Jacqueline: Kelly Clan, #1

By D.M. SORLIE

In the gripping novel "Jacquline" by D.M. Sorlie, readers are transported to the city of Belfast, Ireland, during the tumultuous year of 1941. As German bombs rain down upon the city, the British utilize the port to safeguard vital supply convoys crossing the treacherous Atlantic. Amidst this backdrop of destruction and chaos, a dark secret unfolds.

The story begins with a young boy who witnesses a chilling murder within the confines of a church-run orphanage. Filled with fear and desperation, he flees with his brother aboard a ship bound for America, seeking refuge from the horrors they have witnessed. However, their journey across the ocean becomes an emotional trial, fraught with jealousy, hate, espionage, and even more murder.

As war ravages the world, it has a way of transforming young men into brave soldiers. Colin, the protagonist of this tale, finds his unrecorded childhood and exceptional chess skills sought after by British intelligence. In a thrilling twist, chess games become entangled with the mysteries of war, as Colin navigates a web of deceit and danger.

D.M. Sorlie masterfully weaves together the intricate threads of chess, murder, and the enigmas of war in this ingenious novel. With each turn of the page, readers will be captivated by the suspenseful plot, richly drawn characters, and the haunting atmosphere of a world on the brink of destruction.
"Jacquline" is a compelling tale that explores the depths of human nature and the enduring power of hope, and love, even in the darkest of times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Enchanted Island Publishing
• Release date: Nov 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223214847

D.M. SORLIE

D.M. is a native Arizonan living in Scottsdale, traveling has inspired several of his books throughout the years, including historical fiction, especially with a mystery thrown in.   Sue Lee Mysteries started after visiting an antique shop in Honolulu with the purchase of a vintage World War Two recruitment poster for women to serve. It was haunting knowing all the possibilities open for woman during those perilous times.   

Book preview

Chapter One

ORPHANAGE

APRIL 15, 1941

Colin—Eat now—You’re too skinny; eat it all. Sean knew the boy was being starved by the damned orphanage. Sean worked on a fishing boat at the Belfast docks after the priest at the orphanage hired him out two years ago into forced child labor to line the priest’s pocket.

Sean called it his Tuesday ritual, bringing food to share with his brother in defiance against the church he hated.

What have they been teaching you now? I see you have a book, Colin? You said last week you were reading in class? He knew his brother was frightened; if caught outside the institution, he would be severely punished by the queer priest. He wanted to get him talking to calm his nervousness so he would eat more.

Well, I read well. This is an encyclopedia, in order of the alphabet. Everything you want to know, starting with the letter—A. I am not supposed to take it out of the library. I hope they don’t miss it. Father Murphy’s punishment for stealing is he beats you when you’re naked in front of everybody.

Damn! He is the worst of the queers, Sean said to himself. Colin was small for fourteen years and good-looking, almost like a girl, with an elf-like face and curly black hair, unlike Sean’s red hair and broad shoulders from working since he was Colin’s age. If your looks please the clergy, you stayed on at the orphanage but a slave of the worst kind.

Shit, I need to get the kid out of here, but how? They were sitting in the cemetery on consecrated church grounds, another defiant gesture by Sean, knowing they did not bury his mother in a churchyard. Both boys were forced into an orphanage by the church. They took mother and baby to a church-run Mother’s Home, a laundry workhouse where women were sent for various reasons, including for having a child outside of marriage.

Sean knew his baby sister had died in the unsanitary church-run hell hole. And his mother, Edna, from overworked with little food and beatings!

The Belfast city’s upper class hushed it up, knowing the church benefited from the forced labor.

Sean was sure that Father Murphy would sell Colin as an indentured slave after he used him for sex and to protect himself.

He reached into a sack for the bread Captain Cory gave him for the boy. Told him to feed Colin every Tuesday when the priest got drunk at The Lions pub by the Belfast docks. Close to the rectory so they could stagger home. But now, with the war, the British were crowding the pubs. The Royal Navy used the port of Belfast as a base to escort across the Atlantic British and Russian convoys, protecting them from German U-boats.

Here, now eat this bread; you can take some back, but hide it!

It wasn’t long before both boys fell asleep after eating. Sean, because of a long day working and Colin, knowing his big brother was close by protecting him, Colin dozed off first with his head on Sean’s shoulder.

Both woke with a start!

Thunder? What the hell was that?

The ground shook when Sean stood, reaching out his hand and pulling Colin to his feet as another deafening explosion happened! Chunks of the building across from them fell into the cemetery.

Run!—Colin shouted, pulling Sean in the other direction to escape the falling wall! They came out onto the street; buildings were bursting apart, flying pieces of shattered windows, and fires popped up around them!

The boys knew it was another German bombing like the last one, but this was worse!

Harbor, Run!—This time, Sean was in the lead, dodging and shoving as people ran to escape their burning homes! He turned down another narrow street leading to the wharf. The fish trading house was in flames as they ran past. An old lady was lying on the dock in front of them. Sean jumped over the body, but Colin stopped to help her. Sean grabbed him just as another bomb hit a building, shattering the dock and throwing them into the water!

