Taking the Town Read online

  Chapter Five

  February, 1986

  Four Months Earlier

  West Cork

  On a bright, crisp Friday afternoon, Finn left college early and got in his car to make the long drive out to West Cork to spend the weekend with his friend, David Kirk, and David’s family. He and David had been best buddies since primary school and had remained very close after David, his mother and sister moved out of the city, to their summer home in West Cork shortly after Mr. Kirk had tragically passed away after a massive heart attack.

  Finn and David had grown up together in those inner-city mean streets and had learned how to take care of themselves and their families. Shortly after Finn’s father took him to join the new mixed martial arts club in Cork, David joined too. Together they progressed through the ranks to become experts in street fighting and garnering the calm confidence that young men have when they know nobody is going to mess with them.

  He missed David a lot and thought they didn’t see enough of each other so he was delighted when David rang him and asked him to come down to celebrate his sister, Margo’s, twenty second birthday.

  “I can’t believe she’s twenty-two already,” Finn mumbled to himself, “and so much trouble to boot.”

  Margo had had a serious crush on Finn for years and threw herself at him every time they saw each other. He knew this time would be no different and after a few drinks he would have to be very careful.

  After driving almost four hours, Finn finally pulled into the long driveway that led to a large, open plan house overlooking Roaring Water Bay. David now worked at a multinational computer company that had established operations twenty miles away while Margo was getting ready to begin teaching next year at the local primary school.

  As he parked, the door to the house opened and Margo came running out. “Finn Lane, you get more sexy every time I see you! Get over here and give the birthday girl a hug and a kiss.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him tightly towards her and kissed him firmly on the lips. As usual, her kiss was a couple of seconds longer and more intense than a regular kiss between friends. He could feel the swell of her breasts against his chest and the slow, rhythmic grind of her crotch against his. Her bright blue eyes sparkled devilishly as she gazed intensely at him. He could also feel the unbidden stirrings of his body.

  So did Margo. She pressed herself even closer against him. “Take me away and make me a woman,” she murmured in a husky tone as she nibbled his earlobe.

  As he struggled to untangle himself from her grasp before it became too late to retain his composure, he heard a voice say, “Margo Kirk, kindly unhand that boy this instant! There’ll be no woman making in my house this weekend.”

  Margo stepped back. “Sorry mom,” she said with complete insincerity. Then she mouthed later to Finn as she walked away.

  “That child,” grumbled David’s mother. “It’s worse she’s getting.”

  “Hi Mrs. K. It’s great to see you, and thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. How are your parents?”

  “Great. They were asking for you.”

  “Well, I miss them terribly. David should be home shortly. Come on in. I know you could probably murder a beer, right?”

  “Is the bear a Catholic?” Finn responded using the old mixed metaphor joke that he and David had “invented” many years ago. It’s good to be here. This was one place he could just be himself.

  When David got home, before dinner, he and Finn went for a walk on the cliffs right along the shoreline to catch up on all the gossip. David looked good. He was working out just as much as Finn even though he was now employed full time. They compared notes on training techniques, complained about the sports teams they supported and worked on their plans for a trip to Africa they intended to make next year. This had been a dream of theirs for years and now, with David working and Finn close to finishing up in college, it was starting to become a reality.

  “Margo will kill both of us if we go without her,” David warned.

  “I know. But I think I’d rather risk her wrath than spend a whole month keeping her out of my bed.”

  David laughed. “Good luck this weekend, buddy. She’s on a mission.”

  Margo Kirk was not classically pretty but she was very sexual and she knew she had a great body. She was also shameless at exposing it to Finn. Once a couple of years ago, when both of them were sunbathing on the isolated cliffs overlooking the harbor and David had gone back to the house, she stripped off her bikini top and lay there with her breasts exposed, reveling in Finn’s discomfort.

  “Do I have nice tits?” she’d asked. “Better than others you’ve seen?”

  “I’m not answering that, and put your top on.”

