Taking the Town Read online

  At the same time she put her house up for sale, she began searching for another job. But either jobs were not easy to come by or the gang’s reach was farther than she imagined because she received no response to her inquiry letters.

  Without being able to sell her house or find another job, there wasn’t anywhere else for her to go. Both of her parents were dead and she had no other sibling besides Brian. With him gone too, she was all alone.

  Barred at every turn, she figured the gang wanted her to stand as a living warning to anyone else who considered crossing them. Eventually she had reached the point where she no longer cared whether she lived or died herself.

  Somehow that was what galvanized her determination to stay. Her life was empty. She didn’t have anyone and she knew she was never going to meet someone now, not after what those animals had done to her. The very thought of a man touching her or being intimate made her skin crawl. But she was alive and she was not going to let them take her home or her job or anything else from her.

  Despite all of her strength and resolve, lately she was beginning to find her determination to stay in Lissadown was beginning to wane. Her constant loneliness and isolation, coupled with the ongoing harassment she faced almost daily, had brought her to the brink of leaving and seeking a fresh start even if it meant waiting tables and living from hand to mouth. Lunch today was the first time in a long while that she had interacted socially with someone from Roan and that was with a new guy who apparently didn’t seem to know any better.

  Still, she had found Finn quite intriguing. He did not seem at all intimidated when he was confronted in the canteen and she felt sure he knew how to handle himself which, she thought, was a very useful skill to have these days in Lissadown.

  Although Julia had stopped looking at men in that way after her attack, she had to admit that Finn was extremely good looking. There was something about him that could suck a person in. Strong but kind. The type of guy a woman knew she’d be safe with. This was something decidedly lacking in Julia’s life at the moment.

  “Ah, bullshit,” she exclaimed bitterly to the empty room. “As if he’d even be remotely interested in me anyway. He was just being polite. Don’t fool yourself.”

  Julia was so ashamed of how her body looked after the attack. She did everything she could not to see herself naked and she knew for certain that she was never going to let a man see her body again.

  She sipped her wine pensively in the dark. She heard someone outside yell something that ended in motherfucker, but hearing obscenities hurled her direction was nothing new. She ignored it.

  Yes, she needed to bite the bullet and just leave. Then Finn’s face came into her mind again, causing a small smile to form on her lips. “Maybe I’ll give it a few more days before I tell them I’m leaving. What difference could a few more days make in the grand scheme of things?”

  Chapter Three

  June, 1983

  Three Years Earlier

  University College, Cork

  One morning when Finn arrived at his laboratory in UCC to work on his experiments, he found a note on his desk from his professor requesting a meeting in his office as soon as possible. It was the beginning of Finn’s third year as a chemistry post-grad and his progress towards his doctorate was in good shape so he knew he wasn’t in any trouble. He was a dedicated student. While he did attend a few of the many parties that were a feature of post-grad life, he rarely drank a lot and he certainly stayed away from the drugs that circulated freely at these events. Finn was very focused on his training and anything that interfered with his progress in MMA was to be avoided.

  Lately, he had expressed his frustration with the lack of modern equipment and technology to his professor but he wasn’t alone in that. It was a pretty common complaint among post-grads. Still, he was curious about what the boss could want so he headed out of the lab to his professor’s office on the third floor.

  Finn knocked on the door.

  “Enter,” the professor called tersely. His bark was far worse than his bite and his outwardly gruff demeanor hid an excellent academic who took a real interest in his students.

  Finn opened the door. Professor Trevor Hathaway’s office was compact and rudimentary and held a distinct aroma of the many chemicals that occupied the shelves on the wall next to his many books and publications. Finn often doubted that this was an entirely safe set-up but he kept his mouth shut. “You wanted to see me, boss?”

  “Yes, I did, Finn.” The older man motioned for him to sit down then glared at him for a moment. “So, you’ve been unhappy with the quality of the equipment here. Holding back your research are we? Not able to make as much as progress as a brilliant scientist such as yourself should be able to, eh?”

  Finn looked at him apologetically. “I’m sorry. I was just blowing off steam. Don’t take any notice of that. You know I didn’t mean it.”

  “Well, as a matter of fact,” a broad smile spread across Professor Hathaway’s face, “I happen to agree with you. And, I happened to have done something about it.”

  Finn looked at him quizzically. “Are we getting—”

  The professor cut him off with a wave of his hand. “No, to answer the question you were about to ask, we are not getting new equipment. No money in the budget for that. Instead, I’m sending Mohammed to the mountain.”

  Finn was totally lost. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t understand.”

  “Ah, you see, Finn, you think I’m just some old fogey prof operating here in obscurity, don’t you?” He grinned. “Actually, that part might be true but I do have some contacts with the outside world.”

  “Honestly, boss, I’m completely stumped about where this is going.”

  Hathaway frowned. “Right. I do have a tendency to take the long route to my point, don’t I?”

  Finn smiled and shrugged. “Your words, not mine.”

