Broken Silence: A tense psychological thriller

by Fran McDonnell

  Malcolm dragged them on past the gate a bit.

  Patricia said, “What now?”

  Malcolm frowned. “This is the boatyard. We need to find out if Brian has his boat here and if he parks his cars here, his own and his mother’s.”

  “I know.”

  Malcolm said, “Well, we just need to be careful that whoever we talk to doesn’t contact Brian. He is, after all, one of their customers.”

  “Good point.”

  “I have an idea,” Isobel said. “Malcolm, you keep an eye on the yard. Patricia, come with me.”

  They made their way quickly back to the car and drove across the river and parked outside Venice Pizza House.

  Patricia said, “What are you doing? How can you think about food at a time like this?”

  “I’m getting some pizzas for us to take away so that we can share it with the lad at the boatyard. Maybe if we feed him, he might be more disposed to answering casual queries.”

  Patricia laughed. “I’ve heard of worse strategies.”

  Isobel got three pizzas and some soft drinks and drove back to the car park. Once again, they parked and walked up towards the boatyard. Isobel stopped at the gate and called out to the young man. “Hello, excuse me. Could we please come in and see around the boatyard? A friend of mine, her husband used to have a boat here, perhaps he still does?”

  The young man wandered over. “Who’s that then?”

  Isobel grinned. “Let us in and we’ll share our pizza. I would love to see where they used to come.”

  The young man looked around then shrugged and opened the gate. Malcolm and Bella walked up.

  “Malcolm, great, we can have our picnic here.” Isobel turned to the young man. “What’s your name?”

  “Joseph.”

  Isobel walked through the gate. “Great, Joseph, where is a good place to eat?”

  Joseph led them over to where there were three picnic tables and they all gathered round.

  Malcolm said, “What sort of pizza did you get?”

  Isobel grinned. “A marguerita, a pepperoni and a goat’s cheese.”

  “Pepperoni for me,” said Malcolm.

  “They’re all nice,” Joseph said.

  Patricia laughed. “I agree.”

  They all munched on pizza slices and Patricia shared out the drinks.

  Joseph took a can. “I was getting a bit hungry actually.”

  Patricia said, “Help yourself to another slice.”

  “I was just saying to Joseph that friends of mine used to have a boat here,” Isobel said.

  Malcolm caught her eye. Isobel paused. Malcolm fiddled with his phone and then placed it on the table.

  Patricia said, “Lucky them, who was that?”

  “Brian Fitzwilliam and his wife. Did you know them, Joseph?”

  “Yeah. Mr. Fitzwilliam, anyway. Not his wife. I don’t think I ever met her. He still has a boat here.”

  “Really?”

  Joseph helped himself to another slice of pizza and munched on it. “Yes. His mum and dad always had a boat here. Brian uses their boat.”

  Malcolm said, “Of course, of course. And does he use the boat much?”

  Joseph laughed. “Well, he’s not a sailor like his dad but he comes to spend time on the boat most weekends, nearly every Saturday night, I would say.”

  Isobel said, “You mean he sleeps on it.”

  “Yeah, he sleeps on it at the weekends.”

  “Which one is it?” Patricia asked.

  Joseph stood up,. “Do you see that one with the blue cabin, a bit away from the others? That’s it. She’s called the Swallow.”

  Malcolm nodded. “I see it.”

  “It’s quite comfortable. As I said, he would usually stay over on a Saturday night. During the week he might pop down for a few hours on the water or he takes his mum’s car for a spin.”

  Isobel tensed and said, “I thought his mum was in a home? Why would she have a car still?”

  “Brian told me. He drives the car up so she can see it. He does that regularly, at least once a week, if not more.”

  Isobel looked around. “I thought his mother had a Ford Focus. I don’t see one of those parked here. Where does he keep it?”

  Isobel realised she was gripping her hands together and consciously tried to relax.