  “Why? I’m just trying to get an even tan all over.”

  Finn shook his head and looked away.

  “Okay, I’ll put my top on if you come over here and suck my nipple. Otherwise, I’m taking my bottom off too and I got my pussy waxed just for you. I’m all hairless and smooth as a baby’s bum.”

  “Well,” Finn said as he stood up, “I’m sure the people coming over the cliff will appreciate the view.” Then he set off running back to the house.

  “Wimp,” he heard her call as he put distance between them.

  He would need some luck this weekend. He didn’t want to insult or hurt her but she was like a sister. Even if I wanted to it’s never going to happen.

  In truth, Margo unnerved him a little. She had always seemed a little unbalanced to him and he knew that she had a really mean streak in her. She was not the type to forgive or forget anyone who did anything or upset her in any way.

  Besides, he’d given his heart away years ago. It was complicated but he couldn’t find a way out of it.

  They arrived back at the house just as Mrs. Kirk was getting ready to serve dinner.

  “Oh look, it’s the lovebirds,” giggled Margo. “All pink cheeked and cheery after their lovers stroll.”

  “Margo,” her mother scolded, “stop.”

  “Oh come on, Mom, they love it. Don’t you, boys?”

  “So this looks great, Mrs. K,” Finn said, changing the subject. “Thanks again for having me.”

  “You should thank me.” Margo pouted. “After all, it’s my birthday and my idea. No wait.” She laughed coyly. “You can thank me later.”

  And so it went all through dinner, lots of banter, teasing and more than enough direct come-ons from Margo.

  “Have any news on the job front, Finn?” David’s mother asked when they had left the table and were sitting comfortably in the sun room.

  “As a matter of fact I do. It looks like I’ll be joining Roan Pharmaceuticals in Lissadown in a few months, once I get my thesis wrapped up.”

  “What? Where?” David looked astonished. “You never told me that.”

  “It’s not one hundred percent certain yet, so I was keeping it to myself until I knew for sure but, hey, I can trust you guys.”

  “Why the fuck would you want to go to Lissadown to work for some fucking no name company? Are you out of your fucking mind?” David spluttered.

  “David,” Margo admonished in a mock stern voice, “that’s not fair. Just because he is out of his fucking mind doesn’t mean you have to rub his nose in it. It’s difficult enough for him without that.”

  “Thanks, you guys.” Finn smiled. “I knew I could count on your understanding and support.”

  Mrs. Kirk, who had stayed silent during that exchange, now said, “Roan Pharmaceuticals? Don’t we know someone there?”

  “I don’t think so, Mrs. K,” Finn replied.

  “No, I’m pretty sure we do. It will come to me.”

  “Just like Finn to me,” Margo said and roared with laughter at her own joke. “Hey by the way, what was the name of that little girl you saved from those four teenagers when you were ten or eleven?”

  “That was a pretty random question, Margo,” David said. “Why’d you
bring her up?”

  Margo shrugged. “I don’t know. What was her name, Finn?”

  “Ah Jesus, I can’t remember her name,” Finn said. “It was almost fifteen years ago.”

  “What do you mean?” Margo asked. “You’re still in touch with her, right?”

  “No, I’m not,” Finn responded indignantly. “Definitely not.”

  Margo laughed. “Whoa, buddy. Me thinketh the boy protesteth too much. I heard a rumor that she was having difficulties with a guy a few years ago. Then suddenly, out of the blue somebody shows up and hey presto, no more problem. Has your finger prints all over it.”

  “You’re wrong. I haven’t seen her in over ten years.”

  “No one said you had to have seen her. You could have just swooped in like Batman with his cape and cleaned up the situation.”

  “Are you jealous, Mags?” David asked.

  “Damn straight I am. I’m not standing for acne headed, scrawny bitch with fried egg tits having a hold over my man.”

  “She doesn’t…” Finn started but thought better.

  “She doesn’t what, Finn?” Margo asked. “Have acne? Fried egg tits? Or a hold over my man?” Margo laughed. “Look at him, he’s blushing. You are in contact with her.”

