Black Diamond by John F. Dobbyn Page B

Danny’s wife, Mike?”
    I couldn’t answer, just thinking of how completely devastated she’d be if she knew that both Erin and Danny were lost to her. A simple head shake conveyed the word that she was not on top of the world.
    Rick just looked into his coffee cup. I knew how deeply this tough old cowboy was wrung out by Danny’s death.
    â€œI need some information, Rick. I’m probably stepping on toes, but I have to do it. This is for Danny.”
    The old man turned around and leaned against the rail. He looked me dead in the eye. “To hell with them all. For Danny. What do you want to know?”
    â€œBlack Diamond. You said he was sent over from Ireland. Where in Ireland?”
    â€œThere’s a place west of Dublin called The Curragh. It’s in County Kildare. Lot of horse farms there. This one raises just Thoroughbreds. It’s a small operation as near as I can tell. I don’t know a hell of a lot about it.”
    â€œWhat’s it called?”
    â€œ
Dubh Crann
Stables. It means Black Tree.”
    â€œYou speak the language, Rick?”
    I got the first half smile. “I got trouble enough with English.”
    â€œWho contacted you?”
    â€œHis name’s Kieran Dowd.”
    â€œWhat does he look like?”
    â€œDammed if I know. We did the whole thing over the phone. I don’t think he ever came over here.”
    I walked over to lean on the rail beside him so we could lower our voices.
    â€œWhat was the deal, Rick?”
    He wiped his face with a hand grown oversized from a life ofpulling on reins and halters. I’d seen him make that gesture every time he was wrestling with a decision.
    â€œThey deliver the horse. I train him. Enter him in that race on MassCap day. That was it. We keep a third of the winnings and anything we can make on a bet. It looked good at the time.”
    I moved even closer, because this was the touchy part.
    â€œRick, what was good about it? His breeding is mediocre, to be generous. His workouts were the pits. I could practically beat him on foot.”
    He gave me a sideways look with a trace of a grin that died as soon as it was born.
    â€œYou don’t know what we’ve been through, Mike. This stable’s on its last legs. These are not the days of Miles O’Connor. Look down that row.” He pointed his chin to the stables.
    â€œThere’s not a one of them that’s not nursing swollen knees, biting shins, hot ankles. I can’t run any of them more than once in six weeks. When I do, they barely cover the hay bill.”
    He shrugged.
    â€œI’m not griping. It’s the life I chose for the good days and bad. But this deal came out of the blue. I thought maybe lightning could strike.”
    I could have said, “Based on what?” I could have asked out of what miraculous depth the Diamond pulled the burst of speed he showed in that race. But I’d asked it before and got no answer.
    It was around nine thirty when I caught Mr. D. on his way out of the office.
    â€œI’m walking up to Federal Court, Michael. Walk with me.”
    He caught a good look at me in the elevator.
    â€œGood Lord, Michael. Have you been to bed this week?”
    â€œIt’s just a little cold. It’ll pass. I need your help with something.”
    He gave me his immediate you-name-it nod, and then his serious look. “This involves little Erin, doesn’t it? Any news?”
    The question tightened the bands around my heart again.
    â€œYes.” I just shook my head.
    â€œDear God, you don’t mean—”
    I could only nod.
    â€œHave you told Danny’s wife?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œHow did you hear?”
    I filled him in on my meeting with Scully.
    â€œCan you trust his word?”
    â€œAbout as far as I could throw City Hall. But I think he was on the level this time. That’s what I want to talk to you about. I have to go to Dublin.”
    If