Broken Silence: A tense psychological thriller

by Fran McDonnell

  “Did you actually ask your women, Isobel, about something missing?”

  “No, unfortunately.”

  “There was nothing missing with Catriona and Michelle. I know they represented a change in his behaviour but definitely there was nothing missing.”

  Colette put down her wineglass and sat forward. Isobel stopped eating too.

  “Oh my God, Eoin, you could be right.”

  Colette leaned back and put both hands to her mouth in a prayerlike gesture. “Of course. The first death was an accident so he wouldn’t have completed his ritual because it wasn’t the outcome that he was looking for. The second murder was rage at his plans being thwarted and the same for Isobel.” She looked at Eoin. “You’re right.”

  Eoin speared a potato. “I can’t help it, it’s a gift.”

  Colette punched him on the arm. “The Shadow’s whole system has been disrupted. The murders are a deviation from his routine of the crime he planned to commit so his behaviour at the murders may also have altered.”

  Isobel put down her cutlery too. “If he has collected trophies, like photos, and if we can find them then we can tie him to all of the women. Oh my God.”

  “Don’t mention this to the women,” Eoin said,

  “Of course I won’t,” Isobel snapped.

  “Sorry. But we have to find him first and the trophies.”

  “And as I’ve been telling Isobel, finding his trove of trophies is going to be hard, even if you have caught the man.” Colette gestured with her hand. “Isobel, you’re not eating.”

  “Sorry.”

  Eoin said, “Let’s leave the case for a while so that we can enjoy our meal.”

  They switched topic and Isobel managed to eat some more. They listened to some music and at about ten o’clock Isobel went up to bed. She was tired but satisfied.

  The bed proved comfortable and very soon she fell asleep.

  Not unexpectedly she was visited by some of the demons from her daytime.

  Something chased her. It was like a huge bat with massive wings. Isobel ran and the bat-like figure chased after her.

  Isobel reached a dead end and turned to face the dark figure. All she could see was a massive smile coming towards her and black eyes that were full of rage. The mouth was moving, saying things that she knew weren’t true.

  The bat figure raised its arms and reached out for Isobel’s throat. She could see a big lump on its right wrist, like a growth. She was terrified.

  The figure said to her, “I have the mark. I have the mark.”

  She woke fighting of her bedclothes and bathed in sweat.

  Shakily she got up and went into her ensuite for a glass of water. She looked in the mirror. She had to understand this dream. The last one had been right about the trophies, maybe this one had some wisdom in it too.

  Chapter 47

  Friday 28th June

  When Isobel awoke next morning she heard voices downstairs. It was nine o’clock. She had really overslept, probably missing breakfast with Eoin and Alanna. The dream had stayed with her: the bat, the rage, the false smile and the growth on the wrist. Somewhere in her mind she could feel pieces stirring. She got up and took a shower, washing off the fear from the night before. She felt better today, fresher, stronger. That long sleep had really helped.

  Isobel packed up her bag and left it ready to go. God knows where she would be tonight.

  Colette was downstairs. “You look refreshed this morning.”

  Isobel smiled. “I feel it.”

  “I told Eoin that I was letting you sleep as long as possible. I have coffee made. Would you like some?”

  “That would be great.”

  “I won’t give you anything to eat. Eoin and Alanna are on their way over to take you to breakfast.”

  Isobel raised her eyebrows.

  “One of their favourite breakfast haunts. They’ve been at work since seven.”

  Isobel sat at the table, cradling her coffee cup.

  “Any dreams last night? I thought I heard you up at one stage.”

  Isobel grinned. “You’re into dreams?”

  “I usually find that the dreaming part of my brain comes up with the answers first, don’t you?”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  “So any dreams?”

  Isobel said, “I got chased by a hooded, cloaked, batlike figure. It was really creepy. He was raging but tried to appear pleasant.”

  “That must be your mind’s version of The Shadow.”

  They heard the front door open. Eoin and Alanna trooped in.

  “Ah, so the Sleeping Beauty has awakened,” Eoin said,

  “And no kiss,” said Colette.

  Isobel stood up quickly and washed her cup out in the sink.

  She turned back to the others.

  “I’m ready to go when you are.”

  Alanna said, “I’ll take your bag.”

  Isobel fled upstairs to collect it. When she came down everyone was in the hall.

  Isobel turned to Colette, “Thank you so much for last night.”

  Colette reached out and hugged her. “You’re welcome to stay tonight too.”

  “Oh, thank you.”

  “We can let you know later.” Eoin hustled them out the door.

  In the car Eoin said, “Alanna is up to speed on all we discussed last night.”

  Alanna said, “If we could find trophies we could prove all of the rapes as well as the murders.”

  Isobel could hear the new resolve in her voice.

  It was a short drive to Sarsfield Street. Alanna parked on the street and they went across to Brekkie. When they entered, a waitress quickly came over and brought them downstairs. It was empty. The waitress handed them the menus and left them to it. Isobel perused the choices. She was hungry. She heard feet on the stairs as more customers arrived.

  Then she felt a presence standing near her. She looked up.

  In front of her was a tall black man with white hair.

