One Coffin Too Many

by Brendan O'Grady

  Devoy made a face.

  “ Not today. I’m too tired for trying new things out. Let’s open a bottle and then you can explain everything to me. “

  “ Fine with me. I’ll get a corkscrew then and some glasses. “

  Caroline made to get up when Devoy’s phone rang.

  Devoy immediately put his finger to his lips.

  Devoy looked at the screen and saw it was Angela.

  “ Sorry Angela. I’m tied up at the moment. What did you find? “

  Devoy listened for a while.

  “ You did. Great. Make sure you photograph everything. No, I can’t make it. I’m with someone. No, not that blonde. Another one. I’ll explain everything tomorrow. Wait. I’ve an idea. Hold on a second.“

  “ Have you any objection to your identity being made known to another cop – my assistant? “ he asked Caroline.

  “ As long as I’m not compromised, Frank. You know the rules. “

  “ Angela, “ he asked. “ I’m going to introduce you to somebody – a source -somebody who prefers to remain anonymous. Can you cope with that? “

  “ I see. Well that person is going to help us with our investigation. I can’t go into details now. It’s all hush-hush. You’ll just have to take my word for it. No, I’m not compromising the investigation – I’m short-circuiting it, that’s all. No, I’ve no choice. The official way would take too long.I don’t want to develop writer’s cramp. Believe me, I’m a long time at this game. Yes, I’ll take full responsibility as the senior officer. Good. Okay? “

  Devoy gave her directions to Caroline’s cottage.

  “ See you soon. “

  Caroline laughed.

  “ Seems your partner is a tough nut. Wants to do everything by the book. I hope you’re not making a mistake Frank bringing her into the circle. “

  “ Leave the worrying to me, Caroline. “

  Caroline shook her head.

  “ Frank we’ve been doing each other favours since you came here. It’s symbiotic. I don’t want any hassle with your colleague. If I’m compromised I’m no use to any paper. I’ll never get a job again and certainly not here. This town suits me fine. I’ve had enough of big cities and sleepless nights and overbearing editors and sub-editors. I like it here and I want to stay here. Bear that in mind. “

  “ You don’t exist as far as I’m concerned, Caroline. I’ll never put your head on the block. “

  “ Come over here, Frank. I want to show you something. “

  “ Ah, that’s more like it, Caroline. That’s what a man likes to hear from a sexy lady. “

  “ Bullshitter. “

  Devoy went over and sat beside her.

  “ Watch this, “ she said as she played with one of the controls.

  Devoy watched the dark screen come to life. He saw himself getting out of the car and later staring up at the drone as it filmed him.

  “ Nice, “ he remarked. “ The perfect tool for spying. “

  “ That’s why I bought it, Frank. It helps me with my job. It gets me into places that are out of bounds if you know what I mean A girl needs all the help she can get. “

  “ I bet. So where did you get it? “

  “ Off the internet. “

  “ Are they legal? “

  “ I don’t know yet. Why?

  “ Just wondering. That’s all. “

  “ Frank. I’m a reporter. I don’t believe in asking unless I already know something type of logic. Ask too many questions at an official level and the next thing you know a team of investigators from some government department will descend on you. They’ll ask you lots of questions, give you no answers , quote some obscure law or regulation that you’ve never heard of and while you’re considering it inform you that they’ve no choice but to confiscate your apparatus until the relevant minister has made a decision. You know the way it is with these people. They’re a bunch of pricks who couldn’t drive a car and chew gum at the same time but they spend all their waking hours dreaming up ways to annoy people. “

  Devoy held up his hands in surrender.

  “ You think you’ve got it bad on the outside. I work for the bastards. It’s an everyday occurrence for me. Give me a break, Caroline. “

  “ So you know? “

  “ I never saw this object before. Okay? Have faith in me. “

  “ I bet you say that to every woman you cross. “

  “ Only the man-eaters. “

  But Devoy’s detective nose was still itchy.