  The professor laughed. “Okay, to the point. You, my friend, have an opportunity to spend six months in the very modern laboratory of Professor Richard Spalding in KenTech in America. I’ve collaborated with him on a number of projects that have led to well received publications. I mentioned to him that you were somewhat unhappy with the lack of resources here and he made the offer. His lab is as modern as they come and his research is in an adjacent field to ours so he’ll be able to help and guide you.” He beamed at Finn. “So, what do you think? Will you go?”

  Finn simply sat there with his mouth open for a moment. “I…well…I…wow,” was all he could manage at first. Then he leapt up from his chair, wrapped his professor in a bear hug and shouted, “Yes. Thank you so much. Yes, yes, yes.”

  “Great. I was hoping that would be your response, though I hadn’t factored in having my ribs crushed in the process.”

  Finn shrugged, feeling the color rise in his cheeks. “Sorry,” he muttered apologetically, “I got carried away.”

  Hathaway laughed. “That’s fine. They’ll heal eventually. Now as for logistics. You’ll need a visa and you also need to finish and write up a couple of key experiments here before you go. But more importantly, you need to be here to help the chemistry department win the Quarry Cup for the first time ever. I’m liable to be shot if I send you to America during the competition, particularly when this is our best chance in years of winning the cup in living memory. All in all, I’d say you should plan on leaving in four weeks.”

  Finn smiled at Hathaway. The Quarry Cup was a bi-annual soccer competition between all of the different departments in the university. It was fiercely competitive and the games were no place for the faint of heart. Typically, one of the engineering faculties won out in the end. Though there had been occasions when the Agricultural Science department, or the Cowpunchers as they were more commonly known, put together a winning team.

  The Chemistry department had a dismal record and were usually eliminated from the competition without a whimper at the earliest stage possible. This year, however, they had won their first three games and wer
e progressing nicely. They had somehow amassed a combination of skilled players who could score goals as well as those who could prevent the opposition from scoring.

  Finn fell squarely into the latter classification. He was a bulwark on the team and his size, speed and commitment to the tackle more than compensated for his lack of finesse. He had been a reasonable player in his younger days and enjoyed the game but he was under no illusion whatsoever why he was so important to the team. Put simply, opponents were afraid of him. This was proving to be a big advantage in the Chemistry department’s quest to win the Quarry Cup for the very first time.

  “Four weeks it is,” he said to Hathaway. “I’ll get all my work completed by then. I can’t make any guarantees about the Quarry Cup but I’ll certainly be out there swinging. I can’t thank you enough for this.” Finn started to leave the office, but turned back around. “By the way, where the hell is KenTech?”

  Hathaway grinned. “I wondered when you were going to ask that. ‘KenTech’ is what most people call the The Kentucky Institute of Technology. It’s a university of about eight thousand students located in the town of Edgarville, in Eastern Kentucky.”

  “Eastern Kentucky? That sounds like the middle of nowhere.”

  “Don’t be fooled. It is a small town—roughly forty thousand people—and it’s about a two hour drive from Frankfort, the state capitol. But KenTech is a science and engineering college with an excellent reputation for the quality of its academic standards. It is also remarkably well-funded and its students and professors enjoy resources that are well beyond the reach of UCC and, indeed, most universities.”

  “Have you ever been there?”

  The old professor chuckled. “Yes, Finn, I have. I think you will find it friendly and picturesque—a typical southern town. However, with students and academics from all over the country, it also tends to be remarkably progressive in many ways.

  Finn grinned. “I can’t wait. And I can’t thank you enough. Considering the critical juncture I’m at in my research, having this opportunity is unbelievable.”

  ~ * ~

  His parents were delighted when he told them and his friends were jealous.

  “How come you get to go?” one of them asked as they were sitting in the bar.

  “Because, my friend,” Finn replied, “I’m responsible and reliable and I won’t do anything to damage the college’s reputation. You on the other hand…” He canted his head to one side. “Need I say more?”

  “Point taken,” his friend replied. “I wouldn’t send me either—not when I have the option of sending the Virgin Mary herself.”

  Finn laughed. He was used to this good natured ribbing and he knew his friends were actually excited for him. Once they knew he’d be around to see out the Quarry Cup, they were willing to forgive anything.

  “I do have one favor to ask though,” Finn said. “I need to run an experiment in the isolation lab on the sixth floor and I need someone with me at all times. So I’m looking for volunteers to stay with me in shifts.”

  “What’s the experiment?” one of them asked.

  “Yes, well, there’s the catch. For one of the steps I need to make cyanide gas—enough to knock off the whole department, if it escapes. I’ll understand, if you guys want to wuss out and leave me there all by myself.”

  One of them threw a beer mat at Finn. “Of course we’re going to wuss out. Then when you don’t make it down from the sixth floor, we’re going to fight over who goes to America in your place.”

  Finn laughed. “Good to know I have the support and love of my friends.”

  Brid, one of the girls in his lab, asked, “When are you starting?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I’ll take first shift.”

  “I’ll take second shift,” said Ann, followed by Eileen who said she’d do third shift.

  “You rotten son of a bitch,” said his friend Frank. “Now you get to be alone in the isolation lab with half the girls in the department. I should hate you.”

