"It's a deep laceration. Nothing a little time won't heal." A man with curly brown hair said.
"Thank you my friend." Dermott patted him on the back, slipping him twenty pounds.
"This isn't necessary." He declined graciously, "It was my pleasure helping out an old friend. It was a pleasure meeting you also Maeve." He sighed as his beeper went off. He looked at it, and then moved to the phone to call the number it displayed. "Excuse me."
"Certainly," Dermott replied. He turned to Maeve who was sitting on a chair fiddling with the bandage wrapped around her leg, "See, brother knows best." He was rewarded with a pillow to his face.
"I'm sorry but you'll have to leave now." Jeremiah said joining them again.
"Is something the matter?" Maeve asked, concerned.
"There's an emergency at the hospital. There has been another bombing…"
"Damn it!" Dermott interrupted.
"…a hundred or so injured, several confirmed dead. Take it easy on the leg Maeve. You two be careful." He warned ushering them out of his house.
Jeremiah sped down the street toward the hospital lost in thoughts. How many more bombings were there going to be? How many more people did he have to treat? How many more people had to die before they realized this isn't the way to peace?
"How did this happen?" Dermott demanded.
The blue eyed, brown haired man shrugged. He did know but he'd be damned if he was going to tell Dermott. In fact, he was the informer. Being a spy was a dangerous job, but a good one. He got paid by both sides, friends on both sides, and protected by both sides, although if the situation arises, both sides would drop him without a second thought.
"Maeve, I want you to go into hiding on the north shore." Dermott wasn't about to risk his sister in this. He'd already lost all he had.
"What?" Maeve couldn't believe her brother was bossing her around. "No. I'm not going anywhere."
Dermott knew that tone. She was determined to stay and anything he said would go in one ear and out the other. "Fine!" he said frustrated. "But you'll have a bodyguard."
And Maeve knew that tone. That was a worried, over protective brother who was more stubborn, if that is possible, than her.
"But Dermott…" she whined.
"No buts, Maeve!"
It was worth a try, she thought.
"This man right here," he pointed to the blue-eyed man, "will be following you wherever you go."
