Chapter Six
“Just who the bloody hell are you, mister?” Finn demanded to know.
Arthur just smiled faintly and shrugged. “I’m just a street guy. Just a bum, really.”
Seamus shook his head. “No sir, you’re not just a street guy, you might just be a hero to this city. You serve each and every one of them, all people you don’t know but you watch over them all, don’tcha?”
Arthur stared at him for the longest moment then he swallowed hard.
“I wasn’t always a street person. I was a real part of society at one time years ago.
In fact, I was in the military if you can believe that.
” He looked down at his hands then back up at them all again.
“When I first came home after serving my country, I had a wife and a son. I was a different man back then. I was young and I also had a big mouth. I had nightmares about what I’d done in the service of my country.
I admit I took that on the wrong path to see if I could make it all stop and I started to drink.
One night I got into a fight when I was drunk.
I won but I pulled a knife when I didn’t have to.
I hurt someone when I should have just walked away and gone home.
I didn’t even remember who he was. After work the next day when I got home, I saw his reminder on my front door.
The guy had a club and they got into my home.
They had painted their coat of arms on my front door in blood.
I still remember that I felt so afraid about whose blood they used.
I trembled like a man walking through a land mine field.
I never felt fear like that before. Even in war.
Then I opened the door and I wished I never did. ”
“What did they do?” Liam asked softly as if he knew this was gonna be bad.
The whole room seemed to collectively hold their breaths as they stared at him.
“They busted my door lock to get in and they wrecked the house,” Arthur whispered.
His eyes were haunted as he recalled what he’d found the day his whole world, as he knew it, ended.
His voice sounded low and shaky as he recalled, “T-they broke what could break and they r-ripped apart what could be ripped apart. But none of that registered in my head. They violated my wife and then they slit her and my baby’s throats.
” He paused to stare at some point faraway from the room he now sat in, then he went on, “The police couldn’t do anything.
They had some evidence but no real DNA proof of who actually did it.
This was back in a time when there weren’t as many video cameras around.
So no one saw anything, or so they all claimed.
My mind went blank. My soul was empty. My heart kept beating but I could believe it did.
I buried them three days later then I walked out and left that life behind.
I walked away from everything I held dear.
None of it mattered anymore. I changed my name, left behind my property, cars and my pride.
I guess you could say I cleared the fog in my brain.
I no longer had nightmares from the war.
No, those disappeared and were replaced by the images of my . ..family covered in blood.”
Darlene’s face went white as she slowly reached over and patted his hand.
Arthur looked like he didn't know she was even there next to him or felt her hand on his arm.
“Then I began hunting. The hate inside me burned hot and I wanted to burn the whole world down.” He paused again.
“I wanted to die but I also wanted them to pay for what they did. So, I formed a plan.” He let out a sigh.
The silence in the room filled with tension.
Finally, Finn asked, “Did ye ever find the men that did the deed?”
Arthur nodded. “I did. Four of them broke in and they all were responsible for what happened in my house. I wanted to tear them apart with my bare hands, but I didn’t.”
“You didn’t?” Seamus asked incredibly as he looked stunned. “I’m not sure I could have held myself back had that happened to my family.”
“Oh, no. You misunderstand me. They didn’t get off free and easy. No sir, they paid in blood for what they did, it just wasn’t me that killed them.”
“What does that mean?” Finn asked.
Arthur cocked his head at him and replied, “I used my wits and what Uncle Sam taught me to do when I was hunting an enemy. I began watching what those thugs were doing and I set them up.” He held up his hands.
“But I didn’t break the rules. I realized that my violence had beget the violence that killed my family.
So, I just made phone calls at the right time to get them caught doing some hardcore drug peddling and it wasn’t my fault that they tried getting away and started a firefight with the cops.
Those dumb fools thought they could outshoot trained police officers.
Well, they found out the hard way they couldn’t.
I remained in a hidden spot and watched the cops bring them down one or two at a time and they never knew I was the one that caused it.
I blamed myself for years for being responsible for what happened to my family.
Those men left me broken and alone, so I simply returned the favor.
That was twenty years ago and I’m finally at a place where I can accept it.
I met Darleen and her mom along the way.
They lost everything to a man that should have protected them, so I just sort of helped them out a little bit. ” Arthur shrugged.
“A little bit?” Darleen repeated it as if the statement was outrageous.
Will looked at her and shook his head.
Darleen threw her arms around Arthur and cried out, “You did more for me and mom than anyone else could have! You took us under your wing and taught us how to live on the streets. Then after mom was killed, you took me in and watched over me.”
“Aww Darleen, I just did what I thought was right.” Arthur shook his head. “I lost my son and didn’t get to raise him. I know you aren’t my child, but you were as close to whatever I could get.” Then he looked at Finn and said, “Enough about me we have to worry about Ria Sanchez.”
Finn nodded, “Aye, we do.” He paused, then said, “You mentioned the fact that you knew where she was staying, is that right?”
Arthur nodded. “Yeah, she’s got herself a small boathouse down by the docks. Her men stay in the one next door, but they watch both boats as one.” He looked around the room and saw the men they had on their side, then he shook his head. “You’re going to need a lot more men to take them on.”
Finn leaned his head back to bark out with a laugh. “Oh laddie, don’t you worry about that. We got more men we can call up. And the Irish love a good fight, didna worry about that.”
Arthur nodded. “I have no doubt about that. I’ve seen an Irishman or two fight, but I’ve got men that will come forward too.
They are sick and fed up with this bitch and her son.
They are looking forward to this take down.
What’s more they can fight as good as you guys.
And believe me you might need the street fighters more than you know.
This witch is underhanded and she won’t care who dies in her place. ”
Finn just shrugged. “Then we just won’t give her what she so desperately wants, will we?
” He leaned forward. “But you do what you have to do, call your guys if you must but we’ll call the lads and then we’ll get on with this.
” He folded his arms over his chest and glared at Arthur.
“I’m tired of letting that manky witch call all the shots.
You said you knew this Shay Montross person.
Well see if you can get his skinny ass here and we’ll see who does what. ”
“Skinny ass?” Seamus laughed. “Nah, Montross isn’t skinny...well, he’s a fighter. But it’s his copter that will be a big help.”
Arthur nodded as he chuckled about the skinny ass remark.
“I’ll call him. She’s got a shitload of stolen goods right now down at the docks.
So if he catches her with her hand in the cookie jar, she won’t have a defense or a get out of jail free card.
” He reached for his phone and called Shay.
“Yes, sir. I’m with the O’Malleys. Yes, I heard you worked with them on this.
Ria Sanchez.” He listened then said, “They are all ready to bring her down. Ok, we're at the O’Malley Brewery. Yes, sir.”
After ending the call, Arthur told them that Shay promised he’d be there in the morning.