Free Safe House by James Heneghan

“How are you, lovey? Are you all right? How’s your foot?”
    â€œI just called to talk to Rory.”
    â€œBut you’re all right, yes?”
    â€œI’m fine, Mrs. Cassidy. Everything’s fine.”
    â€œWe’re just back from ten o’clock Mass. I’ll get him, hold on.”
    â€œLiam! Is it yourself?”
    â€œIt is. I get one call a day. This is it.”
    â€œI’m honored indeed.”
    â€œSo you should be. Your mum said you just got in from Mass. So this is Sunday, am I right?”
    â€œIt’s Sunday, yes.” He sounded puzzled.
    â€œDid you go to YC yesterday?”
    â€œI did.”
    â€œWas anyone…asking for me?”
    â€œAsking for you? No. Nobody was asking for you.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œWho were you thinking might be asking for you?”
    â€œNo one special. I just thought maybe…Nicole?”
    â€œNicole! Ah! You’re right. Nicole was asking for you. I forgot.”
    â€œYou’re a jerk, Rory, you know that?”
    Rory laughed. “I am. You’re right. Sorry, Liam.”
    â€œWhat did she say?”
    â€œNothing much. Just wanted to know if you’re all right.”
    â€œAnd what did you tell her?”
    â€œTold her you’re all right.”
    â€œYou know what, Rory? Talking to you is like spitting into the wind.”
    He laughed. “Ma is getting a bed for you to put in my room.”
    â€œThat’ll be great.” He made an effort to sound cheerful, like his usual self. “So long as you don’t leave your stinking socks on the floor.”
    â€œHa!” said Rory. “You should talk. Don’t your own socks reek like rotten fish? Though it’s not the smell so much. It’s the way it makes…”
    â€œâ€¦your eyes smart,” Liam finished for him. “Yes, I know, Rory. You’re like a broken record.”
    They had used the same lines and gags on each other ever since they were little kids.
    â€œYou’re so funny,” said Rory. “Did I mention that everyone asks about you? You’re a big hero around here: on the run from the Prod militants. You’ve made me famous. Like mad cow disease.”
    â€œThat’s enough now,” shouted Moira Grogan from the kitchen.
    â€œTell Nicole, when you see her that I…”
    â€œHang up!” yelled Moira Grogan.
    â€œTell her I will be back soon, and…”
    â€œYou could tell her yourself by giving her a call.”
    â€œI don’t have her number.”
    â€œDo you hear me, boy? I said hang up!”
    â€œShe wrote it down for you to call her. I have it here.”
    â€œRory! You’re such an idiot. Why didn’t you say? Wait; I’ll get a pencil and write it down.” He hurried into the living room and grabbed pencil and paper. Moira Grogan looked like she was about to burst. Liam ignored her, picked up the phone again, and wrote down Nicole’s number. “Okay, Rory, I have it. I gotta go.”
    â€œTake care of yourself, boyo.”
    â€œI will.” He hung up the phone. It was still early in the day. It might be a good time to catch Nicole at home. He started dialing her number.
    Moira Grogan came marching out of the living room, furious, a cigarette dangling from her lips. “Hang up the phone. You had your call. It’s only one call a day, remember?” She reached for the telephone. Liam stopped dialing and turned his back on her. She screamed at him, “Hang up that phone, right now, you hear?”
    â€œThere’s another friend I have to call.”
    â€œOne call a day. Don’t you understand?”
    â€œYou owe me from the days I didn’t come down.”
    She lunged for the phone. He held it away from her.
    She pushed him and he staggered backward. The woman was heavy and surprisingly strong. The telephone receiver fell and dangled on its cord, swinging against the wall. He stepped