  “ Have you ever been spotted? “

  “ Oh, yes, lots of times. “

  “ And what happened? “

  “ Well nothing really. There’s very little anybody can do except send up another drone and engage in some sort of dog-fight. But it hasn’t come to that yet. I’m very discreet. One guy even took a pot-shot at the drone. “

  “ You’re kidding? “

  “ No, I’m not kidding. The prick thought us hicks weren’t aware of his unauthorized extension to his bed and breakfast. He thought it was a fait accompli as they say until it appeared in the paper. He never tried it again. “

  “ Nice but what if it registers on radar? Surely they’ll send somebody out to see what’s up? “

  “ Frank, it doesn’t go that high and anyway I’m sure I’m not the only person with a drone. “

  “ There’s always the chance though. “

  “ You’re right, Frank and maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this. The police helicopter buzzed me once but since then I have invested in this, “ she said, pointing to a military-looking radio lying on the grass at her feet.

  “ I can listen in, Frank. It’s no big deal. I know when they’re onto me. There’s always a way around regulations. I’m sure you’re aware of that as a cop. “

  Their conversation was interrupted by a car horn.

  “ I think we’ve got company. “

  “ Wait, “ advised Caroline. “ Let’s have a look-see. Watch. “

  Caroline pressed a switch and the propellers of the drone started to turn. They spun faster and then she activated another switch. The aircraft took off vertically and she guided it over the cottage.

  “ Watch now. “ she said.

  Devoy watched the screen as the camera focused on Angela. She was standing by the car looking around. Caroline brought the drone down a bit lower until it was hovering a few meters over her head. Angela backed away as the drone followed her and she finally took refuge in her car. Devoy heard the car start and he decided to make a dash for it.

  “ Bring it back, Caroline, “ he shouted as he raced around the side of the cottage. “ Bring it back quickly or there’ll be trouble. “

  The car was pulling away when he finally got Angela to stop. She got out of the car and glared at him.

  “ What the hell’s going on, Frank? I can call you Frank now, can’t I. “

  “ Sorry about that, Angela. We were trying out the drone. “

  “ Well you should be. How dare you do that to me? I’m an officer of the law, too, you know. Indulging one of your bloody blondes at my expense now. Is that it? “

  “ Look, I said I was sorry. “

  “ Let’s go and see Caroline. Okay? “

  Angela followed Devoy around the side of the cottage. Caroline was sitting down smoking a cigarette waiting for them. Caroline stood up.

  “ I’m Caroline and I’m sorry about that. It wasn’t deliberate I assure you. “

  She held out her hand.

  Angela paused still seething with anger.

  “ I don’t know what Frank told you but I believe there’s a law against that sort of thing. “

  Caroline rolled her eyes.

  Devoy jumped in fearing a confrontation.

  “ Angela, Caroline did the same thing with me. you can’t blame her. She’s a good reporter. She’s living out here on her own. She has to protect herself. “

  Angela folded her arms and looked away as if she wasn’t interested in the ex
planation.

  “ Please, “ begged Devoy. “ don’t make an issue out of it, Angela. “

  Angela wagged her head.

  “ Okay, so what are we doing here, then apart from being entertained by a toy? “

  “ Angela, please stop it. We are here because Caroline is going to help us. We’re going to need that drone to find out about these secret holiday villages. We’re taking a short cut I admit but that’s the way it is. I take full responsibility. If you want out say so now. “

  “ You’re the boss, Frank. Why ask me? “

  “ Because you have to be part of this – otherwise it won’t work. I can’t have you half in, half out. It’s either all the way or nothing. “

  “ So you’re the other blonde, then? “ Angela asked ignoring Devoy.

  “ I wasn’t aware there was another one but you know Frank. “

  “ Indeed I do. “

  There was a pause as both women sized up one another. One was blonde with short cropped hair in her early forties dressed in jeans and a sweat shirt while the other was dark with a pony tail and pushing thirty. One a cop, the other a reporter.

  “ Em, “ said Devoy. “ Caroline’s a reporter for the local rag. “

  “ Paper, “ corrected Caroline.

