. Wyl did something to halt the program, and I need him so I can succeed.”
“To get him, you need Rod,” Declan said.
“Then we’ll feckin get Rod!” Ailbe shouted. “Meet me at home in 15 minutes. We’ll go from there.”
* * *
Saturday morning, Rod and Wyl drove up to the Carrowholly Stables. They familiarized themselves with two fine horses and the Mulranny Mountain Trail. As experienced horsemen, they didn’t need the guidance offered to regular tourists, so they set out on their own to enjoy the views and nature.
“This is quite different from our ranch,” Rod said as they rode and took in the lush, green Irish countryside.
“I like it when you say our ranch,” Wyl said.
“Well, it is our ranch.”
“Yes, but I remember how intimidated you were about owning half a ranch.”
“It’s a good thing you dragged me kicking and screaming onto the ranch and made me realize it was half mine.”
“The only kicking and screaming I remember is when you didn’t want to come back to the ranch with me after I forced myself into your home to apologize.” Wyl laughed.
“And you came and got your man.”
“Because my brother ordered me to.”
“At that point, we were not married.” Rod’s hazel eyes sparkled at Wyl.
“I thought of you as my husband even before we were married,” Wyl said.
“I’m glad,” Rod said.
It was mid-afternoon when Wyl’s horse faltered and began favoring one hoof. Wyl gently tugged the reins to stop the steed. “I need to check his hooves for stones.”
“Okay,” Rod pointed. “I’m going to ride over to that bluff to grab a few shots of the Atlantic coast.”
Wyl nodded. “I’ll join you there in a minute.” He dismounted. “Don’t get lost.”
Rod shook his head and rode ahead while Wyl lifted the horse’s hoof and removed the small stone, careful not to injure the horse. He saddled up and galloped on to join Rod, who had ridden over the ridge.
Rod’s horse was standing near the bluff. He rode over and dismounted, thinking it strange that Rod didn’t tie his horse to a nearby tree before heading to the bluff. The view overlooking the ocean was magnificent, but Wyl hardly noticed. Rod was nowhere to be seen.
“Rod,” he called out in a loud voice. “Rod!” he yelled, hoping his husband would appear. Nothing.
He pulled out his cell phone to call Rod. No service. He grabbed the reins of Rod’s horse and mounted his own steed. He rode back and forth along the bluff, shouting for Rod but getting no response. After half an hour of searching, he galloped toward their starting point.
As he returned the horses, he pulled out his cell phone and called Rod. The person you have called is out of range or has powered off the phone. He grumbled as he stabbed at the screen to disconnect that call. He scrolled through his contacts to find General Steinburg and jabbed the screen to call.
“Steinburg,” the General answered.
“I think they kidnapped Rod.” His breath came in gasps, and his heart pounded.
“Where are you?” General Steinburg asked.
“Carrowholly Stables in County Westport,” Wyl said.
“We were enjoying a weekend horseback ride. A stone lodged in one of my horse’s hooves, so I stopped to remove it while Rod rode on ahead.
When I got to his location, his horse was there, but he was nowhere to be found.
” Wyl realized he was yelling at the general as panic had set in.
“Wyl…calm down. We’ll get him back. I’m calling Commissioner Kane. He’ll mobilize Garda and find Rod.”
“Thanks, General Steinburg. I’ll get with my locals and work on things from this end.”
“Keep me posted, Wyl.”
“Yes, sir, General.” Wyl disconnected and raced to the Carrowholly office to check out. Finding Rod was a priority.
* * *
“Glenn Cross.”
“Glenn, Wyl Sterling. I think they took Rod.”
“Wyl, who are they?”
“Ailbe and Declan. We were on a horseback ride in Westport County, and Rod disappeared.”
“How could he disappear?” Glenn asked. “Weren’t you with him?”
“My horse picked up a stone in his hoof, so I stopped to dislodge it while Rod rode ahead to the coast, just over the next rise. I found a riderless horse when I arrived at the spot where he should have been waiting. No Rod.”
“Did they know where you were going?”
“Yes. I told Ailbe we were going horseback riding in Westport County over the weekend. It wouldn’t take long to find us.”
“Shite. Who have you told?”
“I called General Steinburg, and he said he would call Commissioner Kane. I’m sure O’Brien knows by now if Kane knows.”
“I’ve not heard from O’Brien, but we must act quickly.” Glenn’s voice had a worried edge to it. “Have you been contacted?”
Wyl’s phone beeped with an incoming second call. Wyl looked at the display. Rod’s phone. “It’s Rod. I’ll call you back.” He pressed to take the second call. “Where are you?” Wyl asked. “I am worried sick.”
“I have something you want, and you have something I want,” Ailbe said.
Shock coursed through Wyl’s body. He swallowed, emotions of rage and fear battling within his mind. He took a calming breath. “Is Rod safe?”
“That depends on you.” Ailbe had a confident sneer in his voice.
Wyl paused, stemming the anger boiling inside of him. “I swear, if you hurt him, I’ll hunt you down and make sure you don’t kill any more innocent men.”
“If you want to see your precious husband again, you'd better change your attitude, Mr. Sterling.” The word emphasis caught Wyl’s attention.
Wyl swallowed, his torso trembling, his hands shaking, and his face hot. Through gritted teeth, but in as calm a voice as he could muster, he asked, “What do you want, Ailbe?”
“You and me and the world.” The words rolled off Ailbe’s tongue like fine verse.
Wyl thought long and hard. Game, he kept telling himself. Play the game. The only way he could win this was to let Ailbe believe he was in charge, leading the way, and winning.
“I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe we do make a good team. Maybe I purposely put a bug in the code so you would need me.” Wyl kept his voice soft, with a pleading edge.
Ailbe was silent.
“You still there, Ailbe?”
“You expect me to believe that?” Ailbe asked.
“Why else would I do it?”
* * *
“Who was that?” James asked. He stepped from the shower to prepare for his gig at Wilde’s on Saturday evening.
“Wyl,” Glenn said. “He said Ailbe and Declan kidnapped Rod.”
James paused. “You’re kidding.” He bent to dry his legs. “How?”
“They were horseback riding, and Rod disappeared.”
“Where?” James stepped into his boxers and reached for his trousers.
“Westport County.”
“Has he heard from them?” James pulled on his trousers, fastened them, zipped up, and reached for his belt.
“Another call beeped in while we were talking. He said it was Rod. I’m waiting for him to call back,” Glenn said.
Glenn’s phone rang. He touched the screen to accept the call. “Wyl? Was that Rod?”
“No. It was Ailbe using Rod’s phone. They have him, and they want me.”
“What are his demands?”
“I’m to make myself available, and they’ll pick me up.”
“Where?” Glenn asked.
After a long pause, Wyl said, “I can’t tell you.”
“Sterling,” Glenn’s voice shot out loud and clear. “You need us. Fill me in!”
“If anything happens to Rod, my life is over. Figure it out.” Wyl disconnected the call.
“Feck!” Glenn said, tossing the phone onto the bed. “Wyl is doing this on his own, and we’ve got to figure out how to help them.”
“What did he say?” James asked.
“Ailbe used Rod’s phone to call Wyl, and told Wyl to make himself available. He wouldn’t give me more details but said his life is over if something happens to Rod.”
“Then we’re up shite creek. Feck! How do we help them?” James asked.
“We call O’Brien,” Glenn picked up his phone.