The Celtic Riddle

"Paddy Gilhooly, also a non-family member, got one. His connection with the family, at least the only one I've come across, is that he dated Breeta Byrne, the youngest daughter, and that the family objected and Breeta left home. She's not dating him anymore. Deirdre was a relatively recent arrival in the household, less than five years, she said, so it would make sense she wouldn't get one. It's a bit surprising about Herlihy, though, because I got the impression he'd been with the family forever. Michael had been there for a while, but not much longer than Deirdre. I'd have expected that Heriihy would have got one, although he got a sizable amount of money from the Will. Deirdre got some too, although not as much. Michael got something somewhere in between, if I remember correctly, plus some extra money if he went back to school. Which he won't be doing," I added sadly.

"Are you sure this is about the treasure, then?" Moira asked. "I mean, if Heriihy didn't get a clue, maybe it's about something entirely different."

"That's a good question," I replied. "But it's the only thing I can think of. This treasure, if it exists, is supposed to be worth something. And what else could it be?"

"I don't know," she replied. "Don't they say the motive is almost always money or passion? The treasure is the only money angle, I suppose."

"Well, the money that John and Michael got reverts to the family, according to their solicitor, but I can't imagine it's enough to kill for."

"So what about the passion motive? A family secret or something. A horrible secret from Byrne's past. Am I overdoing this, do you think?" she laughed. "All right then, a grudge of some sort. A former gardener, say, a psycho, who was fired by Heriihy for killing the orchids and who got back at Heriihy and his replacement. A little farfetched, I admit. But what about this Gil-hooly fellow? Maybe he thought he was going to marry a fortune, and then was disappointed. But then," she said, answering her own question, "he wouldn't kill the staff for that, now would he? It's a mystery, all right."

"It is," I agreed. "There are hints, from time to time, of something in Byrne's past, but it must have been a very long time ago, if at all, because he's been here for at least thirty years, and no one around here seems to know anything specific. But I have another problem I could use your advice on, Moira, since you mention Gilhooly," I added, then told her about Jennifer's escapades.

"Aieee!" she exclaimed. "Thirty-five or -six? This is bad. I think you had better tell Rob," she said after a minute's contemplation. "If you leave it too long, he'll think you're a party to this whole thing, that you've been hiding it from him, or worse, maybe even helping them get together. I'd give Jennifer about five minutes more to tell him, if I were you, and then, if she doesn't, you do it!"

"You're right, as usual, Moira," I said. "I've been intending to do it. It's just that Rob has a new friend, a police officer by the name of Maeve Minogue. I think it's serious, and he isn't spending much time with Jennifer and me."

"What!" Moira exclaimed. "Are you telling me Rob has a girlfriend over there?"

"Yes," I said.

"Oh," Moira said. I could hear disappointment in her voice.

"Moira!" I said. I knew what that tone meant.

"I know," she said. "I sort of had him in mind for you. He's kind of cute, isn't he? Steady job. Steady kind of guy, in fact. I thought he'd be good for you. And you for him," she added loyally. "He can be a bit of a tight ass, and you'd lighten him up. I thought you two would be perfect together, in fact."

I laughed. Moira is always trying to fix me up with somebody. What are your women friends for, I suppose.

"Don't laugh. What about Jennifer? You like her, too, don't you? Don't you think they make a nice package deal?"

"I like Jennifer very much. In fact, I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying her company, and Rob's a lovely guy," I said. "But he and I would drive each other crazy. Do drive each other crazy, and we're just friends. I'd give up on him if I were you."

"We'll see," she replied, in a tone I'd come to recognize as only a temporary retreat. "In the meantime, be careful. Don't go near that awful family."

"Okay," I replied, and I meant it. I'd made up my mind to give up on this treasure thing, at least for a while, and get back to business. Nobody had died in a while, after all, and there had been no more threatening incidents. Maybe Moira was right, and it was about something else entirely. "I'm going to have a look around for some antiques while I'm here. I might as well do something useful until they let us go home, which I sincerely hope will be soon."

"Good," she said. "Let us know when you're flying back. We'll pick you up at the airport."