Maguire eyed him over the rim of his beer stein. “That’s the good news.”
“What’s the bad news?”
Maguire cracked his neck. “Enough to bury you, my friend. If you know what I mean.”
Zach splayed his hands. “Enlighten me.”
Maguire took a long swallow of ale. “Tell you a story…but I’m sure you know the rest. Your friend Dyer has bankrolled you. If you don’t finish on time…he withdraws financial support. You can’t pay him back. Especially with the damages you’ve just incurred. You lose your patent. You lose everything. He takes the patent and with his unlimited resources builds your invention and makes a ton of money. Dyer is your enemy. He bankrolled the Whyos.”
“It’s what I guessed. I’m looking for security. I need guards at the factory. How much compensation do you require?” asked Zach. He was digging himself a hole.
“You saved my life. What’s more, I won’t hear the end of it from my sister unless I help you. For now, nothing until you get back on your feet. Then you can pay me.”
“What do you have available?”
“My men are as tough as any to be found in the city. You’ll never find them in church, but they are loyal to me and you can trust them absolutely. Anything else?”
“I’d prefer them armed.”
“My men carry pistols, Mr. Rourke. Latest model Colts. Some of ‘em got rifles. And they’re all sharpshooters. We’re a match for anything that’s out there. Fists or knives or billies or broken bottles, even sharpened teeth…none of it can compete with bullets. I’ll have men guarding the foundry and any shipments you require.”
An Irish army. This was exactly what Zachary needed.
Maguire bottomed out his mug in one gulp, slammed it down and rose. “We’ve had a few disagreements with the Whyos that haven’t been settled. My men are bored and looking for a good fight.”
Zach made it back to his factory, thinking about his conversation at Flanigan’s. Maguire had not informed him of anything he didn’t know. Dyer was behind everything. Zach was new to the city and didn’t have a clear idea how to maneuver with the many factions. He was learning quick. At least now, he’d have security he could count on.
With Maguire’s gang behind him he felt confident, playing along with the baddies. For the Irish, they loved a good fight. The bigger the dust-up, the more it suited them.
Shawn came up beside him. “Come, my brother, oracle. What does your future bring?”
“Only that my plans are not on hold. Full steam ahead. Devil take the hindmost.”
Shawn was quiet for a moment, then said, “Sounds impressive, Zachary, but you’re venturing into unexplored territory. Keep in mind what the old sailing charts used to say. Unknown waters, here there be demons.”
“Then I’ve hired the worst of demons.”
O’Reilly came up beside them, pointed with the stem of his pipe. “Thrown into the clutches of Dyer is like being thrown into the clutches of Cerberus. If I had one-thousandth of the cash he doesn’t need, I’d deviate my life to honing limericks, and enchanting with my charm, feeding little cooing mourning doves from my hand.” He nodded his head. “See the men, all of them are eating Ms. Li’s food.”
Zachary let out a low whistle. The Irish were eating Lian Li’s food and raving about it. Zach did a double take. The Chinese and the Irish were picking up the rubble, sorting through what they could salvage. Both factions working together? He had asked for a sign. The miracle seen for his eyes and ears was the proof he needed of the divine, an intelligent and good universe. Out of the apocalypse came the bindings of the human spirit, yet with all the destruction they appeared defeated.
“I want to speak to you men.” He had dozens of eyes locked on him. He must purge the shadow of negativity.
Zach planted his feet wide. “We have had a setback. But a setback is the beginning of a great comeback.” Zach scanned every man in the crowd, letting his breathy southern vowels nip at awkward angles of the strident northern voices all around him. Waiting for his words to do their job and all the combined attention back to where he stood. “United. That word should have new meaning for us today. We can’t be consumed by petty differences anymore. We will be united in common interests. We are fighting for our right to live, to prosper, to exist. We will not give up without a fight. We will survive and we will rebuild.”
The men hooted and hollered.
“That’s what I want to hear. Let’s get back to work men.”
The problem was obtaining financing from another source before Dyer closed on him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Afew days later, Elizabeth, with Fiona in tow and emboldened by their first visit, decided to pay Zachary and O’Reilly a call. The men were occupied in the back, so the foreman escorted the two women up to the office. The door closed, shutting out the clanking of machinery and shouts of workers.
At a high desk sat a small man with a considerable paunch, to which he unwisely drew attention by draping a heavy brass chain across his expanse. He possessed an unfortunate, ferret-like face, with close-together dark eyes, accentuating his long and pointed nose. The bookkeeper nodded and continued with his work, electing to remain in silence.
Fiona took a seat. Elizabeth decided to stroll about the office. Natural light flowed in from the muntin windows on the southern wall, rendering crisscrossing shadows on the floor. Maps and mechanical drawings were tacked to the walls. A massive table hosted more drawings. In addition to the bookkeeper’s desk, there existed a large rolltop desk, a clock, two old and walnut-framed Currier and Ives lithographs, one of a ship, and the other a homey family scene that gave her pause.Her heart clenched. How wonderful it would be to live in a loving household.
