One Coffin Too Many

by Brendan O'Grady

  Devoy shook his head.

  “ I didn’t go to have a coffee; I went with the search warrant to Horgan’s estate agency to search the premises but the office was closed. Remember you gave me the warrant? “

  Sullivan’s forehead creased.

  “ And then what? “

  “ I decided to have a coffee. I thought Horgan’s secretary might turn up. “

  “ And this is when Mrs. Marshall reappeared? “

  “ Correct. I was reading the newspaper when she suddenly appeared at my table. “

  “ And what happened then? “

  “ Well she said she had given my enquiries further attention and she thought I might benefit by speaking to some of Caroline’s friends. She added that she was having some sort of show for ladies lingerie and I could find Caroline’s friends there and talk to them. So I went with her. “

  “ Did you manage to interview any of these friends? “

  “ No, I didn’t. I never got round to it. There was some sort of show with lots models and loads of Champagne. I don’t remember much after that. I think…I’m not too sure but I think I saw Angela… Detective Moore modelling but…”

  “ But what, Frank? “

  “ I honestly don’t know. I fell into a hole after that and then I woke up here. I don’t know what happened. Doctor Costello told me I was drugged with LSD. “

  “ Do you know where you were found? “

  “ No idea. “

  “ Do you know who you were found with? “

  Devoy shook his head.

  Sullivan looked over at Power.

  “ You and Detective Moore were both found naked lying on top of one another in the back of your police car on the beach in the early hours of Tuesday morning. You were both out cold. “

  “ You’re joking me? “

  “ No, Frank, I’m not joking you. A passing patrol car found you. “

  “ I see. Poor Angela. “

  “ Yes, poor Angela. “

  Sullivan produced a DVD and held it in front of Devoy’s face.

  “ This was also found. “

  “ What is it? “

  “ It’s a DVD of you and Angela engaged in sexual acts that left little to the imagination. There was a message attached to it. “

  “ A message? “

  “ Yes, a message, Frank. “

  “ And what did it say? “

  Sullivan read the message scribbled on the DVD.

  “ It says: Don’t dig where you don’t have to dig! “

  Devoy repeated the words slowly as if they contained a hidden meaning.

  “ We’re being warned off, Harry. “

  “ Obviously. Somebody went to a lot of trouble to put you and Detective Moore in a compromising situation…”

  “ Because we stood on their toes and got too close, “ continued Devoy.

  Sullivan nodded.

  “ Yes, that would be the case. “

  “ Have you told Angela? “

  Sullivan ran his fingers through his hair.

  “ No, Frank, I haven’t. I’m dreading the thought of even bringing it up. She’ll probably have a nervous breakdown when she sees it. “

  “ It’s that bad? “

  “ I’m afraid so, Frank. Nothing has been left to the imagination. It’s…it’s just pure porn. It’s ….”

  Sullivan shrugged.

  “ I don’t honestly know what to say. All I know is whoever did this is playing a game of blackmail with us. We’re talking about reputations for reputations here. These people are prepared to go to enormous lengths to protect themselves even if it means destroying you and Detective Moore. If they don’t get what they want and go public with what they have and don’t delude yourself that they haven’t made copies there’ll be hell to pay. “

  “ So they’re waiting for a trade-off? “

  “ Probably. We have something they want and vice-versa. “

  “ Caroline’s collection of lesbian porn obviously. It has to be that. “

  “ So where do we go from here? “

  “ We apply more pressure. They’ll contact us then. “

  “ Are you sure about that, Frank? It sounds like brinkmanship to me. “

  “ Before we applied the pressure and they reacted because we were in possession of certain items. We made it known to them and look what happened. Now they’re in the driving seat they have to contact us. But they’re not going to phone us and ask what’s cooking? No, they’ll expect us to come to them for the trade-off. We have to make the next step. “

  “ So how do you propose to do that, Frank? “

  “ Give me a few days to get better and I’ll see. “

  “ Fine, Frank. I’ll leave it in your hands. But keep me in the loop. I want this thing contained locally. I’d hate to bring in the big guns from Dublin. “

  “ I’ll advise you every step of the way, Harry. There is one thing I’d like to do. “

  “ Name it. “

  “ I want to be the one who tells Angela what’s on the tape. Okay? I want to be there when she sees it. “

  “ Fine with me, Frank. The ball’s in your court now. Don’t lose it. “

  The door closed behind Sullivan.

