The Dreaded Workhouse. Danny McFaul

into these messes Vera?’ Julie wanted to know as she went towards her kitchen to brew a pot of tea. ‘I get in these situations because I have an eye for details, and I have a conscience,’ Vera replied. ‘Well your conscience will have to wait until tomorrow when we will go to the university after work. Drink your tea. Then we can get some sleep.’ Vera agreed to wait until the next evening hoping that Kirk might leave another note for her that night. But Vera wanted to know everything that Julie knew about Kirk. ‘Do you know any of Kirk’s friends here in Larne Julie?’ ‘No not really. I know that he had some connection with a girl who used to work as a reporter. She was a War Correspondent or whatever they call themselves, like Churchill was in the First War. She was in court about something or other. I think she got a short jail sentence but I am not sure about that.’ ‘You said that this female reporter and Kirk were connected. In what way are they connected are they related?’ ‘This lad worked part-time I believe between his studies and work at Larne Harbour.’ ‘What kind of work, as a labourer at the docks, do you mean?’ ‘I don’t know Vera it was just what I heard my mother say at the time. I personally was not remotely interested.’

      Kirk’s next birthday was in a month’s time, but he was not as happy as he was when his father was alive. Then, he knew that his birthday would be filled with love. Now, it was just like any other day that would come and go as always. A neighbour of his Foster Parents, who was a nurse at the local infirmary, told them to take Kirk to see a specialist at the hospital. The doctor gave him some pills, but he didn’t make any diagnosis at the time as he wanted to see how his illness and the treatment progressed.