The House by the Liffey by Niki Phillips

crawled back down the slope and, using his powerful mini transmitter/receiver, Jack tried to contact Sean.
    * * * * *
    Just before noon Eddie had taken Izzy up the ladder into the top room. The men hadn’t bothered to put on their balaclavas. They were quite confident that they would be well out of the country before they could be tracked down by any information Izzy would be able to give, either of them or the hideaway.
    She wondered which of the five was nasty Bob. She shrank back against Eddie, taking huge gulps of the lovely fresh air.
    â€˜It’s all right, girleen. So long as you behave you’ll be fine.’
    â€˜She’d better or I’ll deal with her. She’ll wish she’d never been born.’
    She recognized the voice, so now she knew which one he was: older than any of the others, he had short, straight grey hair and faded blue eyes that looked at her with venom. She was terrified but her fear was, to a small degree, tempered by being utterly outraged. On top of all she had suffered, all she had endured, this was the last straw. She managed to garner every last shred of courage she had, drew her small body to its maximum height and looked him straight in the eye, trying so hard to stop her voice from shaking.
    â€˜You’re a
nasty
person. Grandpa Tom says if you touch me you’ll
die
!’
    Bob turned a dirty shade of grey. Looking at his face, Eddie had the hardest time not laughing outright. Of the others, Shamus had kept well away from Izzy and after that comment moved even further away, glancing around fearfully. Jaysus, he thought, if I see that fella’s ghost I think I’ll wet meself. Why the hell did I get mixed up with this lot. And that poor little kid . . . !
    â€˜We’re going to call your parents. They’ll want to know if you’re still alive so that’s why you’re up here. You’ll have a chance to say a few words to them but no tricks.’ Mighty Mac was dangerous looking and would have frightened the bravest. Izzy said nothing.
    They moved to where the radio equipment was placed for best reception. That was the moment that Izzy chose to scream her defiance.
    â€˜Help me. Someone hel…’ Willie hit her hard across the face knocking her to the ground. She cried out. Tears streamed down her face from the pain and blood ran from her lip, but before any of the others could make a more violent attack on her Eddie leapt between her and them, helped her to her feet and put his arms around her. She clung to him shaking all over, while he dabbed gently at her lip.
    â€˜Leave her alone, all of you, or she’ll not be capable of talking to her parents. In fact judging by the spirit she’s shown, she might even refuse to talk to them. What’ll you do then?’
    Willie sneered at him.
    â€˜I keep telling you, Eddie, you’re too soft. If she won’t talk I’m quite prepared to make her scream – loudly. Oh they’ll know she’s here all right, I promise you that!’
    â€˜If I was too soft I wouldn’t be mixed up in this whole dirty business. But I’m not cowardly enough to hit a little kid so hard as to split her lip. Look at her! She’s small, she’s frail and not well. She has that dreadful rash which irritates her like hell. She’s been kidnapped, locked up in a foul cellar for five days, eating almost nothing and she still had enough guts to have a go at Bob. And look at you! You’re nothing but an oversized, overweight bully and I just wonder if you’ve got a fraction of the courage she has.’
    Willie raised clenched fists and started towards Eddie, but Mac hastily stepped between them.
    â€˜Listen, lads. We mustn’t quarrel between ourselves or we’re lost. Just let’s get on and make that call. It’s past midday.’
    At Riverside they were gathered around the radio transmitter/receiver when the call came.
    â€˜Has Milo Butler got