“Oh, I know,” Regan said. “You didn’t check out either?”

“No, we didn’t,” Sheila croaked.

“Quick question. Jack and I are investigating the theft of May Reilly’s tablecloth. We saw your names on the list of people who ran in the Fun Run last November, here in Galway.”

“Great race,” Brian interjected.

“Do you remember anything unusual about that day? The couple we’re looking for may have run that race.”

“No,” they answered.

“We just ran the race and went right back to the hotel. It was freezing,” Brian explained.

“Well, have a good dinner. I’m sure we’ll see you back at the castle. If you think of anything, let me know.”

“We will,” Sheila said feebly as Regan hurried to join her group.

“This is a first,” Brian said. “But I think I just lost my appetite.” He was silent for a moment. “You don’t think she overheard us, do you?” he asked.

“I can’t wait to hear Gerard Reilly’s show,” Anna said anxiously, turning their high-tech stereo to the radio setting.

Bobby barely responded. He was sprawled on the couch where he had parked himself right after they arrived home. Anna had waited on him hand and foot ever since, serving him the chicken soup, cups of tea, crackers, water, cookies, another cup of soup, more crackers. He was milking his dental debacle for everything it was worth. “I’m cold,” he whined.

With a glint in her eye, Anna walked over to the chair near the couch, grabbed May Reilly’s priceless tablecloth-which was large enough to cover an extremely long banquet-sized table-and playfully covered him with it.

Like a cranky child, Bobby threw it on the floor. “It’s too heavy.”

Anna had about as much as she could take. “How about another blueberry pancake before I sit down?” she snapped.

Bobby knew immediately that he had pushed things too far. “I’m sorry,” he said contritely, reaching up his arms. “Let’s cuddle while we listen to that blabbermouth’s show.”

Anna took a moment to pout.

“Come on,” Bobby pleaded, waving his arms. “Pretty please?”

“Well, all right,” she said in a sulking tone. “I’ll turn out the lights first so there are no distractions. I want to concentrate on every word Jack Reilly says and every nuance in his voice. He was down in this area for a reason, and I’d love to know what it is-not that he’s going to reveal anything.” Anna had been a wreck since the Jack Reilly sighting outside the general store. It hadn’t bothered Bobby much. But, then again, he had slept through the whole thing.

“There he was…in the flesh!” Anna had yelped when she jumped into the car and sped off. “I almost had a conniption.”

Anna had flicked on the car radio to hear if there were any updates on the investigation. There were none, but they heard the promo touting Regan and Jack’s appearance on Gerard Reilly’s show, as well as the man who discovered the Claddagh rings in his basement. In the several hours they were home, it was all Anna could think about. While Bobby fussed and moaned, she watched the clock, waiting for Gerard’s show to begin. She hadn’t looked forward to a program so much since she was a child counting the hours until the annual showing of The Wizard of Oz on television. Finally, there were only five minutes before Gerard’s program would start.

“Anna,” Bobby said, sounding as sweet as pie, “I just have one more teeny, tiny request before you join me.”

“What?” she asked flatly.

“Would you mind getting us a blanket?”

Anna nodded. She picked up May Reilly’s tablecloth off the floor, tossed it back on the chair, and hurried toward the bedroom. A moment later she was back with a down comforter. She covered Bobby, who this time was most grateful, turned off the lights, and finally lay down next to him. There they were, in a darkened little cottage on a bleak night in the west of Ireland, spooned together on the couch.

“This is like the olden days,” Anna said, “before television was invented. People would gather together around a radio and listen to dramas.”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Bobby asked. “I know all about radio shows. My mother said she had a crush on the Lone Ranger.”

The opening music for Gerard’s show began to play. It was a jaunty tune about six seconds long. Next, Gerard introduced himself and, as was his custom, began with a joke.

“What’s the definition of an Irish gentleman?” Gerard’s voice boomed through the speakers. “A man who knows how to play the bagpipes-but doesn’t!”

“I like bagpipes,” Anna remarked, “except when they get too loud.”

“I can’t stand them,” Bobby declared.

“Good evening ladies, gentlemen, and bagpipe players,” Gerard said with a chuckle. “Tonight we have the most interesting guests. One of them I just happen to be related to…”

Anna and Bobby listened with rapt attention as Jack and Regan Reilly related the history of Jane and John Doe, the crime at Hennessy Castle, and the story of May Reilly and her tablecloth.

“Here you are on your honeymoon with my lovely cousin, Regan,” Gerard said to Jack, “and these two scallywags are causing trouble for ya.”

“They have a personal vendetta against me, that’s for sure,” Jack answered.

“You can be sure May Reilly will have a personal vendetta against them!” Gerard said. “Legend has it she haunts Hennessy Castle because she was never paid for that tablecloth. Now that it’s gone, she’ll be even more perturbed. Jane and John Doe had better watch out.”

“I’ll rip it up and use it as cleaning rags,” Anna said spitefully. “Then I’ll tell May Reilly to come and get me. I don’t believe in ghosts.”

“What can our listeners do to help?” Gerard asked. “We don’t know if Jane and John Doe are still in Ireland, but let’s suppose they are. Is there anything in particular our listeners should be on the lookout for?”

“Unfortunately, they are average-looking people who are very good at disguising themselves,” Jack answered.

Anna sighed.

“I think you’re beautiful,” Bobby whispered in her ear.

“Sssshhhhhhh.”

“So there’s no scar, no tattoo, nothing to distinguish them physically?” Gerard asked.

“Now there is,” Bobby grumbled. “This friggin tooth.”

“Not physically, but as I mentioned to you before the show, we-” Jack said.

Anna grabbed Bobby’s arm.

“-have reason to believe that the man has a very peculiar laugh.”

“What?” Bobby shouted.

“I told you!” Anna said with disgust. “All the work I do on our disguises, and you’re going to blow our cover with that stupid laugh of yours.”

“It’s genetic. It’s the way my father laughed.”

“Shhhhhh. Let’s listen!”

“Yes, you did tell me about the laugh, Jack. And, listeners, we have a young lady on the phone who does an imitation of this strange laugh. She had contact with a couple who Jack Reilly has reason to believe might be Jane and John Doe. For her protection we won’t reveal her name. Are you there, honey?”

“Yes. Hello, Gerard. Hello, Jack. Hello, Regan.”

They all exchanged greetings.

“Can you laugh the laugh for us?”

“Certainly. Henh, henh. Henh, henh. Henh, henh, henh.”

“She’s got you down,” Anna said.

“My laugh doesn’t sound anything like that!” Bobby protested.

“Yes, it does.”

Gerard thanked the girl and asked if she’d do the laugh a few more times.

“Henh, henh, henh, henh. Henh, henh, henh. Henh, henh, henh.”

“Thanks again, dear,” Gerard said. “We really appreciate your help.”

Regan and Jack added their thanks.

“Gerard,” Regan said, “we want to be clear that the person who laughed like that is not definitively John Doe. But if any of your listeners heard a man laugh like that who possibly fits the description of John Doe, please call the garda. We’re in communication with them.”

“They can call this radio station as well,” Gerard said, reciting the special phone number they had set up for calls. “As I said, we want to do everything we can to help find these two thieves and let you two get back to enjoying your honeymoon trip to Ireland. Regan and Jack, please stay with us while I bring on my next guest, Shane Magillicuddy…”