Page 84 of The Chef and the Countess

Liam, the young customer, and a couple more men fanned out onto Brick Lane. Inside, Liam seethed. This had gone too far. It had to stop--innocent people were getting hurt. As he swiftly gazed up and down the street, the young man pointed toward Chicksand Street.

“There’s one of them!”

Liam followed the young man; he had no idea where the other men had disappeared to. Liam and the young man caught up to the perpetrator, whose breathing sounded labored. The customer tackled the brick thrower to the ground.

“Get off me!” the brick thrower yelled.

Liam grabbed his collar and brought him to his feet. He looked like a wily little weasel, probably no more than five inches over five feet tall.

Liam turned toward the customer. “Thank you for the assistance, Mr.—?”

The young man removed his peaked cap. “Paul Tyler, guv.”

“Come, we’ll get this villain back to the restaurant. Lunch is on me.”

“I appreciate that and all, guv. What I want more is a job.”

“It just so happens that I’m hiring. Let’s go.”

Paul grabbed the brick thrower’s arm, Liam took the other, and they dragged him back to The Crowing Cock.

While they hurried along the walkway, Liam’s thoughts turned to his customers, especially those sitting by the windows. He hoped none had been severely injured. Flying pieces of glass were nothing to laugh at.

As he rounded the corner, his heart sank to see a crowd gathered at the front entrance. They pushed through the mob, keeping a firm hold of the brick thrower, who wriggled and strained, trying to escape.

Liam stepped inside. What a bloody mess. This latest stunt could very well kill his business for good. “Please! Nobody leaves until the police arrive!” he yelled. The chattering ceased, and everyone looked toward him.

At that moment, the two customers who followed Liam outside stepped into the restaurant with another man in tow. It was the bloke Liam saw holding the brick.

“We’ve got him, Mr. Hallahan!”

Well, two out of three was not bad. “Brilliant. Could you please sit him there and hold him?” Liam asked.

“Liam!” Celia ran toward him.

“Here,” Liam said to Paul Tyler. “Hold this idiot.”

Liam held out his arms, and Celia jumped into his embrace, kissing his face. The crowd grew quiet, except for a few shocked gasps. Liam didn’t care. Let the whole world see how much he loved this beautiful lady. “I’m fine, lass,” he whispered. With a last peck on the cheek, he released her.

“Tommy’s gone for the police. Luckily, Drew says no one is seriously injured, at least so far,” Celia said breathlessly. “Morrigan is looking after the kitchen, Hannah and Enya are assisting Drew.”

Bruce walked up to Liam. “What can I do to help?”

“Fetch some rope. We’ll tie these idiots to chairs until the police come.”

Bruce sprinted toward the kitchen.

“Where did he come from?” Liam whispered to Celia.

“He was with Fiona. In her room.”

All night? Interesting.

With the suspects tied, Liam shook hands with the men who had assisted him and was about to ask them to please stay so they could talk to the police when Morrisey and his constables arrived.

“Not again, Hallahan?” Morrisey said.

“Aye. This time, we caught two of the three offenders. And we have plenty of witnesses. The bricks are outside on the walkway.”