  “ Sorry, newspaper. “

  “ It was Caroline who nailed Horgan photo-wise and told me where his house was. She also photographed you and me nailing Horgan. She and Horgan go way back. We need her. “

  Angela nodded her head and smiled.

  “ I see. Well we better shake hands then seeing as we’re on the same side. “

  Both women shook hands.

  Well, now that we’ve got that out of the way , I suggest we have a drink first and then later if we want to we’ll get down to business. You can show us what you dug up and we’ll take it from there. How does that sound?

  Devoy’s suggestion was greeted with smiles.

  Later Devoy and Moore tried to sober up in Devoy’s kitchen with black coffees.

  “ So what was that all about, Angela? What have you got against Caroline apart from being a blonde, of course. “

  “ I’ve nothing against her,” protested Angela. “ Nothing personal at all. She has her job to do and so have we. I just think we’re crossing a line – you know – crossing to the other side. I don’t like it. You may not care because you’re established but I have my career in front of me. I’d like to think I’m going places. I don’t want to end up promoted sideways like Hartigan’s moll. Besides, I’ve nobody to pull strings for me if things go wrong. I’m on my own. “

  “ Fair enough. You stay on the straight and narrow and I’ll plough ahead. That way you won’t be contaminated by any of my actions. If it comes to the worst you can deny any knowledge of my ex-curricular actions. I’ll say I kept you in the dark. Okay? “

  “ As you wish, Frank. However, I don’t think we’ve turned over every stone so far. “

  “ How do you mean? “

  “ I was thinking before we start searching for Cremin’s hideaway first perhaps we should have a look at Horgan’s house. If Caroline is right about this man being as crooked as she makes him out to be then his house could hold a lot of secrets. If we could get inside his house then who knows what we might stumble across. What we find there could even lead us to Cremin’s other house. Why not give it a try? “

  Devoy nodded appreciatively.

  “ I think you’ve got a point there, Angela. We overlooked Horgan’s pad. “

  “ We’ve nothing to lose.” Continued Angela. “ Dillon thinks he has everything wrapped up for the bail hearing but what if we were to find something incriminating that would link Horgan in some way to Cremin. That would really screw up Dillon’s defence. “

  “ Christ, I think that’s a good one, Angela. Well done. Not just a pretty face after all I must add. “

  Detective Moore blushed.

  “ That’s a compliment coming from you, Frank. “

  Devoy’s phone buzzed.

  An SMS appeared on the screen.

  Thanks for the visit and wine.

  Your assistant sure has the hots for you, Frank. Watch out!

  Caroline.

  “ Anything I should know? “ asked Angela.

  “ No, just Caroline thanking us for our company. “

  Devoy’s phone buzzed again. Another SMS appeared.

  Arriving Saturday morning, Dad at the school. Be sure to be there at 10!

  Love Sienna.

  Devoy grunted.

  “ That’s Saturday ruled out for some spying with the drone. Sienna’s arriving at ten. “

  Angela nodded.

  “ I’ll text Caroline and explain. Besides we’ve enough on our plate at the moment. Let’s get ready for tomorrow and Mr. Dillon. I’m told he’s a slippery customer. “

  “ I see. So what do you want me to do? “

  “ Sullivan should be back by now. Let’s get two search warrants: one for Horgan’s house, the other for Cremin’s. “

  “ Cremin’s? We already searched Cremin’s the day he was murdered. “

  “ It was only superficial, Angela. Legally we’d no right to be there. Happily for us Mrs. Walsh was on the scene with the keys and invited us in. So we were well within the law thanks to her. “

  “ Will you advise her, then? “

  “ I will and Cremin’s solicitor, too. “

  “ So tomorrow morning, then? “

  “ Yes, and now I’d better get this house shipshape otherwise I’ll have another female called Sienna on my back. “

  ✽✽✽

  CHAPTER 12

  Friday

  Richard Dillon guffawed and shook his head as if what Devoy had said to him was far-fetched.