  Isobel’s eyes opened wide.

  “That’s not much of a welcome for an old friend.”

  Isobel jumped up and threw herself into his arms. “Malcolm, it’s so good to see you!” She could feel tears in her eyes.

  “What about me? Don’t I get the Céad Míle Fáilte too?”

  Behind Malcolm was Patricia. She hugged her too. Isobel couldn’t believe it.

  “What are you two doing here?”

  Malcolm gave Patricia a chair and pulled another over from a nearby table.

  “I heard you were in trouble so Patricia and I came to help.”

  Isobel said, “Eoin, Alanna, this is Malcolm. He’s –”

  “Retired,” Malcolm cut in.

  Eoin shook his hand. “Ex-police?”

  Malcolm frowned.

  Eoin said, “I can always tell.”

  Malcolm nodded, “Once a cop …” He turned to Isobel. “Bella came too.”

  Isobel looked around. “Where is she?”

  “She’s had a walk and her breakfast and is currently sleeping in the car. You’ll be able to stay at home tonight and you’ll have all the protection you need.”

  Isobel laughed.

  Malcolm said, “Bella’s a retired cop too.”

  Eoin frowned.

  Patricia shook her head. “Bella’s a dog – a German Shepherd.”

  “From the K9 unit,” Malcolm said. “Nobody will touch Isobel with Bella beside her.”

  Isobel could feel her tension dissolving. With Patricia, Malcolm and Bella around she felt confident, safe.

  “It sounds like you’re forming your own personal force, Isobel,” Alanna said.

  “Not at all,” Malcolm said. “We’re just friends concerned about Isobel and wanting to help when she’s in trouble.”

  Patricia smiled very widely. “Yeah, we’re staying until after Monday. I told Malcolm you have that business meeting and that I wanted to go with you to it.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
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  The waitress arrived and they all gave their orders. Conversation over breakfast was about Patricia and Malcolm’s journey over on the ferry.

  As they cleared their plates, Eoin said, “Isobel, we’re working our way through Mark’s list of cars. We have a lot of interviews to do which will probably give us very little usable information.”

  Malcolm nodded. “Leg work.”

  “Yeah. Time consuming but necessary. You guys need to get settled in at Isobel’s. Why don’t we meet this evening? We should have all of our interviews done by then, even with people who commute for work.”

  Isobel nodded. “Sure.”

  Malcolm said, “I don’t want to leave Bella in the car too long. Maybe we could drive out to your house now, Isobel?”

  “Yes. And I need to collect my car from Killaloe.”

  “No,” said Alanna. “We have it at Henry Street. I had it brought there after the attack.”

  “Why don’t I collect it now? Patricia, you go with Malcolm to show him the way – if you can remember it?”

  “No, Isobel,” Malcolm said. “You are not travelling on your own. Patricia can go with you. Give me your address and my satnav will get me there.”

  When Isobel pulled into her driveway Malcolm was already there with the car doors open and Bella was out exploring the garden. When Isobel got out of the car Bella barked and came over to give her a friendly lick and accept some major petting.

  Malcolm looked around. “This is beautiful, Isobel, so close to the city and yet in the wilds of the country – and the view!”

  Isobel unlocked the front door and for the next half an hour she helped her guests to settle into their respective rooms. Isobel’s house was now at capacity.

  Malcolm had brought a crate which he placed in the canopied area in front of the garage. “Bella can sleep here and keep guard.”

  Isobel felt relieved. She knew that The Shadow couldn’t get to her while these friends were around.

  Isobel put on the kettle and when they all had teas and coffees and Bella had a bowl of water, they gathered around her kitchen table.

  “Tell me about this attack on you,” Malcolm said.

  “I’ve told him all that Alanna told me,” Patricia said.

  “Surely the police have found some leads?” said Malcolm.

  “Where I was attacked is at a lake about two or three miles outside a village. Eoin said that they checked the cars that were parked in the same car park as me. Everyone is in the clear so far.”

  Malcolm said, “Well, maybe he parked somewhere else then?”

  “There isn’t really anywhere else to park nearby. The walkway is along the side of a road. There are houses and driveways along the path but they are all private property. The Garda are questioning residents but there is nothing so far.”

  Malcolm made a face. “I want to go and see where it all happened.”

  “What bothers me is the time scale of it all,” Patricia said.

  “What do you mean?” Isobel asked.

  “Well, your name appeared on-line that afternoon in connection with the case but it was just a name.”

  “Yes, the photo that was used was taken when I was going into the Garda Station. I recognise what I was wearing and the background. I saw three people waiting as I passed. It was one of them.”

  “What time was that?” Malcolm asked.

  “That was five o’clock.”

  “I think that while your name being released may have concerned The Shadow, it was really the picture of you going into the police station that really made you a target,” Patricia said.

  “Eoin blames that picture too.”

  “I want to kill that photographer,” Malcolm said. “Do they know who he is?”

  “Yes, but there is little they can do. I was even talking to a solicitor today and she agreed that there was really nothing that could be done.”

  “The picture was uploaded almost immediately,” Patricia said. “I saw it myself at six o’clock. And you were attacked at what time?”

