Elizabeth gasped.
“Is he still unconscious? Zach asked.
Chen appeared in the doorway. His face was swollen, and he possessed several cuts and bruises. As a Shaolin monk, he’d never complain of his injuries, for he was taught to withstand all manner of pain. “Li is coming around. His son, Wen will look after him.”
Zach turned to Elizabeth. “You shouldn’t be here. It could be dangerous. I believe Mr. O’Reilly’s shoulder is dislocated. He’ll need a doctor.”
“Forget about me,” said O’Reilly. “What we need is muscle. I heard of a gang lord by the name of Maguire. Fiona is a Maguire. Knowing the Irish underground, she might have a way to send a message to him.”
Zachary looked to Elizabeth. “If Fiona could get a message right away, I’d be beholden to her. Tell her to have this fellow meet me at Flanigan’s Oyster Bar.”
“As soon as I deliver Mr. O’Reilly to the doctor and get Fiona, I’ll be right back,” said Elizabeth.
“I don’t want you involved for many reasons,” he said, brooking no disagreement from his command. He waited for Elizabeth to get settled in her coach, but when he turned his back, didn’t the darned woman make a detour inside his plant.
Chen took hold of O’Reilly’s bad arm, scrutinized it. “Patience,” was all he allowed. He grabbed O’Reilly’s wrist and yanked.
Tears sprang in the Irishman’s eyes. “What the hell? May the devil choke you.” In Gaelic, O’Reilly bludgeoned the Chinaman with a myriad of curses.
“Arm is back,” said Chen.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, you could have warned me. Rubbing his arm, O’Reilly glared at the Chinaman. “I am going to kill you for that.”
Chen smiled. “You could try, but I rather have your affection, besides I have much faith that you will not.”
O’Reilly snorted. “Like so many. Rest now, my friend. Heaven can wait. And hell is too small for you.” He then he limped to Zachary. “I suppose I could’ve asked the new men to sleep at the factory. Didn’t ’cause they have families and–”
“You and the men are paid to make engines not do guard duty,” Zach said grimly. “It’s my job to protect my business, and you can be sure that after this I shall.”
“That’ll be a good thing, Mr. Rourke, but what I didn’t tell you…”
“Go on.” Zach steeled himself for what he knew was going to worse news. “Tell me now.”
“It’s four of the new engines we had ready to ship. Smashed ‘em up right proper and nothing we could do to stop ‘em.”
When Zachary didn’t see Elizabeth reappear, he ducked inside the plant. He didn’t want her around where the Whyos could reappear, and he needed to think without worrying about her safety. Soon he saw a tawny gold head helping a limping Mr. Li, his arm slung around her shoulder and his son helping him from the other side.
“Get in the carriage, Mr. Li, I insist,” Elizabeth directed and per her orders, Chen lifted Mr. Li into the carriage. Wen followed.
She spoke to Zachary through the window. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“I need this Maguire fellow right away.”
“If he’s part of the underworld, hooking up with a man like him is like dealing with the devil.”
“We have no other options. All the angels are gone. There’re only the devils left.”
“I’ll get a message to Fiona, and then I’ll get the men to a doctor. That will be less people you have to worry about.” She tapped the side of the carriage, and the driver took off.
Zach raised his brows. Now that was something you’d not see every day. An aristocrat helping Chinese immigrants.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Zach left Chen to supervise the plant and headed to South Street. Flanigan’s was typical of many oyster bars on the waterfront and busy with the lunchtime crowd. Zachary’s eyes adjusted to the dim interior, his stomach growling for a quick half-dozen and a glass of beer.
In case Fiona was unsuccessful in contacting Maguire, Zachary placed his few remaining coins on the counter and gave the bartender a conciliatory smile. In a flash, the money disappeared as if it were an insect and the bartender’s fingers like the darting tongue of a chameleon. “I’m looking for Patrick Maguire.”
The bartender’s eyes flashed wide. “Don’t know the fella and I don’t want any trouble.”