  Finn laughed. “I guess you’re up for fourth shift, so?”

  He sat back and smiled. These were such good people. He was definitely going to miss them.

  Chapter Four

  Wednesday, June 25, 1986

  Week One: Day Three

  Finn woke up early as usual and worked out hard. At age twenty five, he knew he was entering his prime. His body felt strong and responsive as he tested its limits. Following a light breakfast he settled in his office by eight to start the day’s work.

  Shortly afterwards a guy he didn’t recognize peered around the door and said, “Hey, there’s a rumor going around that you like to work out. Some of the guys saw you in the gym the other night. A bunch of us work out most lunch times at a gym in town and we were wondering if you’d like to come along. It’s all very casual so suit yourself.”

  All very casual. Right. Finn smiled. “Well, I’m only starting to train so I’m not sure I’d be up to your standards but thanks anyway.”

  “Sure,” the guy said looking directly at Finn with a hint of a challenge in his eyes and in his voice. “I understand if you’re concerned or nervous but this is all very friendly and non-combative. Honestly, you’ll be fine so please come along.”

  Finn considered him for a moment. The last sentence was definitely a challenge and no way was he going to back down. “Okay. Thanks. But you guys will have to be patient with me. Where do I go?”

  The guy in the doorway positively beamed and gave Finn the address before he left with a big smile plastered across his face.

  Finn watched him leave. “Hmm. Laura, I’ll warrant there’s more to that than meets the eye.”

  “You think?” she replied sarcastically. “It’s a complete set up. That’s where they hang out. The gang, that is. There’s no way you can go. Seriously, tell me you’re joking.”

  Finn shook his head. “I’m going. I want to see what their next move is.”

  Laura spluttered, “Are you fucking serious? What do you think their next move will be? They’re going to beat the fucking shit out of you. Do you have some kind of death wish or something? Because you are so playing with fire.”

  Finn smiled at her. “It’s fine. Trust me. It will all work out.”

  At a little after one, Finn walked into a dank and dreary gym. There were about twenty five guys there, all decked out in shorts and tee-shirts, all heavily muscled and some covered in tattoos.

  The guy from Roan saw him and came over. “Glad you could make it. Welcome. After you warm up why don’t you spar with one of the guys. It will help you settle in.”

  “Thanks,” Finn said and set about his stretching routine.

  After about fifteen minutes he said he was ready and climbed into the ring. He wasn’t a bit surprised when three others followed him.

  “So, maggot,” one of them said, “you think you’re a tough guy? Well let’s see how tough you are.” With that they spread out around the ring and adopted fighting positions.

  Finn wasn’t worried. He could already tell they had strength and basic technique but no craft. Before stepping through the door, he’d decided how to play this. Showing his cards too early would not be beneficial in the long run. He intended to take the middle ground, demonstrate enough to make them think but not so much that they became truly suspicious. That meant he’d have to take few hits.

  When the session was over, Finn was still standing but sported multiple bruises to his face and other parts of his body. His antagonists high fived each other and sneered at him.

  “Remember this lesson, maggot. We let you off easily. Next time you won’t be so fucking lucky.”

  Finn just nodded his head and left. A satisfied smile split his face when he was outside. The eejits bought it.

  Laura clucked over him when he returned to the office. “I told you so. Actually, I think you got away lightly.”

  “That’s what they said too. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I have work to do
.”

  Later that afternoon, the story spread through town that a thirteen-year-old girl had been blinded and her fifteen-year-old brother had his tongue cut out because their father had provoked a senior gang member by refusing to pay protection money for his little grocery store. The father had himself been beaten up several times but now the gang had turned on his kids in order to send him and everyone else a message about the consequences of not following orders.

  When Finn first heard the news, he was outraged. Sadistic bastards. What kind of monsters would do that to young kids? He shook his head. He knew the answer. The same kind that would do what they did to Julia Davis. There should be no place in the world for that sort. They deserved a taste of their own medicine. I won’t forget this.

  Finn was amazed that there was no public outrage, no statement from the police about the action they were taking, no apparent reaction other than a further tightening of the noose around this beleaguered town. What’s wrong with this place? How can a whole town lose its nerve and sense of dignity? These people must truly live in abject terror.

  ~ * ~

  Later that night, Julia was startled by a knock at her door. After first peeking through the window to see who it was, she cautiously opened the door to Finn Lane.

  “Fuck them. This is not right. I won’t stand for it. You mark my words.” He stormed away and left her standing staring at his back.

  “Wow,” Julia said aloud when she went back inside. “Wow, wow, wow. This guy is really something.” He was already the talk of Roan and possibly even the whole town by now. “You have certainly stirred the hornet’s nest, Dr. Finn Lane from Cork. Yes, indeed.”

  She thought about him for a moment. In another life, she would have wanted to get to know him and would have loved to spend time with him. But this wasn’t another life. This was her shitty life in Lissadown. Outcast, rape victim, burned and scarred. There was no future in having such thoughts about Finn Lane. She didn’t need any more hurt.