Grissom looked even more annoyed. “Of course. Where are my manners? This is Mr. Aidan O’Hanlon. Aidan, this is Nora Sweeney, a friend of mine.”

My God, so this was Aidan O’Hanlon. I’d expected a much older man, fat and homely. This feller was gorgeous. I extended my hand. “Lovely to meet you, Mr. O’Hanlon,” I said, flashing my best smile.

He shook my hand and gave a slight bow. “Good afternoon, Miss Sweeney, a pleasure to meet you too.” He scrutinized my face, and I had to look away from his deep blue eyes. “I have a friend named Delia Sweeney. I suppose it’s too much of a coincidence to think you might know her. I understand she had a sister named Nora, but alas, she was drowned on the Titanic.”

Jesus, I thought. First Kearney and now O’Hanlon.

I struggled not to give myself away. “No, I can’t say I do.”

He smiled. “No matter. I understand it’s a common name in Ireland. Her family is from Donegal. You?”

I thought quickly. “No, I hail from Cork, Mr. O’Hanlon,” I said. Grissom cleared his throat. “I must be going, Miss Sweeney,” he said.

I swung around. I’d almost forgotten he was there.

“And I must be going too,” I said sweetly. “Goodbye, Mr. O’Hanlon.”

Grissom escorted me back to the car.

“What was all that business about me being a friend? Why didn’t you say we work together?”

“Don’t be such a fool, Nora. He’ll know soon enough what you are up to. I didn’t want him to connect me with you.”

“What I am up to? Don’t you mean what we are up to?”

Grissom pushed me roughly into the car. “You need to mind your own business,” he said.

As he turned to go, he paused and looked back at me. “And don’t be getting ideas about O’Hanlon. He’s spoken for with that Delia. And you have work to do. Mr. Sullivan wouldn’t like to hear you’re not following his orders.”

I banged the door shut and shouted at the driver to go. I needed to get away from here, and fast. I closed my eyes and sighed. What had I got myself into? Grissom was a dangerous character, and so was Sullivan. I let my thoughts wander to Delia. Surely she must be in love with Aidan O’Hanlon. What girl wouldn’t be? I hoped I was wrong. I hoped that O’Hanlon had a dark side and Delia wanted rid of him. I comforted myself with that thought because I really didn’t want to hurt Delia. By the time I reached Dallas I realized that I felt well and truly trapped.

Delia

Delia