Star Sullivan by Maeve Binchy Read Free Book Online Page B

euro or more would be home and dry. Shay had access. But it would mean getting it back from Laddy that same day. The day of the big birthday party next door. Not good timing, not an easy thing to do, especially since Shay had assured Laddy that he would never gamble again. And had it not been for the certainty of this greyhound, he never would have wanted to.
    He thought it all through slowly and came to a decision. It wasn’t worth all the hassle of trying to lay his hands on the cash. What was it in the end except either more or less money? Hehad enough other things going well for him in life.
    Molly wasn’t working double shifts in the supermarket any more, she was well and happy. Often she would sit with her legs up on a footstool, reading little bits about famous people out of the papers.
    His eldest son Kevin was not only speaking to him again, but had come to work in the same hotel as Shay. Together they were planning to set up a health-food snack bar in the leisure centre. The boy was marrying that nice Gemma next year. All was good on that front.
    Lilly was cured of her terrible eating problems and she now had a nice young man who was a journalist. He had even arranged for her to do some fashion shoots once she had put on a little more weight.
    Michael hadn’t been in any kind of trouble for months now. He had a great job as a driver, which paid very well.
    Little Star had this Kenny from the supermarket completely mad about her, according to Molly. She didn’t hang around the garden any more hoping to catch a glimpse of Laddy.
    And suppose he
did
have a big win? Whatwould it mean? That he would have 40,000 euro safe in Laddy Hale’s hands rather than 9,000 euro, which he already had. What would he buy? Nothing, really. The days were gone when he would put it all on another animal before sunset. Better leave his nest egg, don’t disturb things. It was safe where it was.
    Well, he supposed it was safe. Shay remembered that Laddy was hardly a pillar of the law. But the boy would never have run off with Shay’s winnings. He wouldn’t do that, surely? Of course he
had
slept with Star, which made Shay a little uneasy. She was so young and trusting, but then, young girls nowadays? There was no telling them. And from all accounts Star had been willing, very willing.
    But somehow the faintly uneasy feeling about Laddy persisted all afternoon, and even as Shay stood beside him, turning lamb chops, bacon and sausages on the barbecue, he felt sudden doubts about the boy.
    ‘There’s a sure thing at Harold’s Cross tonight,’ he said eventually.
    Laddy smiled at him lazily. ‘Ah, you’re over all that sort of stuff Shay,’ he said.
    ‘It never quite goes away,’ Shay said.
    ‘So?’ Laddy asked.
    ‘So if I were to ask you for my money, would you have it?’ Shay asked.
    ‘Sorry?’ Laddy was puzzled.
    ‘You heard me, Laddy, if I wanted my money that you are minding for me, would you have it?’
    ‘Well, what do
you
think? Do you think I still have it, or do you think that I spent it or stole it or what?’ Laddy was angry now. Blustering, Shay thought.
    ‘No, of course not, I just wondered, like . . . Do you have it in the house?’
    ‘Do you want it for tonight? To throw it all on a dog, is that what you’re saying?’
    ‘No, I’m saying
suppose
I did want it, how soon could I have it?’
    ‘Monday morning,’ Laddy said coldly.
    ‘But not now?’
    ‘Monday morning.’ Laddy’s face was hard. ‘Do you want it then, or not?’
    ‘No, I told you, it’s only a matter of asking you about it. What’s the point of you keeping it in cash for me if I can’t get it whenever I want it?’
    ‘Like a couple of hours before the greyhoundscome out of the trap at Harold’s Cross? Oh yeah?’ Laddy said scornfully.
    ‘You’ve got me wrong,’ Shay began.
    ‘Yes, I see I must have,’ Laddy said, and the sunshine seemed to go out of the day.
    Laddy was talking to Molly. ‘Is Star going out with Kenny the