  “I’m not. Honest.”

  “That’s enough out of you, Margo Kirk,” said her mother. “Finn, I would love a visit from your parents. Let them know they are welcome at any time.”

  Luckily, the conversation moved on from there, but he could see Margo looking at him quizzically throughout the evening.

  He got on the road back to Cork on Sunday afternoon after a wonderful weekend. He and David were all caught up and he had successfully kept Margo out of his bed. A good result all round. He grinned as he turned on the radio.

  Chapter Six

  Thursday, June 26, 1986

  Week One: Day Four

  As soon as Finn opened his eyes that morning he knew today was a pivotal day. If conflict was going to come it would be as a result of his actions today. He knew he could still take the easy road. He could defuse the situation entirely and he was pretty sure that there would be no additional fall out. On the other hand, he could raise the stakes, turn up the heat and set the train in motion.

  “Hah,” he said derisively. “Like I have a frigging choice either way.”

  Even so he had to walk a fine line. He didn’t want the showdown to come today. He just wanted to finish laying the groundwork. He needed to ensure that the conflict would go from zero to sixty, on his terms, with no room for any moderation.

  Yes, today is a big day indeed.

  He decided to forego his usual morning workout and after a shower and a light breakfast, he set off on the roughly two mile walk out of town to Roan. It was a bright summer morning and the walk felt good. Since it was early there was very little traffic on the road, making it a peaceful journey for him. He clocked in early, grabbed a cup of coffee from the little kitchen near his office and settled in to read some research reports. After a while, he could hear people start to drift in and the peace and quiet that he had been enjoying evaporated.

  Laura arrived at eight twenty-five and the very first words out of her mouth were, “Hey Finn, do you want to go out for lunch today? There are a couple of good places in town for lunch and the Malt Tavern, out on the Dublin Road, puts on a really nice spread.”

  He smiled. “Good morning to you too. Thanks for the offer but I think I’ll pass. I’ve become addicted to Roan canteen food and I couldn’t get by without my daily fix.”

  “Come on. Please.” Her tone was unabashedly pleading. “This won’t end well. Honestly.”

  Her concern was touching. “Thanks, Laura. I really do appreciate the concern, but I’m not running away. I just won’t.”

  She just shook her head sadly and picked up a document without saying another word.

  That morning Finn couldn’t help but chuckle at the number of invitations to lunch off campus he received. They are all genuinely worried…and so fucking petrified.

  Eventually lunchtime rolled around. He stood up, stretched and looked at Laura. “You coming?”

  Her dark eyes pooled with tears. “You don’t have to do this, Finn. Really, you don’t.”

  “Yes or no?” His tone wasn’t unkind, but it brooked no more discussion.

  She didn’t answer but rose from her desk and headed out the door.

  Finn shrugged his shoulders, followed her and they walked to the canteen in silence. As soon as he entered the canteen, conversations ceased and it felt as if the air had been sucked completely out of the room. It seemed that by just him turning up for lunch, people had concluded that he was there to fight.

  Once he had paid for his food, he heard a couple of calls of, “Finn, come join us over here,” but mostly everyone stayed silent and tense.

  He walked purposefully over to Julia’s table, keeping a neutral expression on his face and his eyes straight ahead.

  “Hi, it’s me again,” he said brightly as he sat down at the table. “Can’t beat it,” he inclined his head toward his tray, “Irish stew with heaps of French fried potatoes. Doesn’t get any better than this.”

  Julia didn’t respond or even acknowledge his presence.

  “Hey, what’s up? Cat got your tongue?”

  She lifted her head and stared at him fiercely.

  Those eyes…Jesus, I could look into them all day, every day.

  “Here they come. Now you’ve gotten what you were asking for. I hope you’re happy.”

  Finn turned around and as she had said, the idiots who had warned him off on Tuesday were striding towards them.

