‘Here’s the money,’ said Stella, handing over a banknote.
Alice could see that her friend was trying to sound calm, but the excitement was evident in her voice. They were in the lobby of the Mill, and Stella had just come from room nine, where Johnny’s mother was freshening up while she awaited his arrival.
‘Great,’ said Alice, taking the money and slipping it into the pocket of her overcoat. It had been Stella’s idea to speed things up by buying train tickets for Belfast while they waited for Johnny. From Belfast, Johnny and his mother would get the ferry to Scotland, but Stella had pointed out that if the police arrived in Balbriggan in pursuit of Johnny it might be better if the ticket seller at the train station hadn’t seen Miss Dunne purchasing tickets.
‘OK, I won’t be long’ said Alice.
‘Fine, I’ll go back and wait with Miss Dunne.’
Alice crossed the lobby and exited into the street. Normally she loved crisp winter weather, but today the combination of blue sky and soft November sunshine was lost on her. Instead her senses were on alert for any sign of police activity as she made for the train station. Walking briskly, she passed the shells of several buildings that had been destroyed when the Tans had torched the town in September. Apart from the sight of the burnt-out ruins – which still angered Alice, even eight weeks later – everything seemed normal.
She reached the station and made for the ticket sales window. Although there were passengers here in the hall and in the waiting room, there was only one person in the queue ahead of her. Alice tried to curb her impatience as the woman bought her ticket, slowly taking out one coin after another from her purse to pay for it.
Finally, she finished the transaction, and Alice came face to face with the ticket seller. He was Larry McCaffrey, a local man in his late twenties who was friendly and outgoing. Alice would have preferred to buy the tickets from someone who didn’t know her, but Larry greeted her by name.
‘’Morning, Alice, fit and well you’re looking.’
‘Good morning, Larry.’
‘What can I get you?’
‘Two single tickets for Belfast please.’
‘Running away with your boyfriend, are you?’ said Larry with a grin.
Alice forced herself to smile. ‘Obliging a guest at the Mill,’ she answered. ‘One adult and one child, please,’ she said, making her tone business-like as she handed over the pound note that Stella had been given by Miss Dunne.
She hoped Larry wouldn’t waste what might be precious time with more ham-fisted jokes, and to her relief she realised that he had picked up on her tone.
‘There you are,’ he said, giving her the tickets and her change without further ado.
‘Thanks, Larry,’ she answered. Then she nodded in farewell, strode towards the door and started back towards the Mill.
* * *
Johnny felt his anxiety worsening as the train pulled in to Balbriggan station. He had tried to relax as the train travelled through the sun-dappled countryside, but the stark beauty of the winter landscape had passed in a blur as his worries mounted. Supposing there was a police checkpoint at Balbriggan station and he was questioned? Supposing Mr O’Shea and Mrs Hanlon had been picked up in the crackdown after the assassination of the British Intelligence agents? Or supposing his mother had been prevented from travelling from Athlone to Balbriggan? Could she even have had second thoughts about helping him escape to Scotland in the aftermath of all the killings yesterday? She had left him once before as a baby, supposing she left him once again now?
No sooner had Johnny thought this than he felt guilty. His mother had explained why she had put him up for adoption, and had apologised from the heart for all he had suffered in St Mary’s. She was the one who had suggested a life together in Scotland, and he chided himself now for doubting her. Before he could think about it any further the train shuddered to a stop. Johnny took up his case and exited from the carriage, quickly scanning the platform as he stepped out into the November air. There were no policemen about, however, and he quickly left the station and began walking towards the Mill Hotel. He walked at a good pace, but not so swiftly as to draw attention. He was about halfway there when he spotted the local surgeon, Doctor Foley, coming in his direction. Johnny had hoped to rendezvous with his mother without bumping into anyone who knew him. Could he cross to the other side of the street and avoid Dr Foley? No, he decided, that would look odd – better to act as though everything was normal.
‘Doctor Foley,’ he said in respectful greeting as they drew level.
‘Johnny,’ the surgeon replied, a note of surprise in his voice as he took in the suitcase. ‘Coming back to work in the Mill?’
