“No,” he said. “I didn’t know either of these women.”
“But you work with the basketball team that their sons belong to?”
“I didn’t realise that. The names of their children weren’t given and it was the last thing on my mind that there was a connection between those victims. Basketball practice is on a Saturday and frequently it’s fathers who collect their children. Obviously, there are mothers too but, as the physio, I’m not really that involved with parents unless the child needs physio. Because of my connection with the club and because I have, or had,” he made a face, “a good reputation, often if the parents have injuries or back problems of their own they make an appointment to see me.” He flicked through his diary. “I can see the name Cavan here. It was the husband who came to me. And I can see a Molloy too, that was the son for an ankle injury. I didn’t realise that they were related to the two victims.”
“Do you recognise the name Quinn as being one of your basketball players?” Alanna asked.
Mark frowned. “I’m not sure. What is the boy’s first name?”
Alana smiled. “Shane Quinn.”
“I’m not sure. I think so.”
“Aside from you, who else would be involved with the basketball team training?” Eoin asked,
Mark used his fingers to count off names. “The coach Ian Costello – the manager Tim Healy who organises the uniforms and buses – and the bus driver Charles Purcell when we have a game. That’s it, really.”
Alanna was taking notes.
“Occasionally, if we have a big game coming up, we get a visit from the area promoter in basketball but that’s rare. He’s really only there to encourage the game and has little to do with the parents. He’s not even from Limerick.”
Alanna looked at Eoin.
He frowned and said, “And your practice ground is the university?”
“It is now. We used to use the school gym in Corbally school. The headmaster of Corbally school encouraged us to set up the team and join the league. His son used to play. The caretaker came in on a Saturday to set us up and lock up after us. When we did better in the league the new area manager got us a space at the university. The sports department out there is amazing and it kind of makes the kids feel important.”
“Is there someone at the university that you liaise with?” Alannah asked.
“I’m not one-hundred-per-cent sure. You’d better ask the coach, Ian Costello.”
“Is there anyone else that you’ve noticed hanging around the practice sessions?” Eoin said. “Someone talking to the parents, bothering them, anything like that?”
“No, very few of the parents stay to watch the practice session …” His voice tailed off.
“We’re going to need a list of all the parents and especially the ones who come frequently,” Alanna said.
Mark rubbed his head. “Again, the coach is the best person to ask about that. As I said, I tend to have a very peripheral role with the parents.”
“I think that’s it,” Eoin said. “I’m really sorry, Mr. Brady, that your name appeared in the paper. I assure you that it’s not something that we intended or wanted. There will be an investigation into what has happened. Obviously we will confirm the information that you have given us.”
Sonia Kane said, “And when you do, I want a full retraction made publicly and confirmation of Mark’s innocence.”
“When we’ve checked everything I’ll be speaking to the Assistant Chief Constable,” said Eoin. “I can only apologise again. We never want anyone tried by the press. And I would ask that you keep confidential what we’ve asked you and who we might be questioning later. We hope to speak to most of these men early tomorrow and it would be helpful if they were under the impression that we were asking about you.”
Sonia Kane said, “Absolutely not. I want my client cleared at the earliest possible moment.”
“I’m hoping that by lunchtime tomorrow we will have spoken to everyone that we need to,” said Eoin.
Mark looked at him. “You still think it’s someone connected to the basketball team?”
Eoin said nothing and his face remained a mask.
“I hardly think that that is the only thing connecting those three women,” Sonia said. “It could be coincidence. Surely it would be a better use of Garda resources to have the walking paths under constant surveillance and not be wasting time talking to those on the furthest fringes of the investigation.”
Mark rubbed his chin. “Have there been more attacks?”
“We have no further information to share with you right now,” Eoin replied,
Mark studied Eoin, one arm folded across his chest, the other hand touching his cheek. “If it would help you get this guy by letting it seem that I’m a suspect, then I’m prepared to leave things as they are, to give you more time.”
Eoin looked at him, then turned to Alanna and raised his eyebrows.
Mark said, “I’m only prepared to do this if you genuinely think it would help and only if my full and absolute innocence is made abundantly clear tomorrow.”
“Mark, that’s a dangerous thing to do,” Sonia said. “Mud sticks. People often believe that there’s no smoke without fire.”
Mark rubbed his lips with his hand. “True but if there is someone attacking and killing women I would like to help, if I can.”
“Mr. Brady,” Eoin said. “We have to confirm your alibis one hundred per cent. This is a little premature.”
“Of course. I’ll leave things with you then.”
Chapter 33
“I don’t believe this.” Agnieska stood up. “We’ve got the wrong man.”
“Or this guy has cleverly covered his tracks,” Chin said. “The only connection between the two victims was that their sons played basketball. We have to be on the right track.”
The door swung open. Eoin and Alanna entered.
Chin looked from Eoin to Alanna. “I thought we’d caught the murderer but you seem to believe the alibis he’s offering. What’s going on? The Assistant Commissioner seems happy with this arrest and half the station is planning which pub to celebrate in tonight. Are you saying we have the wrong man?”