  “What the fuck did we tell you about sitting at this table with this bitch? And yet, here you are again, moron. Don’t you get it? You’re not allowed to sit here. Period.”

  For a minute Finn said nothing; he just looked back at them. Then his expression slowly changed, a look of surprise spreading across his face. “Wait a minute.” He shook his head doing his best to appear confused. “Hold on, you guys meant all that stuff? Really? Jesus, I figured this was some kind of initiation prank for the new guy.” He shrugged and grinned sheepishly. “I mean, honestly, this wasn’t a joke? I swear, I really didn’t know.” He shook his head again, as if trying to grasp a difficult concept. “You were actually serious?”

  The three guys looked at each other in puzzlement. Finn had either done a very convincing job of acting all innocent and bewildered or they were dumber than they looked.

  “Yes, we were serious,” one of them said. “Very serious. So fucking serious that you’ve created a whole heap of shit for yourself which you will very much regret, if you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity.”

  Finn put both hands out, palms up. “‘Honestly. I swear I thought this was all a put on. I wouldn’t have sat here if I’d known it was really against the rules. Seriously. I don’t want any trouble. I’m just here to do a job. I spent eight years in college to give myself the opportunity to get this job. I’m not going to throw all that away by being stupid. Anyway, I’m just one guy. What could I do all by myself?”

  The leader of the three leaned in close. “Listen to me, motherfucker. If you’re screwing with us you’re dead. You got that? This is your last warning. You fuck around once more on anything and that’s it. You got that?”

  Finn nodded, attempting to appear contrite. “Yes, yes I do. And thank you, it won’t happen again. I promise.” He stood and picked up his lunch, as if making to leave.

  “It better not.” Smugly satisfied, the thugs swaggered out of the canteen.

  Finn looked at Julia, winked and sat back down. “That was just to make sure they really lose the rag the next time I piss them off. Can’t wait for that.”

  Julia looked astonished. “You’re nuts. Certifiably nuts. You had me believing there that you genuinely thought this was a joke and that you were being set up. Seriously, why would anyone play a joke like that? It’s nonsensical and y
et they seem to have bought it. And now you say you were just winding them up more. What, they didn’t look mad enough to you already? Nuts, I tell you, definitely nuts.”

  Finn laughed. “Wow, that’s the most I’ve heard you say in one go. Well think of it this way, our lunchtime companions got to see a really good show and now they may actually believe it’s all over and done with. The next episode should be even more fun.”

  Finn was right, the atmosphere in the canteen had changed considerably. The tension in the air that could have been cut with a knife was gone and overly loud conversations had replaced the eerie silence.

  Finn pushed his lunch aside. “Come out with me tomorrow night, please. Let’s go for a walk or a movie or dinner or whatever. We can drive to wherever you want and go from there.”

  Julia said nothing at first and he could tell she was struggling with her composure. “I’m not ready for a relationship.” It was almost whispered and her lower lip quivered. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  “I understand.” Finn gave her a warm smile. “Honest, I do. No strings attached. Let’s not talk about relationships or expectations. I’m just asking you to hang out with me for a few hours tomorrow night. That’s it.”

  “Can I sleep on it? If you need an answer now it will be ‘no’ but if you let me sleep on it, it might be ‘yes’. I’m not promising anything, mind you.”

  “Absolutely.” Finn beamed at her. “Absobloodylutely.”

  They chitchatted for the remainder of the lunch and he was pulled deeper and deeper into the spell that was Julia Davis.

  Back in the office afterwards, Laura stared at him skeptically. “No way are you done.”

  Finn said nothing.

  She shook her head. “No way. You’re just building up to something bigger, I bet.”

  Finn just smiled. You won’t have to wait long to find out. He was feeling very pleased with himself indeed. His plan had worked beautifully and he had snagged a date with Julia. Almost snagged a date, he reminded himself. It’s not a done deal yet. And then there was the small part of him who worried that even if she did say yes, when she found out what he’d done, how he’d failed, she wouldn’t want anything to do with him.