‘No, I’m just breaking my journey on the way to Dublin,’ answered Johnny, the lie tripping easily off his tongue.
‘Ah. Be careful in Dublin, it seems to be in turmoil.’
‘I will, thanks. Well, good day, Doctor Foley.’
‘Good day, Johnny.’
He nodded politely and moved on. He knew that normally it would be someone of Doctor Foley’s social standing who decided when to end an encounter. Today though he was in a hurry; if Doctor Foley found that a little strange, then too bad. Striding on before Foley could question him further, he soon came to the rear entrance of the Mill. Wanting to avoid attention, he went in through the back gate, crossed the yard and stepped through the rear door. The heated interior and the scent of food from the kitchen were reassuringly familiar, and Johnny followed the route that he had taken countless times before, bringing him to reception.
‘Hello, Miss Hopkins,’ he said.
‘Johnny!’ she answered.
‘Is Norah Dunne here?’
‘Yes, she’s in room nine.’
Johnny felt a surge of relief.
‘Alice and Stella are with her,’ added Miss Hopkins with a lowered voice. ‘They’re waiting for you.’
‘Are Alice and Stella not in school?’
‘They’ve both upset stomachs. They’re excused school.’
‘Right,’ said Johnny, trying to keep back a grin.
He left reception and took the stairs, then knocked on the door of room nine. Almost immediately the door opened, and there stood Alice, a huge smile on her face.
‘Johnny! Thank God you made it!’ she said.
She threw her arms around him, then ushered him into the room. Johnny’s spirits soared to see the smiling faces of Stella and his mother. Stella reached him first, and like Alice, gave him a hug.
‘We were so worried about you!’
‘I was worried about me!’ answered Johnny playfully.
His mother approached, and when he turned to her, Johnny could see that she had tears in her eyes. He suddenly felt a lump in his own throat, but tried to keep his emotions in check. ‘Mam,’ he said.
‘Johnny.’ she replied. Without another word she took him in her arms.
After all that he had been through, Johnny found comfort in her embrace, then after a moment they separated.
‘I hate being the bearer of bad news,’ said Stella hesitantly. ‘But there’s something you need to know, Johnny.’
‘What’s that?’
‘I tried to ring you in Dublin. But the police answered the phone. Mrs Hanlon has been arrested.’
Johnny felt his mouth going dry. ‘God…’ he said. ‘And…and what about Mr O’Shea?’
‘I don’t know about him,’ answered Stella. ‘But the thing is, they’re likely to trace you back to the Mill.’
‘We all reckon it’s just a matter of time till the Tans show up,’ said Alice. ‘I’ve bought train tickets. We think you and your mam should go while the going is good.’
‘Right.’
‘But before we do, I was telling the girls about my idea to boost our chances,’ said his mother.
‘Oh? What’s that?’
His mother looked mysterious. ‘Step into the bathroom, and I’ll show you.’
* * *
‘Remember the book we got in the library about magic tricks?’ said Stella.
‘Yes,’ answered Alice.
Stella could see that her friend was bemused by her choice of topic. They were waiting for Johnny and his mother to finish in the bathroom, and Stella had been thinking about how to boost their chances of leaving Ireland undetected. ‘Misdirection was the big thing in that book,’ she said. ‘If a magician doesn’t want you to see what his left hand is doing, he’ll draw your attention to his right hand.’
‘Yes, I know what misdirection is.’
‘I think we should try and do a bit of that for Johnny and his mam.’
‘How?’
‘By thinking the way the police might think, and then misguiding them. I mean, this could all be a storm in a teacup, and maybe they’re not looking for Johnny at all.’
‘But if they are, we try to fool them?’
‘Yes. If you were a republican fleeing the country, Alice, where would you make for?’
‘Probably…America. Lots of Irish sympathisers there.’
‘Exactly. So if the Tans do get on Johnny’s trail, it would be good to make them think he’s gone there instead of Scotland.’
‘How do we do that?’
‘I don’t know yet, but we can be thinking about it. Meanwhile I have fruit and chocolate in my room. If I give them that they won’t have to buy stuff. The fewer people they show their faces to the better, till they’re out of the country.
