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“God bless him!” Bets cried, hugging him fiercely. “Liam should be released now. Oh, thank God. My other two boys were planning on jumping on a plane and heading here if their little brother wasn’t released soon.”
Donal came over and slapped him on the back, his relief as clear as Linc’s. “It’s a hell of a mural, and what an incredible place to put it up. It honors their famous crystal, so there’s even a chance it gets to stay permanently. Veritas is one smart fellow.”
He sure as hell was, Linc thought, hugging Bets harder, aware she was fighting tears. She’d been on a constant teeter-totter of emotion, going from rage to tears in a heartbeat. Linc had stayed strong for her and everyone else in the midst of the legal impediments against them. “I want to shake Veritas’ hand and invite him to dinner, but since that’s impossible, I’ll call our lawyers and get them on Liam’s release.”
Ghislaine tapped her heeled foot on Bets’ hardwood floor. “Veritas tweaked Malcolm’s nose but good in his social media post announcing the mural. Listen to this.The unlawful incarceration of Liam O’Hanlon on bogus hate speech laws for being Veritas—which he most certainly is not—and the fact that his own lawyers do not know the location of where he is being held only highlights the monstrosity of the power Malcolm Coveney wields in Ireland. Ireland should stop him before he steps on the entire country. Because anyone could be next.It’s absolutely chilling when paired with the visual. The depiction of the sheep alone made me want to cry, and I’m supposedly a hard-nosed publicist.”
“Like hell she is,” Linc muttered to Donal.
“I want to kiss Veritas and thank him too,” Bets said, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Invite him for Christmas. Anything.”
Ghislaine held up her phone. “Why don’t you record a short message thanking him? We’ll post it on your social media accounts.”
“Go on,” Linc said, kissing her wet cheek. “You’ll feel better once you do.”
“Has anyone contacted Taylor to tell her?” Bets asked softly.
“I texted her the minute the story broke,” Ghislaine said with a short smile. “As you might expect, she’d just seen it and was beside herself with relief. She said to tell everyone the Merriam investigation is going well.”
“Those two young lovers deserve a reunion,” Linc mused.
“They deserve avacation,” Ghislaine emphasized. “Taylor’s been fighting nonstop since she arrived, and Liam can’t have enjoyed his incarceration. Come on, Bets. Let’s share your thanks and joy with the world that he’s coming home.”
Linc watched as Ghislaine smoothed back Bets’ hair and instructed his ladylove to lift her chin in the direction of the light coming in through the window. He was glad he hadn’t had to do any interviews. He hated being trussed up like a turkey. “I’ll call the lawyers and get cracking,” he told Donal.
“I’ll call everyone about having an impromptu celebration when Liam returns to Caisleán,” his good friend responded. “You might ask Taylor if she wants to come back for it. My dad will.”
“Already thought of it,” Linc told him before pulling out his phone and calling Patrick. Their lawyer spouted off a bunch of legalese per usual but said he was contacting the proper authorities to secure Liam’s immediate release. Although he didn’t give a timetable for that, he did express gratitude that Veritas had provided hard evidence that Liam wasn’t Veritas.
Yeah, a man couldn’t be in two places at once. Even an idiot knew that. He took a moment to enjoy Malcolm’s rage at being thwarted. He probably hadn’t expected a follow-up mural. Veritas had never done two on the same subject. Would he twist off one of his showy gold rings and hurl it across his office? Would his face turn red and splotchy in his rage? Linc certainly hoped so, although he knew it wouldn’t be the end of Malcolm’s attacks.
Perhaps Veritas’ frightening image of Malcolm stepping on the whole of Ireland would wake people up. God, they could use some allies.
When he called Taylor, he counted four rings until she answered quietly. “Give me a minute to find somewhere to talk. We’re in the war room.”
War room, eh? He rather liked that name. He almost wishedhecould be in two places at once, but he understood that he was needed most here in Caisleán, at Bets’ side.
“Okay, I can talk now. I have a gorgeous cat twining around my feet but otherwise it’s quiet. So you saw the news.”
“Yes, thank God! Relief doesn’t cut it. I just wanted you to know the lawyers are working on Liam’s release as we speak. They don’t have a timetable yet, but I expect it’ll be soon. Do you want me to fly you and Eoghan back to Caisleán so you can be here to greet him?”
“Quinn already offered us the Merriam plane since it’s closer than yours. We discussed a remote plan so we can continue working on bringing Malcolm down. Eoghan and Clara are identifying government people with public associations with Malcolm while the rest of us are digging into the business side. Shell companies. Cross-referencing names. Looking for discrepancies in public contracts and end payments.”
“So, looking for a needle in a haystack,” Linc concluded. “I can ask Wilt to help in his spare time. Please tell everyone we’re rooting for them and as grateful as two geese spared for Christmas dinner.”
“Text me when you hear from the lawyers about the timing for Liam’s release. Eoghan and I will hop on a plane and be there in under an hour, weather permitting. We have a nice storyboard going up here. Being able to see it is a help. It won’t work quite as effectively for me remotely, but I’ll manage. Seeing Liam is everything.”
Her voice turned hoarse as she cleared it. Emotion vibrated on the line. Linc fought with his own riot of feelings. He really loved that kid, and Taylor was proving to be a worthy partner and one hell of a new member of their community. “You managing, sugar? Anything you need?”
“Just Liam out of jail,” she answered gruffly. “I’m fine so long as I keep working.”
“I hear you. I’ll let you know the minute we know about his release. Tell the Merriams they have my eternal thanks.”
He would have to think of something he could do for them. Maybe Taylor would have an idea.
“I’ll look forward to your call,” she said, her voice strong again. “Talk to you later.”
“Be sure of it. Happy hunting!”
