Chapter 14
There was a moment of silence as if Eddie Doolan had suctioned all the thoughts out of their poor heads when he departed.
“Is it me or is there something a little off about that man?” Macdara said at last.
“Mental illness is common among the homeless,” Jane said.
Siobhán squirmed in her seat. Was there any heart underneath that cold exterior? She wished she had her scooter so she wouldn’t have to be trapped in a car with her. “He seemed genuinely frightened.”
Jane pushed back from the table. “You’re falling for his stories then.”
“Shall we get our legs under us?” Siobhán was tired of Jane, tired of this village, and couldn’t wait to get home. “I’m going to hit the jax before we leave.”
On her way to the restroom, Siobhán stopped at the corner of the bar where calling cards were piled up. She scanned to see if there were any from Primo Limo. She did not see any for them but there were several others: a jeweler, a furniture maker, a charity shop, and Annabel’s art classes.
“Can I help you, luv?” the publican said. “Is everything alright?”
“Just having a nose around,” she said. “Where is the jax?”
“That-a-way.” He pointed to the restrooms, situated at the back of the bar.
She pocketed several of the calling cards and gave him a nod. “Cheers.”
* * *
Before they could leave for Kilbane, Danny and Sergeant Eegan summoned Macdara and Siobhán to Molly’s Café. To Siobhán’s relief, Jane seemed happy to have more time to shop, and didn’t put up a fuss about not being invited. They had just reached the café when Macdara gently pulled Siobhán aside. “Now?” Siobhán said, with a glance in the window. Danny and Sergeant were standing, looking at the paintings, waiting for them.
“It’s hard to get you alone,” Macdara said. “You seem angry with me.” Siobhán had trouble meeting his gaze. “Did you learn something from Geraldine?”
“Has your cousin always been so . . . harsh?”
Macdara shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know her that well. My guess is that she’s always been this way.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Of course. Why do you think we were estranged? My mam barely talked to her own sister. They weren’t easy to get along with.”
“I think Jane is lying about her alibi.”
“Do you?”
“Have you seen proof that she was in Dublin?”
“No. But she hasn’t been able to get her luggage bag. I assume there’s something in there.”
“She had ages to open it before the guards arrived. Or she could tell us the name of the conference, the hotel where she stayed. Anything.”
“I hear you. But her mother was just murdered. I understand if it’s not the first thing on her mind.”
Siobhán chose her words carefully. Her quarrel was not with Dara. “I have cousins I haven’t seen in ages. I’m trying to understand.”
“Trying?”
“She’s a manipulator and you’re different around her.”
His jaw tightened. “I see.”
“Dara.” She’d hurt him. Before they could resolve it, a tap sounded on the window next to them. They both jumped and turned to see Danny motioning them inside.
“Ironic,” Macdara said, pointing a finger-gun at Danny and heading for the door. “Because you’re different around him.” Danny, not to be outdone, produced two finger-guns, and he twirled, then blew on them before sticking them into imaginary holsters.
Sergeant Eegan waved them over to the counter the minute they entered. He was jotting things down in a notebook. Siobhán filled them in on everything she’d learned from Geraldine—how Mary Madigan had lied about being with her mother-in-law for the weekend, and the story about Primo Limo, and the odd mention of Ellen staying the night near the fairy tree as if that would somehow settle the dispute. Lastly, she filled them in on the rumor that in Waterford Ellen had a stalker.
“Stalker?” Macdara said. “Is that the exact word she used?”
“’Tis.”
“It’s true,” Garda Eegan said. “At least I heard it from a few other heads, who supposedly heard it from her.”
“Heard what exactly?” Macdara was on high alert. Relations must have been strained if Ellen hadn’t even reached out to him when she was in danger.
Garda Eegan shook his head. “I’m short on the details. Heard she had a stalker, some kind of nuisance on her doorstep in Waterford. Here for a fresh start.”
Macdara turned to Siobhán. “Is that why you were asking Jane about Eddie Doolan?”
“Eddie?” Garda Eegan said. “The storyteller? The beggar?”
Siobhán nodded. “He came to town the same time as Ellen and Jane.”
Garda Eegan rubbed his beard. “Ellen and Jane were here a good year before Eddie showed up.”
Danny leaned forward. “Are you suggesting Eddie Doolan is her stalker?”
“Do you know where he’s from?” Siobhán asked.
“He said he’s a Mayo man,” Danny answered.
If that was a lie, at least he was telling consistent stories. “Did you ever look into him?”
Garda Eegan waved his hand. “I’ve moved him along when I’ve found him sleeping on the footpath. But mostly he isn’t a bother. Some folks like his storytelling.”
“Maybe you’ll have a look at him now?” Macdara said. His hands were clenched; he was dying to get involved.
“We will,” Danny said. Instead of comforting Macdara, the utterance from Danny seemed to perturb him more.
“What about Primo Limo?” Siobhán said, wanting to ease the tension.
“They’re not part of Ballysiogdun,” Sergeant Eegan said, examining the calling card she’d handed him. “They’re out of Cork City. We’ll give them a bell.” He practically crumpled the card as he shoved it in his shirt pocket, and Siobhán was relieved she’d taken the number down for herself.
“Jane mentioned that Aiden Cunningham holds a lot of power here. Especially when it comes to the cottage.”
“What about our councilman?” Eegan asked. “You’re not accusing him of being a killer, are you?” He leaned back with a hearty laugh.
Danny gave Siobhán a reassuring look. “We’ll question everyone and we won’t close our options until alibis are checked and rechecked.”
“Thank you,” Siobhán said. Sergeant Eegan could learn from Danny if he wasn’t so threatened by the younger guard. From an investigative perspective, everyone should be considered equally guilty until proven innocent. Otherwise, you could be misled by your own bias. Everyone was capable of killing.
“When can we hold the service?” Macdara asked.
The sergeant nodded his understanding of the question. “The pathologist is expected tomorrow.”
“That’s good,” Siobhán said. The sooner the better.
Macdara stood. “We’re heading back to Kilbane now. We’ll start on the preliminary arrangements.”
“We’d like to be there,” Sergeant Eegan said. “Keep us informed.”
“Good,” Macdara said. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“In case our killer will be there too,” Danny said. He caught the stares-all-around. “I’m stating the obvious again, aren’t I?”
Macdara patted him on the back. A smidge too hard from Siobhán’s observation. “And, unfortunately for our killer,” Macdara said, “we’ll be watching him.”
“Or her,” Siobhán said.
Macdara nodded. “Or her,” he agreed.