‘Yes, that makes sense.’
‘OK, I’ll slip down and get the grub. Won’t be a minute.’
Stella left the room and went quickly down the stairs, then entered her own room and crossed to the fruit bowl. She took apples and bananas, and slipped them into a brown paper bag, before adding a large bar of chocolate that she had been saving for after hockey training. Pleased with her forward thinking, she locked the door after her and started back towards room nine.
She crossed the edge of the lobby and was about to climb the stairs when she saw a Crossley tender pulling to a halt outside the hotel. To her dismay she saw heavily armed Tans spilling out of the vehicle. She paused a moment, hoping against hope that the Mill wasn’t their destination. Then she saw the leading Tan making for the entrance. Without wasting another moment she turned on her heel and made for room nine, taking the stairs at speed.
* * *
‘When was the last time you saw Johnny Dunne?’ demanded the Tan.
He spoke with a thick Scottish accent, and had alert, probing eyes. Alice paused, as though considering. In her mother’s absence, she had come down to reception and taken charge, explaining to the raiding party that her mother wouldn’t be back until the afternoon.
‘I saw him about four weeks ago,’ she answered. ‘He came back for a mass for my friend’s granddad.’
‘And you haven’t seen him since?’ asked the Tan, his eyes boring into Alice.
The man was intimidating, but she forced herself to hold his gaze and speak calmly. ‘That’s the only time I saw him since he left at the end of September.’
‘When he worked here, where did he live?’
‘In the staff quarters on the top floor.’
‘Right, we need to search there.’
Alice feared that if they went there and found nothing they might want to search other rooms. She tried to make her objection sound reasonable. ‘Is there any point searching?’ she said. ‘He hasn’t lived here for months. Why would he come back to a place where he doesn’t work any more?’
‘Because he’s fled and he needs to hide somewhere. And he probably has friends here.’ The Tan pointed his finger at Alice. ‘Like you, maybe.’
Alice shook her head. ‘He was just an employee. He wasn’t my friend.’ Even though she was lying to protect Johnny, she still felt bad about disowning him.
‘Either way, we’re searching the place,’ said the Scot.
‘Can we keep it to the staff quarters? I don’t want to upset the guests.’
‘I don’t give a Highlanders about the guests! Now get the keys.’
‘All right,’ said Alice, raising her hands to appease the Tan, before turning to the reception desk. ‘Could I have the master key, please, Miss Hopkins?’
The receptionist held out the key, and Alice took it. She had to try to warn Johnny before the Tans finished on the top floor.
‘OK, here’s the master key,’ she said, handing it over, ‘I’ll leave you to it.’ Alice turned to walk away but had barely moved when she felt a firm grip on her arm.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ demanded the Tan.
‘I’ve other work to do.’
‘Not now, you haven’t. You come with us.’
Alice was about to protest, but she stopped herself, fearing it might sound suspicious to argue too much. ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘If you want to waste everyone’s time, let’s search the staff quarters.’
* * *
Johnny looked in the bathroom mirror, taken aback by his own reflection.
‘What do you think?’ asked his mother.
‘It feels really weird. I…I don’t look like myself.’
‘That’s the general idea.’
His mother had dyed his mop of brown hair black, and plastered it down with oil. Before leaving the chemists shop in Athlone she had acquired the dye, the oil and a pair of glasses with plain lenses, which Johnny now wore.
‘Let’s see what the others think of you,’ suggested his mother.
‘OK,’ agreed Johnny. He opened the bathroom door and steeped back into the hotel bedroom. He realised that Alice was missing, then his attention was taken by the look of shock on Stella’s face.
‘Oh my goodness!’ she cried, putting her hands to her mouth.
‘You like my new look?’
‘It’s amazing. Great work, Miss Dunne.’
‘No point working in a chemist’s if you can’t get your hands on some bits and bobs,’ she said with a smile.
‘It’s really good,’ said Stella, ‘but I’ve some bad news. The Tans arrived while you were doing the dying. Alice is downstairs dealing with them.’