  “ Doesn’t look very happy, Joe, does he? “

  “ That would be an understatement, Frank. He’s counting the days to his retirement and he’s beginning to think you’re some sort of loose cannon. “

  “ Well that’s fucking tough. I’m sorry to ruin his going away party with a bag of shit. How inconsiderate of me. These guys make me sick. They want the nice uniform, the status, the kudos and all that shit but they don’t want to put their heads above the parapet. No sir, no fucking flack, thank you. Call me when the onslaught is over. Fuck ‘em! “

  “ Okay, Frank, I know you’re upset. I’m not going to add to your misery. I just thought I’d bring up to date on what’s happening at the station. “

  “ Yeah, sorry I blew my top. It’s nothing to do with you. Give it to me. “

  “ Do you mind if I sit down, Frank? “

  “ No, make yourself comfortable, Joe. “

  Sergeant Joe Power sat down.

  “ Right. First Officer Burke. You asked him to do some digging on incoming coffins from the Continent. He’s got a bundle of news for you. Next HQ sent us a photo of Horgan’s brother. Third, a man called Christopher Lambert called. Seems he’s Horgan’s accountant. He said he just wanted to inform you that he’s been authorized to allow Horgan’s secretary to continue running things at the estate agents like collecting rent and so forth until his estate is sorted out. No new clients are to be taken on. That’s it. “

  “ Okay, Joe, thanks. “

  Power stood up to go.

  “ Joe, “ asked Devoy. “ Have you seen the DVD? “

  Power went red and turned his head.

  “ I regret to say I have, Frank. I’m really sorry. “

  “ That bad? “

  Power nodded.

  “ Worse than you imagine. I don’t think Angela will ever get over looking at that. We’ve got to get the originals back, Frank. These people whoever they are have to pay for this. They’re bad, Frank. Really bad. I’ve never come up against this kind of thing before. It just makes me sick. I just hope we can climb out of this pit. “

  “ We will, Joe. We will. “

  The door suddenly opened and a nurse walked in.

  “ I’m sorry gentlemen. Visiting’s over. Time for medicine, Inspector Devoy. See you around, Sergeant Power. “

  “ Message understood, Nurse. I’m on my way. “

  Power saluted Devoy and left.

  That evening a nurse came and took the drip out of Devoy’s arm. Ten minutes later he was served a light meal of scrambled eggs on toast along with a pot of tea. When he’s finished the meal he lay back and switched on the TV. There was nothing of interest so he turned it off. He felt his strength returning. He was getting back to normal. The nurse hadn’t been ab
le to tell him when he could get out. He wanted to see Angela. He wanted to see how she was making out. In a way he felt responsible for what happened. They should never have split up. He being the senior officer should have been aware of the trap they were walking into. He cursed his libido and all the trouble it had caused. He had let himself be seduced by Beatrice Marshall. The proverbial honey trap and he had walked into it. Christ, how she had played him. He couldn’t believe what a fool he had been. She had seen him coming and played him. And now the case was compromised. Not only was his own career on the line but also Angela’s. If HQ got their hands on this one there’d be transfers all around. Sullivan wasn’t going to do him any favours if the matter got out of hand. Too much had happened over the past few weeks. A small sleepy town that was on the road to a port that led out of the country had attracted more attention media than at any time in its history and for all the wrong reasons and it was all in his lap. Sergeant Power had described their predicament as a pit. Now they had to try and climb out of it. Enlivened by the prospect of what might happen to them both Devoy got out of bed and put his trousers and shirt on. They stank to hell. He opened the door and peered down the corridor. It was dead quiet. He could hear the nurses at their station nattering away. The station was at the end of the corridor half-concealed by a wall. Devoy tiptoed down until he came to what he believed to be Angela’s room. He pushed open the door and went in. The room was in semi-darkness. She lay on the bed on her back with a drip feeding into her arm. She looked deathly pale and her black hair was pulled back by some sort of ribbon. He stood there admiring her for a while – at her fine chiseled face and delicate nose and long dark eyelashes. Her chest heaved with her breath and sometimes she gave a little feminine sigh that he felt endearing. He kissed her on the forehead and then turned to leave. He was halfway to the door when he heard her.