  Joseph tipped his head. “All of the people who have boats can park their cars right here. But Brian is so determined to preserve that car that he asked me if he could keep it in one of our empty sheds. It keeps the car battery from getting cold in the winter. We’re not using the shed anyway and he gives me a bit extra for the use of the shed.”

  Malcolm said, “I had a Ford Focus one time. I loved that car. Can I see Brian’s?”

  Joseph frowned. “I don’t know.”

  “Silly really, nostalgia. I had great times in that car.”

  Patricia laughed. “Go on, Joseph. Help an old man relive his glory days.”

  Malcolm stood up. “Less of the old, you. Do you hear that, Joseph? Do you hear what I have to put up with?”

  Joseph grinned. “Come on then. I only have the keys to the garage, not to the car. You can have a look at it, that can’t do any harm.”

  Malcolm said, “Exactly.”

  Malcolm took his phone with him and followed Joseph to a padlocked door. Joseph opened it.

  Malcolm whistled. “Mine used to be bright red. They go for ever these cars.” He walked into the garage and around the car. “It’s in good nick.” He walked back out of the garage towards Isobel and Patricia. “I had many happy hours motoring in mine.” With his back to Joseph and his body shielding him, he gave a thumbs-up sign to the women.

  Joseph locked up the garage again and followed Malcolm back to the table.

  Malcolm pushed the pizza box towards the younger man. “Go on, have some more pizza.”

  “Lovely.”

  Isobel said, “Do you know when Brian last used the car?”

  Joseph looked uneasy. “What’s this about?”

  Isobel bit her lip.

  Malcolm said, “Joseph, I’m a private investigator.”

  “Are you investigating Brian? I shouldn’t have told you anything. I’ll probably lose my job. Why are you investigating him? What do you think he has done?”

  Patricia said, “Maybe nothing. But it’s very important that he doesn’t know that we’re asking questions about him.”

  “Oh God! I’ll definitely lose my job. He’s a solicitor.”

  Malcolm said, “We’re not going to say anything. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Joseph said, “I hope you do get him for something.”

  Isobel raised her eyebrows.

  Joseph made a face. “He treats me like shit.”

  Isobel said, “Do you remember when he was last here?”

  “I think it was Wednesday evening, a real flying visit. He arrived and raced to the garage. It’s not like he’s the chatty type ever but he completely ignored me. He changed into some tracksuit thing and then drove off. I don’t know, maybe he was going to see his mother but what’s the rush? It’s not like she’s going anywhere. He was back in an hour and changed again and then drove away. I wasn’t even speaking to him.”

  Patricia said, “Was he carrying anything when he went to his car?

  “Like what?”

  Patricia inclined her head. “Like a bag.”

  “No. He had nothing in his hands. He must have had the change of clothes in the garage or in the car. He had no bag when he arrived and none when he left.”

  Malcolm said, “I didn’t see any clothes hanging up in the garage.”

  “He must keep them in the car then. He’s usually in casual clothes when he drives his mother’s car.”

  Isobel said, “What hours do you work?”

  Joseph smiled. “All the hours that God sends. I’m a student saving for next year in college. It suits everyone that I’m happy to work very long days.”

  “Have you an
y days off this week?”

  Joseph grinned. “Tomorrow. Sunday is the busiest day here so they usually have someone senior on.”

  Malcolm said, “Don’t breathe a word to Brian about our questions.”

  “Don’t worry. I don’t want to get in trouble, I won’t tell him.”

  In companionable silence they finished the pizza. Isobel collected up the empty boxes. “I’ll take these away with me.”

  Joseph said, “Thanks. That broke up my day nicely.”

  “Mum’s the word.”

  Joseph nodded. “Definitely.”

  They said goodbye and walked back to Malcolm’s car.

  Once inside Isobel said, “What now?”

  “I recorded him saying that Brian uses the car and,” Malcolm brandished his phone, “I have a photo of the registration number of the car, the one that he told Inspector Ryan he had sold.”

  “So we can prove he lied to the police.”

  Patricia said, “And it sounds like his bag, with the rubber suit in it, is in the car.”

  “Should we tell Eoin and Alanna now?”