Johnny felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. ‘God,’ he said. ‘What will we do now?’
‘We could brazen it out,’ said his mother. ‘They’re looking for a brown-haired boy on his own. They won’t be looking for a black-haired boy with glasses who’s travelling with his mother.’
‘I’d only try that if you have to,’ cautioned Stella. ‘Alice will do everything she can to misdirect them.’
Johnny could see that his mother wasn’t fully convinced.
‘Supposing she can’t misdirect them?’ she said.
‘Alice is pretty smart,’ answered Stella. ‘I think the best thing is to sit tight and trust her.’
‘Johnny?’ asked his mother.
Johnny bit his lip, thinking hard. His instinct was to make a break, but he knew the Tans would have the hotel surrounded. Following his mother’s suggestion would be risky, but could pay off. The authorities didn’t have a picture of him, just a description, and with his changed appearance, and travelling as part of a mother and son pairing, they might get away. Then again if they could avoid running the gauntlet that would be better. And Alice was smart, maybe she could put the Tans off the scent. He hesitated another moment, trying to think straight, then made up his mind.
‘OK,’ he said. ‘let’s stay put, and trust in Alice.’
* * *
‘I told you he wouldn’t be in the hotel,’ said Alice.
The Tans had searched all of the staff quarters on the top floor of the Mill, and the Scottish sergeant leading the raid had kept his men in check, with no damage done to the room.
‘He could still be in the hotel; we’ve just ruled out the staff quarters,’ answered the Tan.
‘Look, Sergeant, I know you’ve a job to do. But we’ve a job too, and it’s to keep guests happy. Can you search the kitchen and the outhouses and wherever else you want, but not disturb our guests? Please?’
The Tan’s expression hardened. ‘Do you know why we’re looking for this fella?’
‘No.’
‘He was living in a house full of rebels.’
‘But wasn’t he just a boarder?’
‘Just a boarder? In a place that’s a hotbed of Shinners? And when we show up and make arrests, he’s vanished. That’s not suspicious?’
‘There might be a perfectly good explanation.’
‘There is. He’s involved. And twelve of our men were murdered yesterday morning. Anyone involved is going to pay for that.’
Alice felt like saying that fourteen innocent civilians in Croke Park had already paid, but she restrained herself and tried to keep her tone reasonable. ‘I understand why you’re angry, Sergeant, but let’s be realistic. Johnny Dunne is hardly being hidden by hotel guests in a place he worked in months ago.’
The Tan appeared to think about this, then he looked Alice in the eye. ‘You could be right. Then again, you could be wrong. But we’ll soon find out, won’t we?’
* * *
‘I’m getting worried,’ said Johnny. ‘If everything was OK, Alice would have come back and told us.’
Stella could understand his nervousness, and she forced herself to sound calm. ‘It’s only been a few minutes, Johnny. She’s probably still talking to the Tans.’
‘Or unlocking doors for them, if they’re searching room-to-room,’ suggested Miss Dunne.
‘If she is, it’s only because they made her,’ insisted Stella.
‘I know,’ said Johnny. ‘But if they do make her, we’re trapped here like fish in a barrel.’
‘Maybe we should just brazen it out,’ said Miss Dunne. ‘I know it’s risky, but so is being found here with our bags packed.’
Stella thought for a moment, then reached a decision. ‘I’ve a better idea.’
Johnny looked at her hopefully. ‘What?’
‘Move to my room,’ suggested Stella. ‘The Tans won’t know we’re friends. If they’re told my room is the permanent quarters of a British officer’s daughter, there’d be no reason to search it.’
‘That’s not guaranteed, Stella,’ said Miss Dunne.
‘Nothing’s guaranteed. But I reckon your chances are better in my room.’ Stella hoped that her argument had swayed Miss Dunne, who now turned to her son.
‘What do you say, Johnny?’
‘There’s a risk either way. But I think…I think Stella’s right. Being in a room hired by Commander Radcliffe might be our best bet.’
‘Can we get there without going through the lobby?’ asked Miss Dunne.
Stella nodded. ‘Yes, we can go by the back stairs.’