  “ I’ve heard some good arguments in my time to deny bail, Inspector Devoy but that’s the best one yet. Really, you don’t expect me to swallow that, now. I mean, it’s…it’s just outlandish. The judge will laugh you out of chambers. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about. “

  “ Say what you like, Mr. Dillon but don’t forget there are already two men in the ground and your client is connected in one way or the other to both of them. He may walk for one but he certainly won’t walk for the other. “

  Dillon brought his eyebrows together in concentration.

  “ I’m not sure I’m reading you right, Inspector. If my client is guilty of killing Mr. Fallon and suspected of killing Mr. Cremin, then what has he to be afraid of. Both men are dead in case you haven’t noticed. What’s he to be afraid of? Are you afraid he’ll commit suicide? Really, Inspector, you’ll have to do better than that. “

  “ My argument still stands, Mr. Dillon. “

  “ But your argument doesn’t hold any water, Inspector. Can’t you see that? If my client, Mr. Horgan is the murderer of Mr. Fallon then what has he to be afraid of. It seems to me you want to have your cake and eat it. He has nothing to be afraid of, Inspector and as for being suspected of killing Mr. Cremin there’s no proof whatsoever. Other than acting as an agent of Cremin there’s nothing else. You even admitted that at the press conference. There’s no law against that. You haven’t a leg to stand on. Admit it! “

  “ Be that as it may, you, yourself are well aware of the evidence we have against your client. There’s the video of him in the nursing home, on the stairs, and in the room of Mr. Fallon there’s his fingerprints. There’s no escaping that. It’s all there in black and white. You’ve seen the video with your own eyes, Mr. Dillon. It’s open and shut. We have him for the murder of Mr. Fallon. “

  “ So why this cock-and-bull story about his life being in danger if he’s given bail? Neither Mr. Fallon nor Mr. Cremin have any known relatives to avenge their deaths. Who is he in danger from? “

  “ We have good reason to believe he’s holding back on us. He’s protecting somebody. Why I don’t know. He prefers to go down for murder rather than tell us the truth. Very strange! And as for the murder of Mr. Cremin well w
e think he knows something. It’s my belief that if he gets bail he’ll do a bunk. It’s his only option. “

  “ Look I’ve examined the evidence so far. All you’ve got on my man is the fact he was in the nursing home. He can’t deny that. He hasn’t. He even admits he was in Fallon’s room. But that doesn’t make him a killer. It just means he was there. Nothing else! “

  “ But he’d no reason to be there. The corporal works of mercy are hardly his forte given his track record as a politician and he was certainly wasn’t soliciting votes. So why was he there? What was his purpose? He won’t tell us? We have him for the means and the opportunity – all we’re lacking is the motive. But that will come in due course. It always does. You should know that with your experience, Mr. Dillon. “

  “ So you’re going to oppose bail, then? “

  “ I can’t see him getting bail for a charge of first degree murder. Even if the judge considers it we’re talking about a load of money – most likely hundreds of thousands. And I don’t think Horgan is in a position to put that up. “

  “ No problem, “ replied Dillon to a dumbfounded Devoy. “ My client is in a position to cover a demand like that. You’re forgetting he’s a man of property as befits a councilor. Don’t underestimate his resources. “

  “ Oh really, then there’s nothing more to be said. We’ll see what the judge says. See you in chambers then, Mr. Dillon. “

  Devoy stood up and so did Moore.

  Dillon remained sitting.

  “ Did we forget something, Mr. Dillon? “ Devoy asked.

  Dillon gave his best smile.

  “ Yes, Inspector Devoy. A compromise. Some horse-trading. Sit down please and hear me out. “

  Devoy and Moore sat down again.

  “ What if I were to have a heart-to-heart with Mr. Horgan and tell him what he’s up against – tell him what you’ve prepared for him. Who knows? He just might open up a little. “

  Devoy nodded and looked at Moore.

  “ Did you hear that, Detective Moore? I think there’s an offer on the way. “

  “ What are suggesting, Mr. Dillon? “ asked Moore.