  Malcolm said, “For the gardaí to get a warrant to search a solicitor’s car, I don’t know. The development of evidence, well, really, we followed a theory which is proving to be right but … to convince a judge to authorise a search of a solicitor’s property, it seems light to me. I’m pretty sure that we wouldn’t have enough for a warrant in England.”

  “So what do we do?” said Isobel.

  Malcolm frowned. “I think we need to wait until he has the car out on the road and then ring Eoin. He can probably do a routine stop since he was looking for the car and if he finds Brian driving it he has grounds to question him. Hopefully, if the bag with the black suit is in the car that would mean they could get a search warrant for his house, his office and the boat. What do you think?”

  Isobel frowned. “Yes, I can see that that is a clear line of evidence with no theories or suppositions in it.”

  Patricia said, “So long as he doesn’t get rid of any evidence.”

  “But if he doesn’t know that we suspect him, then why would he?”

  “Exactly. Which means that,” Malcolm touched his forefinger, “number one, we have to watch him to make sure that he doesn’t dispose of any evidence.” He touched his middle finger. “And number two, it needs to be me and Bella that are doing the watching because he knows you.”

  “Oh yes.”

  “I have my camera with a telephoto lens with me but what I really need is a boat – then I can be near Brian when he’s on his boat relaxing. It would be easy for me to keep him under surveillance.” He looked expectantly at Isobel.

  Patricia said, “Not much then!”

  Isobel raised her eyebrows. “I’m not Santa Claus or a Fairy Godmother.”

  Malcolm laughed. “No, but surely in your network of acquaintances you know someone who can help us?”

  Patricia said, “I think this might be a bit more difficult than getting the address of a property.”

  Malcolm made a face. “Isobel?”

  “I’m thinking.” She chewed her lip.

  “You see, if you don’t ask you don’t get.”

  Patricia said, “Are you sure this isn’t a ruse just to spend time on the water?”

  Malcolm grinned. “It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it.”

  Isobel snapped her fingers. “My neighbours have a boat.”

  Malcolm turned to Patricia. “You see, I knew she’d get me a boat.”

  “Maybe they would let us use it. I don’t even know where they have it.”

  “You try and sort that out. I’m going to find a place to watch the boatyard, in case Brian comes for his usual Saturday visit.” Malcolm pulled a bag from under the car seat. He collected a bottle of water and taking Bella he ushered them out of his car. He locked it and then walked back up the road past the boat yard.

  Isobel sat into her own car and pulled out her phone.

  “Hi Tanya, this is Isobel.”

  “How are you? We heard about the attack on you, are you OK?”

  “Yes, yes. I’m fine.” She made a face at Patricia. “I’m still helping the gardaí and at the moment what we need is access to a boat, a civilian one. Is it possible to have the use of your boat over the weekend? It’s really important.” She bit her lip. This seemed like a big ask.

  Isobel could hear muttering in the background.

  Then Tanya said, “Yes, you can borrow the boat. We have her up in Portumna at the moment.”

  “We need it in Killaloe.”

  “No problem. Ross can bring the boat to Killaloe and berth it. I’ll drive the car over and pick him up.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “We’re on the boat at the moment so two hours max. Where do you want it?”

  “Near the marina. You know where the boatyard is and the carpark with the picnic area in front?”

  “Yes. No problem.”

  “Great, thank you, Tanya, I really appreciate it. A friend of mine, Malcolm, who has a German Shepherd is going to use the boat – is that OK with you?”

  “Fine, I’ll tell Ross to look out for him. Our boat is called the Floss. See you later.”

  Isobel phoned Malcolm. “OK. My neighbour Ross is bringing their boat, the Floss. He’ll be here in two hours and will moor in the vicinity of the boatyard.”

  “Great, Isobel. You and Patricia stay out of sight. This is Saturday, Brian’s usual day to come here.”

  “We will. You be careful.”

  “Always.”

  Patricia said, “Keep us informed, Malcolm.”

  “I will, if there are any developments.”