‘All right,’ said Johnny, reaching for his suitcase. ‘Let’s do it.’
‘I’ll just check there’s no one in the corridor,’ said Stella. She opened the bedroom door and stepped out. To her relief there was nobody about, and she stepped back into room nine. ‘The coast’s clear. Let’s go!’
* * *
Alice was trying hard to appear pleasant and helpful. The Tans had searched all the outhouses and storerooms and were now going through the kitchen. She had told the hotel staff to be co-operative and had even offered the Tans refreshments, which the Scottish sergeant had politely refused. Alice felt that she had won him over a little, but the real test would come if he still insisted on searching all the hotel bedrooms.
Alice’s fall-back position would be the suggestion that they check every room that had been vacated, but respect the privacy of guests in rooms that were occupied.
‘All clear in the kitchen, Sarge,’ reported one of the Tans, returning to the lobby.
‘Right, the rooms are next.’
‘Can I talk to you about that, Sergeant, please?’ said Alice.
‘We’ve already talked about it.’
Alice was about to make her case when her eye was caught by movement at the entrance door. To her surprise she saw Commander Radcliffe and Mrs Radcliffe approaching. They were back ahead of schedule, which could spell disaster. Presumably they would look for Stella. And if they found her with Johnny and his mother the game would be up. Before Alice could think it through any further they approached. Stella’s father was in his RAF uniform and the Scottish sergeant saluted him respectfully.
‘Wing Commander.’
‘Sergeant. What’s going on here?’
‘They’re looking for Johnny Dunne, Commander,’ said Alice. ‘They have this notion that he’s involved with the rebels. I told them that none of us have seen him in a month, and we know nothing about him ever being involved with the rebels.’ Alice looked at Stella’s father meaningfully. They both knew that Johnny had probably saved his life yesterday morning. Now Alice held her breath, praying that Commander Radcliffe would return the favour and sing dumb.
* * *
‘Can you do a Yankee accent, Mam?’ asked Johnny.
They were seated in Stella’s room, which they had reached without incident, although everyone was still on edge.
His mother looked at him bemusedly. ‘An American accent? Well, yes, I did one in a sketch once, in the Town Hall in Athlone. Why do you ask?’
‘If the Tans come in here we could pretend we’re Canadian friends of Stella’s.’
Johnny was rewarded with an approving nod from his mother. ‘That’s a really good idea.’
Stella looked slightly concerned. ‘The accent isn’t exactly the same.’
‘It’s close enough,’ said Johnny. ‘The Tans hardly know the difference between an American and a Canadian accent.’
‘No, I suppose not,’ Stella admitted.
‘We could claim to be friends from Ontario, getting the train to Dublin this afternoon,’ continued Johnny. He remembered the approach adopted by Mr O’Shea and by Michael Collins, and decided that he and his mother should have a back story. ‘How do we know you, Stella? And where would be a good place to come from, just in case it comes up?’
Stella thought a moment. ‘Why don’t we stay with the chess club? Say that’s where we met when we both lived in Toronto?’
‘Where in Toronto?’ asked Johnny.
‘Yorkville,’ answered Stella. ‘We were neighbours. We lived on Admiral Road and you lived on…let’s say Lowther Avenue. All right?’
‘OK.’ Johnny looked enquiringly at his mother, who nodded.
‘Fine’ she said, ‘Yorkville, Admiral Road, Lowther Avenue.’
Johnny thought of the other things that had impressed him the night he had been questioned with Michael Collins, and he turned to his mother. ‘If it comes to bluffing our way as Canadians, the trick is to act as though we’re completely at ease.’
‘You’ve done stuff like this before?’ she asked.
‘A bit, yes. So if we’re questioned, we haven’t a worry in the world. We’re for the authorities, we know they’re doing what they have to, and we’re confident that soon we’ll be on our way.’
‘You make it sound easy, Johnny,’ said Stella.
‘My heart is beating like a drum, but they don’t know that. Mr O’Shea always says that people take you at your own valuation. Act innocent and you seem innocent.’