Sean pushed a plank toward Colin. Grab on!

He pulled Colin along as he swam to get away from the explosions. Colin, throw that damn book away!

Colin held his soggy encyclopedia on top of his head to protect himself from flying debris. Sean kicked harder, staying under the docks, away from the explosions. Hopefully, his boat was just ahead in the darkness, but he was unsure if it was still there? Would Captain Cory take her out to sea to escape the fires?

Sean, is that your boat?

Sean could see his fishing trawler bobbing in the waves in the light from the fires. Still afloat! Sean looked back to check on Colin. He was holding on with one hand. The other held his book on top of his head.

They both kicked harder to get aboard! Fires started at the water’s surface, spreading fast, fueled by sinking ships.

A line was hanging down once tied to the missing dock. Sean grabbed it just as a lifeboat almost fell on top of them.

Get aboard quick! She’s going to blow! A woman’s voice yelled from above.

Sean hauled himself aboard before pulling Colin up.

Here, help me with my dad, the woman above held a man against her chest, trying to lift his feet over the stern.

It’s Captain Cory! Sean reached up, wrapping his arms around the legs as she lowered him. Colin tried to hold the dory from banging into the trawler as Sean gently rested his captain between the seats; he could see blood seeping through one side of his shirt.

Catch this! she threw a bag to Collin and then another to Sean. The woman followed the bags, coming down a rope.

Get us the hell out of here!

Sean pulled on the cord, starting the outboard, and maneuvered around the trawler with Colin’s help, pushing off with an oar.

Sean turned. The entire city was ablaze and still exploding from bombs dropped from unseen aircraft. Where are the rest of the crew in the pub?

The smoke lifted some by the offshore winds. The wharf pub was gone, and the rest of the wharf was in shambles. Another bomb hit, lighting up the night sky!

Sean had driven the dory many times, but never under such conditions as this, he thought as he maneuvered past sinking and burning crafts. Colin was by his side, holding his wet book over his head, watching the woman trying to look after her father in the rocking boat.

Damn, that was close, she said, pulling off her baseball cap and shaking off the soot, looking back as their burning fishing trawler burst into a fireball!

When she pulled off her hat, Sean saw it was Molly, Captain Cory’s daughter.

Oh shit, he’s bleeding worse. Go to Helen’s Bay; it’s around the bend to the South. She held her hand on the bandage to compress the wound. Do you know it? She shouted over the explosions.

Sean dodged a fiery floating piece of a sinking ship, shouting back. Flames were all around them! Yes, Molly, your dad’s ship!

You! Molly handed a blanket to Collin. Wet it. We can all get under it and cover my dad until we’re clear of the falling hot ash.

Chapter Two

CONVOY

APRIL 15, 1941

After they cleared the harbor, it became apparent that a convoy of boats had left Belfast to escape the bombing. Sean kept trying to hold them steady, caught inside the wakes of the larger boats. He veered off several times to avoid being hit. To make it worse, no one was running with lights on to prevent being seen by the overhead German aircraft.

We got to break away from these guys before they run us over. There’s a creek to the right. It narrowly cuts through to the Bay, but we are small enough. We will need to row; it’s shallow.

Sean turned toward where Molly pointed, grateful to escape the flotilla. He hoped she was right and it was a shortcut; he was sure the little outboard was almost empty.

The trees in the darkness seemed to engulf them as they entered the creek. She signaled to cut the motor. Colin placed the oars in the oarlocks and sat next to Sean, and they started rowing forward to see better. The noise from the escaping boats became less as they went further upstream; soon, it was silent.

Quiet now; we don’t know if the rumors are true, and Germans dropped paratroopers.

Jeez—paratroopers?

Hush—Colin, don’t splash!

They moved noiselessly, except for the rasping breath of Captain Cory.

The Kelly farm is up a way; my dad’s sister. I need to start a procedure on my father. We need to stop there.

Colin saw the light ahead and a small jetty outlined in the moonlight. Is that the place? He whispered.

Yes, run to the house, tell Roy we need help, and bring his cart.

Colin jumped out as Sean eased the dory to the dock; Colin disappeared in the darkness, running toward the light.

Can I help Molly? Sean wrapped a line around the post.

Help me ease him onto the dock; I’ll take his feet slowly now.

Sean reached under his shoulders, carefully lifting him as Molly held the boat steady with one hand on the stone post. Together, they eased Cory onto the smooth surface of the old quay.

Molly quickly climbed out of the boat, kneeling beside her dad, checking his breathing and pulse. He’s still alive, but his breathing is labored. Can you get my bag? It’s by the seat.

Sean saw the medical insignia on the black bag when he handed it to Molly.

His attention turned to the path as lanterns could be seen and voices. Collin appeared with a man and a lady, and a young girl.

Molly dear, Oh, my, it’s Cory; bring those blankets over here, Roy, hurry now!