Eoin nodded. “Agnieska, Chin, we aren’t sure. I need to talk to Superintendent Carruthers before anything else happens. Go have a cup of tea, say nothing and I’ll brief you in the next hour.”
Agnieska looked at Chin. “Fair enough.” And they headed off for tea.
“Let’s sit a minute,” Eoin said to the others.
They all took chairs. Eoin leant forward, his arms resting on his legs and pulled his hands through his hair. After a moment he sat up.
Alanna stretched her legs out in front of her, arms crossed. “I know that look, you have a plan.”
Eoin raised an eyebrow and inclined his head.
“Mark Brady’s alibis are probably going to check out. But maybe not everyone needs to know that. If the Super and Mark are agreeable maybe we can keep him in custody until tomorrow lunchtime. That way the interviews with the other people connected with basketball, well,” he shrugged, “maybe they would be more relaxed, thinking that we had someone in the frame.”
“It sounds like Mark is open to that, despite his solicitor’s misgivings,” Alanna said.
“Yeah, he seems to want to help and we can make sure that a full retraction is given major media coverage.”
Alanna nodded. “It sounds like a plan.”
Eoin turned to Isobel. “Tonight we will have meetings to confirm this and brief the others. You don’t need to stay for all that.” He looked at his watch.
Isobel glanced at hers too. It was seven o’clock.
“Can you be ready for a round of interviews tomorrow morning?” Eoin asked. “Meet us here at eight o’clock?”
Isobel nodded. “Of course.”
Eoin stood. “See you then.”
Isobel made her way out of the back entrance to the Henry Street Station and walked along the River Shannon. She swit
ched on her phone. Almost instantly it rang. Emer’s name came up as the caller. Isobel touched to answer.
“Isobel, have they got him? Oh my God, I feel so safe. At last I can take a breath. I want to give evidence against him. I know I can’t identify him and there is no physical evidence, but I want to tell what he did to me. He needs to be put away for good.”
Isobel found herself moving one hand in calming movements while she held the phone to her ear. “Emer, things are not at that stage yet. A man is helping the gardaí with their enquiries but that’s all.”
“No, it says in the paper that they’ve found a connection between the victims, Mark Brady – he’s the physio for the basketball team. Yvonne knows Sarah through the basketball.”
“Emer, please calm down. Believe me when I say that there’s a much longer way to go with the investigation than the papers have suggested.”
“What do you mean? Is he still out there?”
Isobel heard the panic return to her voice. “He may be. You need to continue to take reasonable precautions. The gardaí are closer to having a handle on things but it isn’t over yet.”
“Oh God. This is never going to end.”
“It is, Emer. You just have to be patient for a little longer.” Isobel could hear Emer’s deep breaths on the phone. “Hang in there. Things are progressing.”
“I thought it was over. I was so relieved.”
Isobel said, “I know, I know. Progress is being made but don’t believe everything you read in the papers.”
Emer exhaled noisily. “I want him to be punished for what he did to me but there is going to be no way to prove it, is there?”
Isobel rubbed her forehead. “Maybe not. I don’t know. Let me think about that.”
“Thanks, Isobel. I know you’re probably busy but Mum wants a quick word.”
“OK, put her on.”
“Hi, Isobel.”
“Hi, Rebecca. Sorry I haven’t been in touch.”
“That’s OK. You seem to be busy with the guards. You keep doing what you’re doing. Emer was the happiest I’ve seen her when she thought that you had caught that man. Make sure you send him away so my girl can feel safe.”
Isobel smiled. “Everyone is doing their best.”
“You sound tired.”
“I am a bit.”
“You need a good walk, that always helps you relax and think better.”
Isobel laughed. “You could be right.”
“Surely out of the city, near where you live, there are paths that are safe to walk?”
“True.”
“Talk soon.”
“Bye.” Isobel hung up.
She glanced at her missed calls list. She saw Sarah’s name, Brenda’s and Fiona’s. She was tired. She didn’t feel up to having a similar conversation with them all. She got into her car, a plan in her head.
She was hungry and did need a walk. She was going to have a meal in the University Hotel and then go for a walk in Killaloe. It was about fifteen miles out of the city, so a complete change of scenery.
She felt sure that out in County Clare she would be safe from the threat that was hanging over Limerick. In addition, the walkway was beside the lake and a busy road with a near constant stream of cars passing. Maybe away from the city, she could find some peace and slow down her thoughts.
Chapter 34
It was eight thirty when Isobel parked facing Lough Derg, a lake on the River Shannon, two miles outside Killaloe. There were a few cars in the car park and some children playing together on the grass in front of the lake. Isobel, as always, looked at the water. Despite the sunny evening the water looked cold and there were some white crests. It always puzzled Isobel that the water did not necessarily match the weather. A part of her believed that the water reflected the future weather, in which case it was going to get a bit cooler and windier.
Isobel got out of the car and took her Nordic poles from the back. Taking a deep breath, she walked across the car park and onto the path that led back towards Killaloe. Isobel looked around at the familiar trees, her arms and legs moving in coordination. She took a deep breath, her shoulders loosening. As always, as she walked she could feel her mind becoming more peaceful. No wonder this was her favourite place to walk.