  Patricia turned to Isobel. “I can’t go home and just wait to hear. What can we do?”

  “Come on, we’ll go for a drive to Mountshannon. I’ll buy you an ice cream.”

  Despite the beautiful views of the lake and the mountains around from the harbour in Mountshannon, Isobel and Patricia found it hard to relax. They walked around the labyrinth in the public gardens to pass the time and were still there when Malcolm rang at five o’clock.

  Isobel said, “Malcolm. I’m putting you on speaker phone.”

  “Hi. How are you, ladies?

  “God, this waiting is awful,” said Patricia.

  “I know but there’s nothing we can do – that’s surveillance.”

  “Well, any news?” Isobel asked.

  Malcolm chuckled. “Ross brought the boat and I’m on her now with a great view of the Swallow. There’s no sign of Brian yet.”

  Patricia said, “What about food? Do you want us to bring you some groceries?”

  Malcolm laughed. “No need. Ross stocked me up and Bella and I are chilling in the sunshine.”

  Isobel couldn’t help laughing. “You’ve landed on your feet.”

  “On my sea legs and you can call me Captain. I’m telling you, I could get used to this.”

  “We’re going to go and have some dinner.”

  “Be ready in case I ring and need you to follow Brian.”

  He rang off.

  Patricia said, “This is unbearable.”

  “I know but we can’t make a mistake now. Come on, let’s go for something to eat.”

  “Where?”

  Isobel smiled. “I know a good place in Tuamgraney.”

  The food in Nuala’s was excellent and the laidback pub atmosphere helped Isobel and Patricia to relax. When Malcolm rang again after seven, Isobel and Patricia were in the car heading back to Newport.

  “I’m ringing with the latest update. Brian has arrived and has carried some bags onto the boat. It looks like groceries. He hasn’t gone near the garage.”

  Patricia said, “OK.”

  Isobel said, “Do you want us to wait in Killaloe in case we need to follow him?”

  “Maybe that’s a good idea.”

  “We’ll park in the same car park as this morning, then no matter what way he goes we can follow h
im.”

  Isobel insisted that they go to Bora nearby and have a non-alcoholic drink in case they looked suspicious sitting in the car. That helped pass the time for them. They stayed near the door in case they had to leave quickly but the good weather had everyone out and there was a great atmosphere. Despite themselves they relaxed and chatted to people nearby.

  At nine o’clock Malcolm called again.

  Isobel and Patricia moved out of the pub and walked towards the car.

  Malcolm said, “Look, he’s playing music and relaxing. I’d say he isn’t going out for the night. I’ll ring you in the morning when I see him up.”

  The last call came at eleven o’clock.

  Isobel ran to Patricia so they could both listen in.

  “What is it?”

  “He’s doing something over the side of the boat. I hope he isn’t getting rid of evidence. I’m worried. I think first thing tomorrow you need to go to Eoin and Alanna and tell them everything. I’m afraid that we might lose this guy or the evidence.”

  “Absolutely. I’ll text them now and arrange something.”

  Eoin got back immediately, suggesting that they meet the next morning at Colette’s at eight o’clock.

  There was nothing more to do. Isobel went to bed but found it hard to sleep.

  When she did she found herself searching for a gold light. She could see it ahead of her and she tried to move closer. Suddenly the light disappeared – one minute it was there, the next it was gone.

  Isobel moved forward in the dark, endeavouring to go in the direction of where the light had been. As she inched forward suddenly there was no ground under her front foot. She stumbled and fell to her knees.

  She felt with her hands and found the edge of the hole. She couldn’t see anything. Slowly she extended her hand and reached down into the hole.

  Despite her misgivings and fear, she reached her hand around in the darkness. There seemed to be nothing there.

  Then, with her fingertips she touched something. Leaning as far into the hole as she could, she contacted something rough. She grasped it and pulled it slowly out.

  The rough surface was a cover. She peeled it back and there was the gold light.

  Isobel lay flat on her back in relief.

  Chapter 55

  Sunday 30th June