They fed Sean and Colin large bowls of potato soup with bread. After, led to a corner of the big room by Lori, Roy’s daughter, who was about Colin’s age.

Sleep if you can. It will be warm here by the fire. The young, tall, blue-eyed girl pointed at the floor. I put straw down and blankets; Grandmother said it would be a while before we know how the Captain is doing. There’s an outhouse through that side door if you gotta go, but wash up when you’re done. There’s a basin outside. My Granny Kelly is fussy, but don’t sneak around her; she will clip ya!

Colin was about to say they had already been to the outhouse and the washbasin. Sean interrupted him, thanking her, knowing how fussy her grandmother was. They were told before they could eat to wash up. It was good to get the soot off. They gave both boys clean clothing.

Colin stood beside Sean in his borrowed oversized shirt and whispered, She’s bossy that one!

Sean pulled his boots off. We’re guests, and the food was good, and it’s a warm place to sleep. Sean laid down and covered himself with the wool blanket, shutting his eyes.

What do you think will happen to us? Will they send us back?

There’s nothing back there to go to, Colin. We will just have to wait and see; sleep now.

Ahand touched Sean’s shoulder; he drowsily looked up; it was almost light out, and he could make out the face of Molly.

Sean, let Colin sleep; join me in the other room. We have to talk.

He looked at Colin as Molly covered him with the blanket he kicked off in the night. Sean stood slowly and stretched as he followed toward the kitchen, carrying his boots.

The house was enormous compared to what he was used to.

How’s your dad? He whispered as he settled on a kitchen chair to put his boots on.

He is alive; Anne is watching him, she said, pouring from a large pot of coffee, filling cups for both of them. She’s my Aunty.

Sean could see how weary she was when she sat across the table, pushing the large mug of coffee over to him.

He could see she was gathering her thoughts; he was sure it was about him and his brother.

Damn, I’ll get Colin and start running if she says’ orphanage!

Look, I know this will sound crazy and pushing, but we can’t hide here forever; we need to move, but where? So I’m throwing this proposal out to the two of you. My dad planned to go to North America. Dad was remorseful after Alice died. She was my stepmom. I was away at medial school in London until Germany started bombing. I came here to go with dad to America. As he said, fishing here is dangerous with all the U-boats about. He was going to ask if any of his crew wanted to come along. So now I’m asking. You’re the only crew left. I can’t do this myself?

Holy shit—America, how?

"His ship, Molly Two, dad sent the details in a letter before I left the university. Molly reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a folded envelope, handing it to Sean. We would go by way of Iceland, then to Greenland before landing in Newfoundland, Canada. Our last stop will be Nova Scotia. Dad said you have helped him with repairs on the Molly Two. I also like the way you handled yourself under pressure last night."

Sean blushed. I helped your dad last week…. Sean’s voice trailed off, not wanting to cause any more hurt.

We may have to go it alone if my dad doesn’t make it.

Is your dad going to die?

They both looked at a sleepy Colin standing in the doorway.

I’m not sure how long he can hold on? Only God can make that decision, Colin.

I heard what you said; why not go straight to North America?

War–Colin, the Germans patrol the Atlantic shipping routes; commercial ships can outrun the subs, but we can’t. Also, we don’t carry enough fuel, food, or water.

You can’t do it alone? You need us!

Sean could hear the excitement in his brother’s voice.

Think about it and talk it over. I’m going up to check on dad and sleep for a few hours. Let me know later this morning.

Chapter Three

DECISION

APRIL, 16, 1941

Colin couldn’t sleep; he felt edgy and could not be calm like Sean, who was again sleeping. He wanted to go on the ship to America, but Sean insisted they think more about it. Colin wandered around the big house in his borrowed stockings, not to wake anyone carrying his encyclopedia, looking for more light to read, Maybe reading will make me sleepy. He opened a door he thought was the kitchen. Wow, a library. Look at all the books! He walked in, not making a sound as he turned, looking up at shelves of books. Maybe I shouldn’t be here?

It’s okay, son. Come sit and join us. I see you brought a book.

He turned to see Roy, Lori’s father sitting in a big chair, smiling at him, with an open book on his lap. Lori was next to her dad, wrapped in a blanket, with her head on his shoulder. She held up her hand, waved, and yawned.

Sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to intrude. I couldn’t sleep.

Us too, busy night, decided to read. I’m reading Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain; if Lori can stay awake, sit. We just started on Chapter one, Roy turned up the flickering lamp.

We take turns reading out loud. Can you read?

Colin looked at Lori, about to sneer, but remembered what Sean said, be nice, Yes, I would like that. I read at school.

Why don’t you start? Roy handed the book to Colin as he sat in the chair opposite them.

The story of the American boy’s adventure on a raft with his friend Jim fascinated Colin. He was reading with such enthusiasm in his voice that they nodded for him to continue.

The time in the library went so quickly; he was sorry when Anne called them to breakfast.

"Here, take the book with you, Colin; you can return after breakfast and finish the story. Thanks