The walking path was alongside the road from Killaloe to Scariff. On her righthand side was the road with a high kerb protecting walkers from passing cars. On the left as she walked were houses strung out along the lake with hedges that protected them from prying eyes. Myriad bees and insects flew in and out of the different plants. Every so often there was a gap in the hedge and an accompanying view of the lake and the mountains across the water. This walk had the best of both worlds, beautiful scenery and also the comfort of people around.
As Isobel paced along she thought about the case. Foremost in her mind was what Emer had said. Isobel could feel Emer’s continuing fear on hearing that The Shadow was still at large. Her hope of taking back some power had been dashed when she heard that he was still free and at the realisation that there was no proof of what he had done to her. Isobel could feel herself speeding up as her anger flared at The Shadow for terrorising these women and controlling them. What sort of a man did that? He had changed them from attractive, vibrant women to fearful, inhibited shadows of themselves.
Isobel looked ahead. She could see the house marking the one-mile point. She always thought she was doing well if she could walk that far and back. She hadn’t managed more than two miles yet, soon maybe. She passed the entrance to the derelict house. It always amazed her that someone could let a bungalow degenerate into such a state, especially when it must be worth a pretty penny, a view of Lough Derg being a sought-after view. The driveway was grass-and-weed-ridden and the bushes and trees overgrown. Isobel saw ahead of her the grey gate which was her marker for turning.
Suddenly a hand clamped over her mouth, an arm encircled her body and she was lifted off the ground. Silent and immobilised, she was dragged backwards into the gateway of the derelict house. Her mind went blank. She could hardly breathe. Her eyes widened. She saw a wall, then trees. Already she was behind a tree and the sound of passing cars was muffled. The primal part of her brain screamed that she was hidden from the view of passing motorists. The large rubbery hand covering her mouth lifted. Isobel gulped in some much-needed air. The reprieve was short-lived as two hands encircled her throat.
She could feel the latex gloves on the skin of her neck. She knew this was The Shadow. Her throat was in agony. Already she could feel a darkening in her mind. She dropped the pole from her right hand and reached up to the arm holding her throat.
Isobel blessed Martin and his training. She wriggled as he had taught her and at the same time her fingers sought the interface between gloves and sleeve. The overlap was significant, designed to stop any skin cells being dropped. She found it. Reaching into the space, she scratched deep and hard, aiming to draw blood if she could. Immediately the hands around her throat loosened. It was enough. Taking firm hold of the pole still in her left hand she angled it, bringing her right hand across to add strength, and drove the pole backwards into the man behind her.
It wasn’t perfect but it was enough. His grip loosened as the pole connected with his solar plexus. Isobel tightened her grip on the pole and with both hands drove it home again. She felt his hold on her loosen still more. Isobel directed the end of the pole lower and once more put all her strength behind it. Her blow hit its target and with an expletive his hands were removed from her throat.
Free from his grasp, leaning on the one pole she had left, Isobel staggered out from behind the undergrowth towards the road. She could hear a car coming. Heedless of her safety she ran out on the road, waving the stick. There was a screech of tyres. The car stopped inches from her. Isobel ran around to the driver’s side. Tears were streaming down her face and her breath was coming in gasps from her bruised throat.
The driver already had his window down, his face contorted in sho
ck and rage. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I could have killed you.”
“Help me.” It was barely a whisper.
The curses vanished from the man’s lips. “What’s happened?”
“Call the gardaí.” She touched her throat.
Her rescuer pulled out his phone and started talking. Isobel looked back at the entrance to the derelict house. There was no sign of her attacker. She stood at the side of the car, carefully protecting her right hand. A car stopped behind them, then indicated and passed them, beeping the horn as it went. Isobel kept her head down facing the roadside, ignoring the traffic.
Her rescuer said, “My name is Sam. The gardaí are on their way – the Killaloe station is nearby.” He put on his hazard lights.
Isobel swallowed painfully. “Henry Street, Limerick, Inspector Eoin Ryan.”
Sam looked at her doubtfully.
Isobel gestured to his phone.
A Garda car pulled up. Two officers made their way towards her.
“Is this the lady who’s in trouble? What’s your name?”
Isobel touched her throat gently with her left hand. “Isobel McKenzie. Call Inspector Eoin Ryan, Henry Street, Limerick.” She swallowed slowly to lubricate her throat.
One of the gardaí stepped away and started to direct the traffic around them. The other spoke into his radio for a few minutes then extended the device for her to speak into.
“Isobel, this is Eoin. Are you alright?”
“The Shadow, I scratched him.”
“What? Oh my God. Put that Garda back on the phone.”
Isobel could hear the sound of Eoin shouting instructions. She was really tired. She walked around the car and sat down on the kerb at the edge of the path. The officer finished listening to Eoin. He walked to his car and returned with a clear plastic bag and an elastic band. Isobel nodded as he explained what he wanted to do. As he sealed her hand in the bag to protect the sample she could feel some relief seeping into her system.
He smiled encouragingly at her. “Where were you when you were attacked?”
Broken Silence: A tense psychological thriller Page 19