“You did a lot yesterday,” Isobel assured her. “Maybe if you have a chance to recover and start with something smaller, you can work up to going to the park.”
“Maybe. This is the first time I’ve been able to concentrate on a movie.”
Isobel nodded. “Exactly. Slow but sure. You’re making progress. No one can do it all at once.”
“You’re right. I have taken some steps.” Sarah nodded. “You have some more questions?”
“Yes,” Patricia said, taking her notebook and pen from her bag. “And there is something else that we were wondering about.”
“What?”
“We are trying to identify some of the things that the attacker used.”
Sarah frowned.
“Like the thing that you were lying on and the suit he wore. They might be possible ways of tracing him.”
Sarah shivered. “I see.” She moistened her lips. “What do you want me to do?”
Isobel grimaced. “We have some samples of materials here and we were wondering if you could say if any of them might be like the ones he wore.”
Sarah chewed her lip and took a few deep breaths. “I can try.”
“If it’s too much we can stop,” Isobel said.
Sarah nodded.
Patricia produced the set of black material samples and set them on the coffee table in front of Sarah. Sarah looked at them and then sat forward. Gingerly she reached out and touched one of the samples with the tips of her fingers. After a few seconds of contact she lifted it up. Slowly, one by one, she repeated the procedure with each sample.
After examining them all she touched one. “I think this is what was on his hands and body. In fact, I’m pretty sure.”
Patricia turned it over. It was the same piece of material as Brenda had identified.
“You’re doing great,” she said. “Can you manage one more set?”
Sarah nodded.
Patricia produced the second set of samples. “Tell us if any of these feel like anything used in the attack.”
Sarah touched all of the pieces of material. She pointed to the blue one. “That feels like it might have been what I was lying on.”
Patricia gave a small nod. The same one.
“Thank you so much. You did so well.”
Sarah heaved a sigh of relief. “Is that it?”
“Well, we have a few more questions,” Isobel said.
“OK.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
Sarah pursed her lips. “He threatened my kids but I don’t remember anything else he said … I was so terrorised at that stage …”
“Was there anything of note about his voice? An accent? An unusual word he used? Anything distinctive?
Sarah shook her head and shrugged.
“Do you know Michelle, or recognise her from anywhere?”
“I’ve looked at the photographs of her and wondered if I passed her on the street or in a supermarket, but she doesn’t look familiar.”
“I need to ask a few more questions,” Patricia said, notebook open and pen poised.
Sarah nodded.
Patricia went through the litany of queries: doctor, shops, groups and finally physio.
“I haven’t been to a physio but Tony had to go to one.”
“Do you have the name?”
“Surely you can’t suspect the physio! I went with Tony for one appointment. Steve did most of the visits.”
“It’s just to be thorough.”
Sarah flicked through her phone and gave a name and number. Isobel saw Patricia tense – perhaps they had hit on something.
“Have you any more questions?
“I think that’s it. Patricia?”
“That’s it. Thanks, Sarah. You were amazing. We really appreciate it.”
“I’d better get back to my movie.”
Isobel and Patricia smiled.
In the car Isobel said, “I saw you react when Sarah gave the name of the physio. Is it a connection?”
“Yes. Mark Brady.”
“Are you serious? Oh my God! I’ll get Alanna on Bluetooth. This could be our first break.”
As the phone rang Isobel felt as if her heart was going to explode. “Come on, Alanna!”
Eventually she heard, “Yes?”
“We’ve found a third woman who was attacked.”
Patricia called out, “I’m sending you the recording now!”
“When and where?”
“March 21st last year, and the river walk from the university heading towards Limerick.”
“Same MO?”
“Sounds like it.”
“We have a tenuous link, a physio, Mark Brady, mentioned by two of the women. One was a patient herself and in the second case her son needed treatment. She only went to one appointment – the father did the other visits.”
“I’ll mention it to Eoin. Ring us tomorrow when you’re finished with your meeting and we can get together.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks for this recording.”
Isobel finished the call.
The phone rang almost immediately.
“Hi, Isobel.”
“Hi, Fiona. I’m in the car with Patricia and you’re on speaker.”
“We had the meeting. We’ve agreed to put up your notice and if any woman wants to contact you that’s up to her – we’re not going to ask or recommend it.”
“Thanks, Fiona, that’s more than I hoped for.”
“It’s more than I thought you would get, to be honest. It’s up to the individual women now. I’ve got to go. Good luck with it.”
“Thanks again, Fiona. Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Another step,” said Patricia. “I thought Alana would be more interested in Mark Brady, the physio.”
“Me too. I suppose they have to check it out. Maybe it’s a coincidence and nothing more.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see. OK, now we’re going home to relax.”
“How about I make a lasagne?”
“That sounds good to me.”
“A veggie one.”
“Then I’ll let you know when I’ve tasted it.”