‘Fair enough,’ said Johnny’s mother, ‘though I’m praying it won’t arise.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Stella. ‘Let’s just hope…’
But what she hoped for never got said, as all three of them started, on hearing a knock on the bedroom door.
Johnny swallowed hard. He prayed that his disguise and their concocted story would be enough, and he watched anxiously as Stella rose and opened the door.
‘Mom! Dad!’ she cried in surprise as Commander and Mrs Radcliffe stepped into the room.
* * *
Alice accompanied the Tans, a master key in her hand as they arrived at the first bedroom on the ground floor. Perspiration had formed on her brow, and she wiped it away surreptitiously, as she prepared to make a final argument to prevent Johnny being found.
‘I really, think, Sergeant––’
‘Shut it!’ snapped the Tan. ‘We won’t disturb your precious guests more than we have to, but we’re searching each room. Now look lively and start opening up.’
Alice felt her heart sink, but she couldn’t think of any response.
‘Come on! The sooner we do this, the sooner it ends.’
Alice was afraid to delay any further. Instead she breathed out wearily and inserted the key in the lock of room one.
* * *
‘I can explain everything,’ said Stella.
‘You’d better!’ said her father.
‘Mom, Dad, this is Miss Dunne. Miss Dunne, my mother, Mrs Louise Radcliffe, and my father, Wing Commander Bernard Radcliffe.’
Despite the bizarre circumstances, the adults exchanged brief how-do-you-dos.
‘And of course you know Johnny,’ said Stella, ‘despite the dyed hair and the glasses.’
‘Yes, we know Johnny,’ replied her mother. ‘What’s he doing in your bedroom?’
‘He’s avoiding the Tans,’ answered Stella.
‘God above, Stella!’ said her father. ‘Have you any idea what you’re playing at?!’
‘Yes, Dad,’ she answered, trying to keep her voice calm. ‘I’m helping the best friend I ever had. He’s finally found his mother,’ she said, pointing at Miss Dunne, ‘and they want to start a new life in Scotland.’
‘His mother?’ Stella could tell from her tone that Mom was confused. ‘Miss Dunne?’
‘Yes,’ answered Johnny’s mother. ‘It’s a long, complicated story, but Johnny is my son, and now we want to make a fresh start. I’m sorry that you and your family should be embroiled in it all.’
‘So well you might be,’ said Commander Radcliffe.
‘Do you realise there’s a truckload of Tans searching the hotel for Johnny right now?’ he said. ‘They could arrive here any minute, Stella. Have you any idea of the danger that puts us all in?’
‘Yes, Dad, I have. And I’m really scared. But it’s still less than the danger that Johnny put himself into yesterday morning. You might be dead now if it wasn’t for what he did.’
To his credit, she saw that her father looked abashed.
‘I am, of course, hugely grateful to you, Johnny,’ he said.
‘That’s OK, Commander.’
‘No it’s not OK. You took an enormous risk, and I’ll be forever thankful. But you were also involved in an operation that ended up with twelve of my colleagues dead. I can’t just write that off.’
‘Fourteen civilians were dead after Croke Park,’ said Stella.
‘I know that, love, and it’s appalling. But I still have a duty. I took an oath of allegiance to the King.’
‘May I say something?’ said Miss Dunne, and Stella looked at her, curious to hear her view.
‘You mightn’t like his cause, Commander, but Johnny had a duty, as he saw it. And he had an allegiance too. But for your sake he put it on hold. Can you not do the same? The fight is over for Johnny. Couldn’t you let a fourteen-year-old boy leave the country, to make a new start?’
Stella could see that her father was conflicted. Johnny and Miss Dunne looked anxious, but said nothing further, and Stella’s mother, who had been listening carefully, opened her mouth to speak. Before she got a word out, however, there was a sharp knock on the door. Stella felt her stomach constricting in fear. Then she rose at once as she heard the heard a key being inserted into the lock.
* * *
Alice opened the door to Stella’s room and started in shock. ‘Stella!’ she said. She had expected her friend to be upstairs in room nine. Instead she got a glimpse into the room and saw Johnny and Miss Dunne, as well as Commander and Mrs Radcliffe. Johnny looked different with black hair and glasses, but it was the presence of Commander Radcliffe that gave Alice a ray of hope.
