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    The O'Brien: The Untold Story: A Ballysea Mystery
    The O'Brien: The Untold Story: A Ballysea Mystery
    The O'Brien: The Untold Story: A Ballysea Mystery
    Ebook102 pages1 hour

    The O'Brien: The Untold Story: A Ballysea Mystery

    By Frances Powell

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    About this ebook

    Return again to Ballysea, Ireland and join Cat Murphy as she attempts to solve the mystery of The O'Brien's past. With the aid of her best friend, Jeff Hunter, they uncover a tangled web of deceit and murder that will change Cat's life forever and place those she loves in grave danger.

    Will The O'Brien be able to stop the killer before he commits more murders or will Cat lose her beloved companion forever?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateSep 16, 2016
    ISBN9781483581446
    The O'Brien: The Untold Story: A Ballysea Mystery

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      Book preview

      The O'Brien - Frances Powell

      Chapter 1

      He had chosen her. It was as simple as that.

      He seemed to have appeared out of nowhere to bring help to an unconscious Catherine (Cat) Murphy, as she lay dangerously close to the incoming tide of the Chesapeake Bay. Cat and her now best friend, Jeff Hunter, the stranger the big dog alerted to Cat’s fall, could never understand how an Irish Wolfhound as magnificent as The O’Brien could go missing without his owner searching for him. Nevertheless, despite their best efforts to locate the owner, no one had come forward to claim the giant of a dog. It was then Cat decided she and The O’Brien were meant to be together.

      When Cat moved from Annapolis, Maryland to the west coast Irish village of Ballysea after her marriage ended there was no question; The O’Brien was going with her. Death seemed to stalk Cat as she and The O’Brien became entangled in one mysterious death after another. When things threatened to turn deadly, The O’Brien was always there to protect and save his mistress.

      With summer passing and the days growing shorter, Cat and The O’Brien spent more time inside the whitewashed cottage they called home. The small cozy home sat at the end of the narrow lane wedged between the sea to the front and the cliffs behind. As the evenings grew cooler, Cat often sat in front of the open fire in her parlor with The O’Brien at her feet as she typed away on her laptop trying to complete her latest novel. It was on one of these evenings Cat looked down at the sleeping hound and said, Out of all the mysteries we have encountered since we’ve met, you my dear are the oldest and the only one unsolved.

      No one knew where The O’Brien had come from and what had led him to Cat that day. The only thing Cat knew for sure was he had a keen sense of knowing when someone was in need and he had a deep and abiding love of children, especially young girls.

      It was on this very night Cat decided with the help of her friend, Jeff Hunter, a well-respected attorney in Annapolis, she would attempt to spend some time trying to solve the mystery surrounding The O’Brien’s past. The investigation was to lead Cat on a journey, which would change the course of her life forever.

      The next morning over coffee with her friend and neighbor, Maureen, she began to list everything she could think of that might help to unravel the story of The O’Brien’s life before that day over two years ago. Cat and Maureen had become close friends shortly after Cat’s arrival in Ballysea when the red haired, freckle-faced Maureen had shown up at her front door bearing freshly baked scones for her new neighbor. A tradition of sharing morning coffee and scones began that morning and continued to this day.

      I still cannot understand how someone wouldn’t be devastated by the loss of their dog, especially one such as himself here, said Cat while she patted the wiry head of The O’Brien as he sat by her side at the table hoping for a dropped crumb.

      I agree. Have you ever noticed how he is with the girls? asked Maureen.

      Cat stirred her coffee and thought about how The O’Brien would leave her side to be close to Marian, the daughter of Edward Granville one of the brothers who owned the manor just outside Ballysea and how the hound always seem to stare at the schoolyard when Maureen’s daughter, Caitlin, was due to come home.

      Laughing now, Cat said, Absolutely, he is devoted to them especially your Caitlin and Edward’s Marian. Every time one of them appears, I get deserted for a younger woman.

      Knowing Cat’s move to Ireland was prompted at least in part by her husband’s desertion of their 20 year marriage for a woman young enough to be their daughter, Maureen simply lowered her gaze, nodded and continued sipping her coffee.

      If Cat was aware of Maureen’s sudden discomfort she gave no indication and just reached down and lifting The O’Brien’s big face to hers asked, So big guy, tell us your secret. Where did you come from, eh?

      The O’Brien’s only response was a rather messy dog kiss that covered most of Cat’s face.

      Maureen passed her friend a tissue to wipe her face and giggling said, You rather asked for that you know.

      I know. I was thinking I might give Jeff a call later and ask him to check for any local missing person reports and deaths around Annapolis about the time The O’Brien appeared. I keep thinking if his owner was still alive or there was any chance he could find him or her, then he wouldn’t have stayed with me, stated Cat.

      I keep coming back to his devotion to young girls. I may be way off base but I can’t help but think he had a young girl he called his own. Maybe Jeff could start looking there first. At least that would narrow things down a bit, volunteered Maureen as she got up from the table and headed for the door and home.

      Good idea! I’ll let you know what our great legal mind thinks of our deductions, said Cat chuckling as she walked her friend to the door.

      Later that day, once Cat was certain Jeff would be home from his office, she phoned.

      Hi Jeff, how are you? asked Cat.

      Hey Cat, I’m fine. You OK? asked Jeff beginning to pace the room nervously. He was always worried when Cat called instead of messaged. It usually meant trouble.

      I’m good. Maureen and I were talking this morning about The O’Brien and we were wondering if you could do some research for us.

      Sure Cat as long as this isn’t something that’s going to land you smack in the middle of trouble again.

      I wouldn’t think so. You know I’ve never understood why we were unable to find his owners despite all the searching we did and I think perhaps it must be his owner is either dead or mistreated him.

      Reaching down and putting his phone on speaker, Jeff wandered into the kitchen and poured a glass of wine as he continued, I would partially agree with that deduction.

      Why partially?

      I think if someone had mistreated him they would have gotten the worse of it, don’t you?

      She looked down at the massive animal by her feet Cat and smiled as she replied, I guess you’re right on that point. He is rather large even for a Wolfhound. The owner of the bitch he mated with requested a DNA because she was sure he was mixed with mastiff because of his weight.

      Chuckling now as he sipped his wine Jeff replied, That may have more to do with the quantity of treats he gets from all the good town folks but I was thinking more of his large mouth full of sharp fangs.

      Cat asked, So, can you check the local papers and see if anything happened around the time The O’Brien mysteriously showed up?

      Sure Cat, no problem. This is one mystery I’ll be happy to help you solve. I just hope we don’t find an owner who wants him back.

      Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Cat replied, "I never thought of that. It never occurred to me his owner could be alive.

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