Much later Isobel lay awake. She was anxious about tomorrow’s tests. To take her mind off it, she thought about the women she had spoken to.
When she did fall asleep she dreamed that she was in a field.
Someone was throwing footballs, hurling balls, rugby balls and basketballs at her. They were coming from all sides and so fast that it was impossible for her to catch any of them.
They were lying on the ground and she tripped on one and fell over, hurting her ankle. She looked around for someone to help her with her injury. There was no one there.
Suddenly the scene changed and she was in the woods walking along a path. Ahead of her on the path a tall man dressed all in black was walking. On each side of the path trees grew. Beside some of the trees there were women standing dressed very scantily.
The man drew level with one of the women. He stopped and turned and faced her. He stared at her.
Isobel could see the woman getting uncomfortable.
The man continued to stare. The woman became more agitated and put her hands over her body to hide it. Still the man did not move and continued to stare.
The woman stepped behind the tree to hide and then peeked out to see what the man was going to do.
The man moved on until he came to another tree where there was another woman. Once again he stopped and stared. Eventually this woman too stepped behind the tree and only then did the man move on.
Isobel watched as one by one the women withdrew behind the trees. She could feel her heart pounding as a rage built inside her.
She moved forward towards the man but could not get any closer to him.
She tried to shout but no sound came out.
She was powerless to do or say anything and still the man moved forward, causing women to hide behind the trees.
; Isobel felt her body tensing in frustration.
The feeling of powerlessness was overwhelming and heartbreaking.
When she woke there were tears on her cheeks and a weight on her chest.
Chapter 22
Monday 24th June
Patricia said, “Did you sleep last night?”
“Not well. I was too worried about today. And I was dreaming about our case.”
They were in the car on the way to Breast Check.
“I’ll be glad to get this done. The waiting is terrible.”
“I can only imagine.”
The waiting room of Breast Check was well populated. Isobel took her usual seat near the door leading to the doctor. Once again, she flicked through a magazine as she waited. Patricia said little, leaving her to her thoughts.
Jenny appeared at the door. “Isobel? Oh, there you are.”
Patricia squeezed her hand. “Good luck.”
Isobel nodded and followed Jenny.
It was forty-five minutes before Isobel reappeared. She nodded at Patricia who followed her out towards the lifts.
“I have to come back next week for the results. The last time things were so bad that they knew immediately, and they did more tests then and there, so I’m definitely better off than the last time.”
“That’s good news, right?”
“Yes, that’s good news. I probably need to hear the words ‘All clear,’ to really relax, but definitely a step in the right direction.”
Patricia hugged her. “Oh, thank God. Let’s go and have a nice relaxing lunch before we do anything else.”
“I am starving. I couldn’t eat anything this morning.”
Isobel drove them into the city and parked near the People’s Park, a beautiful area of trees and flowers in the midst of Limerick City. On the edge of the park was a café.
“They do great soup here,” she said, leading Patricia into Peel.
The soup was indeed good and the view of the park, with flower beds full of colourful blooms and parents with kids playing, did a lot to restore a sense of normalcy.
As they walked back to the car Isobel rang Alanna.
“Oh great!” she responded. “Thank God. Where are you?”
“In the city.”
“Can you come to Henry Street? We need to talk.”
Isobel and Patricia walked the two blocks to the Garda station. Alanna was waiting for them in reception and ushered them up to an office. The superintendent and Eoin were waiting for them.
Eoin said, “At last.”
Isobel’s raised her eyebrows.
Patricia faced him, her hands flying to her hips. “How dare you? After all the help Isobel has given you on this case, you’re criticising her for having a few hours off to go to the hosp-”
“That’s OK, Patricia,” Isobel cut in. “You don’t have to defend me.” She turned to Eoin. “I’m volunteering my time and I don’t have to account to you for my movements.”
Eoin looked at Isobel. She saw in his eyes that he had heard the beginning of the word hospital and had put two and two together.
“I’m sorry, once again. You’re right – of course your other,” he hesitated, “meetings are important.”
The superintendent said, “That’s the best apology I’ve ever heard you make, Eoin.”
Isobel, wanting to get off this subject, said, “Thank you for the apology. Perhaps you could fill us in on what is so urgent?”
Eoin gestured for them to sit and, when they were settled, he nodded to Alanna.
“We’ve been looking through old cases that might be relevant,” she said.
Isobel and Patricia nodded.
“Well, we found a report from a woman eighteen months ago where she said a man grabbed her and attempted to strangle her. She had done a self-defence course and luckily she was able to unhand him before he really got started.” Alanna opened a file and handed Isobel and Patricia photographs of a woman with fingermarks on her neck. “She managed to get free and someone came along and the attacker ran off.”
“And,” said Eoin, “in her statement she said that her attacker had on some type of suit with a mask and the person who came along and frightened the attacker off confirmed that.”
Isobel raised her eyebrows. “Where did this attack take place?”