Acting on instinct, she blocked the door with her body and turned to the Scottish sergeant. ‘Wing Commander Radcliffe is in the room with his daughter. Clearly you won’t need to search it now.’
The Tan seemed to consider this, then he spoke firmly. ‘Stand aside.’
‘Really, Sergeant, he’s a British officer, so surely…’
‘Surely nothing! I say where we search. Now stand aside.’
The sergeant was carrying a Webley revolver and was backed up by heavily-armed Tans, and Alice knew that defying him was pointless. Sickened to think of what lay ahead, she slowly stepped aside.
* * *
Johnny felt his pulses throbbing as the leader of the Tans, a sergeant, stepped into the room. He was followed by Alice and two of the other Tans, and although Stella’s bedroom was spacious, it was beginning to feel crowded.
‘We meet again, sir,’ said the sergeant. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, but you’ll understand that every room must be checked.’
‘Quite,’ answered Commander Radcliffe.
Johnny watched the RAF officer anxiously, trying to get a clue from his expression as to whether or not he would turn them in. Before Commander Radcliffe could say anything further, Johnny’s mother stepped forward, smilingly offering her hand for the Tan to shake.
‘Felicity Mackenzie,’ she said in a convincing North American accent.
The Tan looked slightly taken aback, but instinctively shook the proferred hand.
‘Sergeant Morris,’ he replied.
‘And this is my son, Wilfred,’ said Johnny’s mother.
Johnny gathered himself, then spoke up in the most convincing American accent he could produce. ‘How do you do, sir.’
Johnny sensed that the Tan wasn’t used to such courtesy during raids, and the man seemed a little surprised, but nodded back in greeting. Johnny was impressed by his mother’s initiative and grateful now for the hair dye and the glasses.
‘Can I ask what you’re doing here, Ma’am?’ said the Tan.
Johnny’s mother indicated the Radcliffes. ‘Saying goodbye to our old Yorkville neighbours, before travelling back to Canada. We were just about to say our farewells and head for the Dublin train, right, Wilf?’
‘Sure thing, Mom,’ answered Johnny in his American accent, using an expression he had heard from Stella.
‘Right,’ said the Tan. ‘Although…you don’t sound Canadian, sir,’ he said, turning to Commander Radcliffe.
Johnny swallowed hard. If Stella’s father was going to give them up, now was the moment. He could see Stella looking appealingly at him, but Johnny sensed from Commander Radcliffe’s demeanour that he was unsure about what to do.
For a second nobody spoke, and the agony of indecision seemed like an eternity to Johnny. Then, to his surprise, Stella’s mother intervened.
‘My husband is English, Sergeant, I’m the Canadian one,’ she said with a pleasant smile.
‘I see.’
‘Mrs Mackenzie and Wilfred were on holidays in Ireland, so we’ve been catching up on old times.’
Johnny felt hugely relieved and wanted to hug Mrs Radcliffe in gratitude. Then he looked back at Stella’s father. The tight expression on his face told Johnny that as a British officer he struggled with the thought of helping an enemy of the Crown to escape.
‘Wilfred was a great friend to Stella,’ continued Mrs Radcliffe, ‘and indeed to the family. Wasn’t he, Bernard?’ she said looking her husband in the eye.
Johnny knew that she was reminding him of what had happened at The Eastwood Hotel and he held his breath, unsure how Stella’s father would respond. There was a short pause, although again it seemed to Johnny to stretch interminably. Then Commander Radcliffe nodded curtly.
‘Yes, Wilfred was a true blue,’ he said.
Johnny felt like pumping his fist in victory, but settled for a modest smile of acknowledgement. ‘Thank you, Commander,’ he answered. He felt a flood of relief coursing through his system and had to tell himself not to relax – that they still had to talk their way out of the room.
‘So, you’re Stella?’ said the Tan, turning to face her.
‘Yes.’
‘And you would have known Johnny Dunne?’
‘Yes, we were friends.’
