Read Scandal in Skibbereen for Free Online

building, where he lived in two rooms on the ground floor. Once he was safely in the door, she turned and pulled open the door to Sullivan’s. Things looked under control, with maybe fifteen people scattered around the room. Mick was behind the bar and looked up when she came in, but he was deep in conversation with two men she sort of recognized. She came around the end of the bar and stashed her bag underneath, then started collecting glasses and taking orders, greeting the regulars she recognized along the way. More of them than a month ago, she was happy to see. The longer days were bringing out the locals as well as the tourists. What’s more, somehow the rain had stopped while she wasn’t looking, and that would help too.
    Althea came in a few minutes later and dropped onto a bar stool. She eyed Mick, behind the bar, with obvious appreciation. “Who’s that?” she asked, when Maura came over to talk to her.
    “Mick Nolan. He works here, part-time.”
    “Single?”
    “Yes.”
    “You aren’t . . . ?” Althea left the question unfinished, watching Maura’s expression.
    “Nope. He works for me, period. You want anything else to drink?” Maura asked. She wondered what more Althea could want from her, now that Billy had told her what she wanted to know.
    “No, thanks. Like you said, I’m supposed to be driving. Any idea where I can find a room for the night? Or next several nights? I was going to try the inn but I don’t think Ann Sheahan liked me much.”
    “What did you expect? You were kind of rude to her. Her husband’s family has been running that place for over a century. You can’t treat her like the hired help.”
    “How was I supposed to know?”
    “Well, if you want people to help you, it might be a good idea to be nice to them.”
    “I know, I’m making a mess of this. All I can say is, I’m at the end of my rope, I guess. I’ll try to do better. Is Billy’s information accurate?”
    Maura shrugged. “Got me. I’m the new kid, remember? Probably—he’s a pretty honest guy—but you were kind of rude to him too, so he might have mixed up a few details.”
    Althea sighed. “I’m not handling this very well, am I? I just seem to go around offending everyone without meaning to. Are you pissed at me too?”
    “Not really. But I think you need to take it down a notch. This isn’t New York.”
    “I can’t blame you for being skeptical, I guess. Here I come out of nowhere with this ridiculous story about a lost artwork, and then I expect instant answers so I can go home and impress the art world. It’s pretty unlikely, isn’t it?”
    “It is. But this is Ireland, and even in a couple of months I’ve learned that unlikely things happen here a lot. I wouldn’t give up yet.”
    “If you say so. Where are the best places to stay around here?”
    Maura herself had first stayed at the Keohanes’ place down the road when she arrived, but Althea definitely didn’t seem the B&B type. “Depends on what you’re willing to spend. There’s a nice modern conference center in Rosscarbery—you probably drove past it on your way here.”
    “How far?”
    “Maybe half an hour, by the main road. Or you might try the West Cork Hotel—maybe they’ll have a room for you.”
    “And where’s that? Because I really don’t feel like driving when it gets dark.”
    “It’s in Skibbereen.”
    “Where?”
    “It’s the next town from here. Didn’t you get a map when you picked up the car?”
    “Yes, but I’ve barely had time to look at it. And I can’t make the GPS work because I don’t even know what address to put in. So, please, tell me, how do I find Skibbereen?”
    At least she’d asked nicely. “Go out and keep following that road there.” Maura pointed out the window toward the right. “Follow it for about five minutes—you’ll go past a gas station called Connolly’s on the right—and you’ll come to a small roundabout. When you come to it, go straight out the other