“Out in Corbally,” Alanna said. “We think it was maybe his first attack.”
Isobel shook her head. “But you can’t know that.”
“Not definitely, but we’ve checked the farmer’s purchase records and it was about this time that he started having to replace the padlock and chain.”
“It’s not definitive but it is suggestive,” said Eoin.
“So you think this was the start of his spree?” Patricia asked.
“It’s possible.”
“Great,” Isobel said. “It’s a piece of the jigsaw. Have you interviewed the woman and the witness again?”
“That’s where you come in,” said Alanna.
Superintendent Carruthers said, “I want you two to go with Alanna for the interview. You’ve talked to the other three women who were attacked and, I think, developed a feel for the case. Because of your status as a psychotherapist, Isobel, and with a reference from the Met, I’ve managed to get you assigned to the case as a consultant. There’s only one salary available but that’s the best that I can do.”
“Patricia and I will sort things out between us. That’s very kind of you.”
“I’ve listened to the third recording,” he said. “I have another meeting with my boss later today. I think he’s going to have to include all of this confidential information. We have a big problem here and he knows it. He can’t avoid it any longer. Anyway, that’s my problem. You go with Alanna and interview those two witnesses.”
“With all of the women identifying the latex material, we have compiled a number of photographs of suits made from latex,” Eoin said. “You can show them to these two witnesses.”
Isobel nodded.
“We’re running background checks on all of the council workers,” he continued, “especially those assigned to both pathways this year. Nothing of note yet.”
The superintendent said, “Yes, we have people following up on a number of things. Alanna, I’ll leave it with you.”
The superintendent rose and left.
“Come on, you two,” said Alanna. “Let’s go.”
As Patricia and Isobel followed Alanna out of the office, Eoin touched Isobel’s arm and delayed her, letting the others move ahead out of earshot.
“Are you alright?” he asked. “Did you have to go to the hospital?”
Isobel kept her face a mask. “I’m fine.”
“If you’re unwell, if this is too much for you, just say the word.”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“You can tell me.”
Isobel managed a tight smile. “There’s nothing to tell. I have to go.” She followed the others.
Ahead, Isobel saw Patricia stop and reach for her phone. She glanced at a text, then looked up and met Isobel’s eye but said nothing.
As they left the building, Patricia asked, “Who are we talking to first?”
“The woman who was attacked, Nicky Quinn,” said Alanna. “She’s a solicitor in town. I’ve got a message that she isn’t in court today. Her office is nearby. Come on, we can walk.”
The office was on O’Connell Street.
A glamorous secretary looked at Alanna’s identification. “She’s with a client now. She’ll probably be about ten more minutes.” She gestured to a cosy arrangement of couches. “Have a seat and help yourselves to coffee.”
Alanna poured herself a cup. She gestured towards Isobel who nodded in acquiescence. Patricia shook her head and exited into the hallway to speak on her phone.
Alanna said, “The coffee’s good.”
The secretary smiled.
Isobel took a sip and nodded.
Patricia paced up and down outside the g
lass entrance door, talking and gesturing.
Alanna nodded towards Patricia. “Is everything alright with her? Is she talking to someone about the case?”
Isobel turned to her. “No, no, this is something different. It could be her partner.” She could see Patricia scroll through her phone and then speak to someone else.
Alanna said, “Are you alright?”
Isobel felt the intensity of Alanna’s question. She turned to Alanna, “Yes, I’m fine, absolutely fine.”
The secretary said, “Her client is on her way down. You can go up now.” She pointed to a lift at the end of the room. “It’s the first floor, then second door on the right.”
They stood up.
Patricia pushed open the door, still speaking into her phone, “Find out for me.” She finished the call and followed the others.
Nicky Quinn was a tall, slim woman with long dark hair. She was elegantly dressed and as she came around her desk to greet them she moved with the grace of someone used to physical activity.
“Sergeant Finnegan, I don’t usually get visits from the gardaí at my place of work. Is there a problem with something?”
“I have some questions – perhaps we could all sit down.”
Nicky sat back behind her desk. When they were all seated, she put her hands together on the desk and looked enquiringly at Alanna.
“You reported an attack eighteen months ago,” Alanna said.
“Have you caught someone?”
“No, but we are reassessing all previous attacks on women in the area.”
“Oh yes. I saw in the news about the woman who was murdered. Do you think there is a connection with my attack? Why would you think that?” Nicky’s breathing had become a little shallower.
“There may be no connection at all. We are merely reviewing all reported attacks recently. Perhaps you could tell us about the attack on you?”
“It’s all in my statement.”
Alanna made a face.
“OK, OK. I was out walking in Corbally and a man dressed all in black jumped me. He put his hands on my neck. I had done a Krav Maga course and so I managed to shake him off. Luckily a man was walking nearby and he came to the rescue. My attacker fled.”
Broken Silence: A tense psychological thriller Page 13