  “ I’m not dead yet, Frank. It wouldn’t kill you to stay a little longer with your flame now, would it? ‘

  Devoy spun around. Her eyes were open and she was staring at him.

  “ What did they do to me, Frank? “ she asked.

  “ I don’t know, Angela, “ he lied. “ They’re trying to find out. “

  “ I feel dirty and used, Frank. “

  She started to sob

  “ Frank, you were supposed to come back. You didn’t. You left me. What did they do to me? I want to know. You have to tell me. Did they rape me? Oh, God, what did they do? “

  Angela started sobbing uncontrollably.

  “ You don’t understand, Frank. You’re not a woman. You’ve no idea. I feel soiled, abused, and used. I feel…oh God, you’ve no idea. “

  “ Angela, try and think of something good. You’re going to get over this. You’re strong enough. Think of us. Think of something better. “

  Angela continued to sob. Devoy felt he had to get help. He left the room and went down the corridor. Two nurses sat behind the counter of the nurses’s station talking avidly about some man. Devoy coughed and they both looked up startled.

  “ What are you doing out of bed, Inspector Devoy? “ asked one standing up.

  “ I went to see my colleague, Angela Moore. She’s having a nervous breakdown and there’s nobody to help her. Can’t you do something? “

  “ She’s already had her injection, “ said the other nurse. “ You shouldn’t be disturbing her considering what she went through. The last thing she wants to see is a man. “

  “ Oh really. I would have thought the last thing she wanted to see are bossy women. I’ve a good idea what she went through and men weren’t involved. “

  “ We’re not at liberty to discuss her case with you, Inspector. Please return to your room and stay there. “

  “ She’s been raped, hasn’t she? “

  “ Please Inspector. “

  Devoy turned and headed back to his room dejected. He put his head in the door of Angela’s room dreading the worst but she was soundly sleeping.

  Devoy returned to his room and lay there in the dark thinking. He closed his eyes and let the darkness envelope him. He cleared his mind of all matter and tried to remember. After a while the mists in his memory cleared and that fateful afternoon came back to him. How did she Mrs. Marshall manage to get him into the state of acquiescence that allowed her to manipulate him – him an experienced detective? How had she done it? Her feminine wiles were not enough. She must have put something in the coffee when his attention was distracted. Some drug that made amenable to her suggestions – a drug that made drop his guard. And when he had ingested the drug she went to town on him, sexually, softening him up for what was to come. But why go to all that trouble over a lesbian ring? It didn’t make sense. But then maybe he was barking up the wrong tree. Maybe that

  wasn’t the issue. Maybe there was something else but he couldn’t see it. Maybe the lesbian element was only the outer ring. Maybe that was the entreé but to what?

  He tried to figure out the difference in the reactions between his visit to Flood and Beatrice Marshall. The rings, he thought. He hadn’t mentioned the rings to Flood. The rings would have meant nothing to her not being married. But to a married woman they had a significance -they could be identified and that could spell disaster for a married woman engaged in extra-marital relations with other women. Yes, he thought, it was the mention of the rings that provoked the reaction. He was still considering this when he fell asleep.