‘Friends?’
‘Well, we were in the same band, and we lived under the same roof, so we became pals.’
Johnny was surprised that Stella wasn’t playing down her association with him, and he wondered what her game was.
‘When was the last time you saw him?’ asked the Tan.
‘About a month ago.’
The Tan looked at her directly. ‘You’re sure you haven’t spoken to him since then?’
‘That was the last time I saw him, but I spoke to him today,’ said Stella.’
‘What?’
‘He rang me from Dublin to say a final goodbye. He was getting the train to Queenstown and then the boat to America.’
Johnny realised that Stella was deliberately laying a false trail, and he felt a surge of affection for her.
‘When was this telephone call?’ asked the Tan excitedly.
‘Earlier this morning.’
He turned to his men. ‘Private Barrett!’
‘Sarge?’
‘Go to reception and get on the phone. Put out an alert for Johnny Dunne at Queenstown. Both the train station and the harbour.’
‘Yes, sarge,’ said the man, hurrying from the room.
‘Why are you looking for Johnny?’ asked Stella innocently.
‘You didn’t know he was involved with the rebels?’ said the Tan.
‘No! Gosh. That’s…that’s terrible.’
Stella looked genuinely shocked, and Johnny was impressed both by her coolness and her acting skills.
‘We’re eager to talk to him,’ said the Tan, then he turned from Stella and addressed her father. ‘Forgive me, sir, but for form’s sake you’ll understand that we complete our search of the hotel. Including a quick search of these quarters.’
‘If you must,’ said Commander Radcliffe.
At a nod from the sergeant the other Tans moved to begin checking the bathroom and the wardrobes.
‘Well, we’ll say our farewells,’ said Johnny’s mother, and she kissed Mrs Radcliffe on the cheek, then shook hands with her husband.
Johnny followed suit, and Commander Radcliff locked eyes with him as they shook hands. There was a charged moment, with each of them aware of the risks that they had taken on each other’s behalf. Then Commander Radcliffe gave a quick nod, which Johnny returned.
‘Goodbye, Wilfred,’ said Alice. ‘And the very best of luck back in Canada. It’s been great meeting you.’
Even though she was trying to keep her tone light, as befitting a goodbye to a boy she didn’t know well, Johnny could hear the emotion in her voice. He wished that they could have a proper farewell, but he had to settle for squeezing her hand as he shook it.
‘Thanks, Alice,’ he said warmly. ‘You’ve…you’ve helped make my stay really special.’
‘Safe trip, Wilf,’ said Stella, approaching.
‘Thanks for everything, Stella,’ answered Johnny, looking at her meaningfully and trying to convey just how much he meant it. He could see a hint of tears welling up in her eyes and he felt a lump in his own throat. He squeezed hard as they shook hands, then Stella quickly reached out and hugged him. ‘Safe journey, Johnny,’ she whispered. ‘You’re a great friend.’
‘You too, Stella,’ he answered, then they separated, and Johnny turned away, afraid that his eyes too might well up.
His mother said goodbye to the girls, then lifted her suitcase and turned back to him.
‘OK, Wilf, time to go.’
Johnny lifted his suitcase also, but saw the sergeant looking at him quizzically.
‘Are you making for the train station?’ asked the Tan.
Johnny felt his throat going dry. For things to go wrong now would be unbearable. ‘Yes,’ he said trying to sound unworried. ‘Catching the Dublin train’.
‘You’re walking to the station? Carrying all that luggage?’
Johnny hesitated, unsure how to respond.
‘Gosh no!’ said his mother with a light laugh. ‘I’m not a pack horse, sergeant! The hotel porter will take it from reception.’
Johnny prayed that this would satisfy the Tan, though it was hard to tell from his face what he was thinking.
‘Right,’ said the Tan. ‘Well in that case, I’ll wish you a safe journey.’
‘Thank you, sergeant.’
Johnny breathed out in silent relief, then there was a flurry of final farewells and he followed his mother out the door. He felt sad to leave his friends, but thrilled to have fooled the Tans, and he walked briskly along the corridor, eager to make his getaway.