  “Sometime between eight and nine.”

  “And what did you do between five o’clock and the attack?”

  “We had a meeting. I left the Garda Station and went to the University Hotel for something to eat, then on to Killaloe for a walk. I was attacked on the walk.”

  “Not much time to plan an attack then,” Malcolm said.

  “No.”

  “So they either came to Henry Street the minute the photograph was posted and waited outside and followed you – or saw you at the hotel or at the walk.”

  “The news piece didn’t say you were at a meeting in Henry Street only that you were helping the gardaí,” said Patricia.

  Malcolm said, “The Shadow must have dropped everything and found you very quickly or –”

  “Or he was just lucky and ran into you by chance and he took his opportunity,” said Patricia.

  “That’s what I think,” Malcolm said.

  “I got attacked because I was unlucky?”

  “No. He found you so quickly because he was lucky or you happened to play into his hands.”

  Isobel’s face creased in distress.

  “You thought that walking beside a road –”

  “A busy road.”

  “Would keep you safe but he obviously knew better. All I’m saying is that there wasn’t much time to plan and yet he seems to have managed to slip away. That isn’t chance. Something isn’t sitting right with me here. I want to see where you were in Killaloe – that might help me figure out what is bothering me.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Patricia looked at Isobel shrewdly. “You’ve something in your head too about the case, haven’t you? I know you have.”

  “Maybe. I certainly have some things that I want to check out.”

  “What do Eoin and Alanna think? Why are they not checking them out?”

  Isobel made a face. “Eoin and I had a bit of a disagreement yesterday about what was information and what was gossip.”

  Patricia raised an eyebrow. “You want to follow up some gossip that you think might be valuable?”

  “I want to follow it up because of something Colette said and I want to do that without getting my head bitten off.”

  “Where is it that you need to go?” Malcolm said.

  “Into the city.”

  “Why don’t we take the two cars? You show me the walk and Bella and I will investigate it. We might even go the whole hog and fully retrace your steps to the hotel. After all, I am a visitor here and it is good to check out the local establishments.”

  Patricia grinned at Isobel. “And we can go and catch up on the gossip.”

  “Just like old times in London,” Malcolm said.

  “Exactly,” said Patricia.

  Chapter 48

  Isobel pulled into the car park at the lake in almost the same position as Wednesday night and Malcolm parked his estate beside her.

  “Are you alright?” Patricia asked.

  Isobel gave a tentative smile. “I’m glad you’re both here with me.”

  Patricia nodded. “I’m sure the first time back is the worst.”

  Malcolm was already out of the car and Bella was sitting waiting for her lead to be attached.

  Isobel said, “This way.”

  Isobel and Patricia walked in front and Malcolm came behind with an ecstatic Bella who was exploring the hedgerow as much as her lead would allow.

  Malcolm called, “This is fantastic, Isobel. I love the lake and I can see why you walk here.”

  Isobel smiled back at him.

  Malcolm held up his hands. “And I can see why you thought it was safe.”

  As they neared the place where she was attacked Isobel could feel her anxiety worsening. She showed Malcolm and Patricia the place and, as she described what happened, she cried. Patricia hugged her. As her tears died away Isobel felt some relief. No doubt it would be easier to come here the next time.

  When Isobe
l had composed herself again, Patricia said, “Alanna told me that you scratched him.”

  “Yes, and the DNA is a match to the man who attacked Nicky.”

  “But he’s not in the system?” Malcolm said,

  Isobel shook her head.

  “And he had the black rubber or latex suit on?”

  “Yes. I didn’t see it, but I felt it. I found the gap between the sleeve and one of his gloves and managed to scratch him.” Isobel gestured with her hand on her arm.

  “Which wrist did you scratch?”

  Isobel shut her eyes a moment. “He was behind me. I dropped my walking pole and reached up …” She made the movement again now, “with my right hand, because it’s stronger, and scratched his right wrist.”

  “So between five o’clock and nine he found you, got into his suit and found a place to ambush you.”

  Isobel frowned. “Yes.”

  “He must know the area reasonably well and either he carries that suit around or his hiding place for it is easily accessible.”

  Isobel nodded. She could see the sense in what Malcolm was saying.

  Malcolm looked around. “You can go and check out your gossip. I’m going to call to a few houses.”

  “What are you going to say?”

  “I’ll think of something. I’ll ring you later and we can arrange a meeting place.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Malcolm laughed. “I have a phone. I have Google Maps. I’ll find wherever I want to go.”

  Isobel checked her watch. It was two o’clock.

  “Where are we going now?” Patricia asked.

  “To talk to Charles Purcell – he drives the bus for the basketball club.”

  Isobel drove to Charles’ workplace. They were earlier today. When they arrived Isobel asked in the office and they directed her to an area at the back. Charles was washing the bus in the yard.

  “Hi, Isobel. More questions? And a new colleague today.”

  Patricia laughed. “I’m not a detective.” She introduced herself and they shook hands.

  Charles led them to a little office and made tea for them. They gathered around a table.

  “What did you forget to ask me yesterday?” Charles asked then.

  “Yesterday you mentioned a man whose wife left him.”