  ✽✽✽

  CHAPTER 31

  Thursday

  Devoy awoke to the sound of his portable buzzing in his coat pocket. By the time he got out of bed and got to it it had rung off. He examined the screen and saw it had gone to message. The call had been from Tom Cronin the editor of the Courier. The message said urgent. Devoy called Cronin back immediately.

  “ Tom, “ he said when Cronin answered. “ It’s Devoy. What’s up? “

  “ Sorry to bother you so early in the morning, Frank. I was onto the station and they told me you were in hospital. Hope it’s nothing serious? “

  Devoy took a deep breath. How do you explain what he had been through?

  “ Not health-wise, Tom. I’m sorry I can’t go into details for now. “

  “ I see. Anything I can do? “

  “ Yeah, don’t ask any questions for the time being. I’ll talk to you when I get out. “

  “ Fair enough. “

  “ So why the phone call at such an early hour? I hope you haven’t been tipped off? “

  “ I honestly don’t know what you’re referring to, Frank. I’ve no idea what’s going on? “

  “ Okay, so what’s up? “

  “ I’m afraid I’ve bad news for you, Frank. Really bad news and I’m trying to contain it. “

  “ I see. Don’t keep me on tenterhooks, Tom. What is it? “

  “ You know that little prick of a junior reporter that you had words with at the press conference? “

  “ Yes, what about him? “

  “ Well, I’ve been trying to get rid of the obnoxious little shit but I’m stuck with him for the summer. “

  “ What did he do, Tom? “

  “ He turned up here on Tuesday morning smiling from cheek to cheek. He said he’d got a scoop. And the scoop was photos of you and Detective Moore naked in the back of your car fast asleep on some beach somewhere. “

  “ Jesus! “

  “ Exactly what I thought. “

  “ It’s getting worse. “

  “ So I asked him how did he manage to come across the scoop and he said he got a phone call from a party who didn’t want to identify herself to the effect that he should get himself to the beach as soon as possible. “

  “ The little shit. “

  “ My sentiments exactly, Frank. “

  “ And what did you say to him? “

  “ I told him it was a bombshell and to keep quiet for the moment. He asked me would we publish them and I said maybe, that I needed to consult the paper’s solicitor first to cover ourselves. “

/>   “ And? “

  “ I had absolutely no intention of publishing those photos but I had to head him off if you like. “

  “ So what’s going to happen then, Tom? “

  “ Look, Frank, your private life is your own affair as is that of Detective Moore but if this gets out into the public domain you know what’s going to happen. “

  “ It’s not what you think, Tom. Angela and I were investigating some of Caroline’s friends and we fell into a trap. It was a set-up. We’re being framed. We were drugged up to our eyeballs and used. “

  “ I don’t believe it! “

  “ You’ll have to. Superintendent Sullivan has been floored at the enormity of what happened to us. Poor Angela is down the corridor from me. She’s in an awful state as you can imagine. I may get over this but I don’t think she will when she realizes what happened to her. “

  “ Oh, God. “

  “ Look we have to meet. We have to get those photos off this guy somehow or the other. “

  “ What do you suggest? “

  “ He’s obviously waiting to hear from you, Tom. You’ve got to get him to believe you’re interested, that he could gain a lot of money by selling the photos to you. Do whatever you have to do to get him to come to your office. Do you agree? “

  “ Of course, Frank. There’s no way I’d that sort of thing be published. You have my word on it. “

  “ Great. Look, I’ve got to get out of here one way or the other. I’ll come up with an excuse and let you know when I’m ready. “

  “ Right, then. See you later. “

  Devoy got dressed quickly and went down to the nurses’ station. The night crew had been replaced by younger ones.

  Devoy held up his arm so the nurses could identify him by the band on his wrist.

  “ I’m Frank Devoy. Detective Inspector Devoy, that is. I’m a patient here. I’m down in room fourteen. I’ve got a bad toothache and need to see a dentist. I’ve already phoned ahead. They’re waiting for me. I just thought I’d let you know. “

  The two nurses looked from one to the other wondering what to do.