Murder at an Irish Wedding

by Carlene O'Connor

  “Mother!” Alice said.

  “Mother,” Paul said.

  Alice gripped Paul’s arm. She was shaking. “What did she mean ‘You have the proof?’ ”

  Ronan edged in. “I knew it,” he said, pointing at Paul. “You took my camera card. Where is it?”

  “You lied to me,” Martin said to Faye. “You said it was Mrs. Cahill’s idea to switch suppliers.”

  Faye gave a wry laugh. “Mrs. Cahill. As if she’s beneath ye. That woman wouldn’t give up an extra word without incentive.”

  “I did not murder your father,” Susan said to Alice. “Don’t ye think I would have done it by now?”

  “But you weren’t divorcing him until now,” Alice said. Everyone was yelling over each other. It was impossible to follow who was saying what. Siobhán had possibly just incited a mob.

  “I found an open bottle right here,” Brian said, pointing to a champagne bottle leaning against the wall. He was about to pick it up.

  “Don’t touch it,” Siobhán said.

  “Bottle?” Macdara said.

  “There’s a spilled glass of champagne next to the body. And a dead bird lying in the pool of liquid. We believe it’s been poisoned.”

  “Just like the brown bread,” Brenna said.

  “My stolen flute?” Macdara guessed. Siobhán nodded. “Great.” It was going to make him a suspect. Again.

  “It is Macdara’s missing flute,” Brian said. He pointed at Macdara. “How do you explain that?”

  Macdara shook his head. “Obviously Colm grabbed a glass and didn’t stop to care whose name was on it.”

  “Are there any other glasses missing?” Siobhán asked. It seemed strange that he would be drinking champagne alone. They were interrupted by a click.

  Paul grabbed the camera out of Ronan’s hands. “I’m sick of your despicable behavior.”

  “Give that back.”

  “Like hell I will. No more pictures.”

  “I’ll sue.”

  “There’s no point suing me,” Paul said.

  “Get used to it,” Susan said. “You’re rich now. Everybody sues.”

  Siobhán glanced at Macdara. Secrets were starting to come out, and there was still one that was being held back. “Did you get Alice’s ring?”

  All heads snapped to Macdara. He glared at Siobhán. But she had to do it. Emotions were raw. The killer was one of them. This was the time to get everything out in the open and see if it split open a clue.

  “We’ll talk later,” Macdara said.

  “The ring?” Paul said. “You found her ring?”

  “Under your mattress,” Alice said. “At the Kilbane Inn.” Siobhán had to hand it to her; Alice wasn’t shy when it came to confrontation. “See? You can’t even deny it.”

  “Darling,” Paul said, “it’s not what you think.”

  “So you did take the ring?” Alice said.

  “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “It’s a surprise alright. The man I love is a thief and a liar.”

  Paul looked crestfallen. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “I didn’t want you to have that ring. I wanted you to have this one.” He opened the box, revealing an impressive diamond, slightly smaller than her grandmother’s diamond ring, but beautiful and sparkly. “I was going to put it on your finger during the ceremony, but one look at you coming down the aisle knocked every thought clear out of me head.”

  Alice put her hand over her mouth. She reached for the ring, then retracted it. “Wait. So you broke into my parents’ room and ransacked it?”

  “I didn’t mean to. At first. After Kevin’s body was discovered, we only had a few minutes to clear out. That’s when I snuck into your parents’ room. I couldn’t find the ring. By the time I did, the place was a mess. I thought if you thought the ring was stolen, you’d be more open to wearing this one.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m so sorry. I love you.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Pardon?”

  “Any. Other. Lies?”

  Paul sighed. His shoulders slumped. He snapped the ring box shut and shoved it back into his pocket. “I knew your parents were getting a divorce.”

  Alice whirled on her mother. “Did you kill him? Did you kill my father?”

  Susan gasped. “Take that back.”

  “Did you write that message on my mirror?”

  “What message?”

  Macdara stepped between mother and daughter. Alice looked ready to pounce. She was sweating and gulping air. “Let’s just wait for the guards. They’re on the way.”

  “I’m telling them everything.” She glanced at Susan. “I’m telling them about your divorce.” She glanced at Paul. “I’m telling them about the ring.”

  “They already know,” said Macdara. “Please. Let’s keep our heads on.”

  Paul dropped to his knees in front of Alice. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

  “Please,” she said. “Not here.”

  But Paul remained kneeling at her feet. “I was so sick of your father saying that I wasn’t spending a pound of my own money. I wanted to get you something special. Don’t you like it? I really thought you’d like it.”

  “My father is gone. How can you ask me to care about such frivolous things in this moment?”

  “You’re right,” Paul said. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Paul’s handsome face was filled with anguish. “Tell me you know I didn’t kill Kevin.” He stared at Alice. She swallowed.

  “I know you didn’t kill Kevin,” she said.

  He rushed forward and took her hands. “And I certainly didn’t kill your father. I was terrified of him. Everyone was.”

  “You did fight with him right before the wedding,” Brenna said.

  Macdara hauled Paul to his feet and patted his back. “Everyone fought with him right before the wedding,” Paul said as Macdara pulled him away from Alice.

  “I believe Colm was the intended target all along,” Siobhán said. “Kevin was mistaken for him the morning of his death.”

  A gasp rose from the crowd. Macdara grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. “What are you doing?”

  “They’re cracking like eggs on the cooker,” Siobhán whispered. “We have to turn up the heat.”

  “Right before the wedding, Colm came into the abbey,” Brian said. “I was setting up.”

  “What time was this?” Siobhán asked.

  “Twenty minutes before the ceremony?”

  “Did you speak with him?”

  Brian looked at the ground. “He asked me to leave. Said he had a meeting.”

  “A meeting,” Siobhán said. “Here?”

  “Those were his exact words,” Brian said.

  A meeting with a killer.

  “That’s not unusual,” Susan said. “Everything to him is a meeting. Was a meeting.” Susan’s voice wobbled, and then she too began to cry. Alice flew to her side and held her. “It was me,” Susan said. There was another gasp from the crowd. “It was me,” Susan said again, wailing. “It was me.”

  Chapter 31

  Alice stepped back from her mother, her face turning to stone. “What was you?”

  Susan seemed to shrink before their very eyes. She gripped a handkerchief. “The meeting was with me.”

  “Go on,” Alice said. Her voice was ice.

  “We argued. I told him that even without the proof of his infidelity I was going through with the divorce.”

  “What is this proof?” Alice cried out. “Somebody tell me.”

  Susan stuck her chin up. “The night before Kevin was killed, your father was in the pub making out with another woman. A full-figured woman with too much makeup, no less. A local.”

  Siobhán cringed, knowing Annmarie would strangle the woman for describing her in such an unflattering light.

  “Let’s tell the whole truth,” Paul said. Alice looked from her mother to Paul. Susan shrugged. “Your mother paid this local to come on to
your father so that Ronan could snap a picture and she could get out of the prenup.”

  “Oh my God,” Alice said. She grabbed her mother. “Kevin knocked the camera out of Ronan’s hands. Did he get the camera card?”

  “I don’t know,” Susan said.

  “Did you kill Kevin?”

  “No,” Susan said. “I don’t know who has the camera card.”

  “What happened during your meeting with Colm?” Siobhán asked.

  “Nothing. He was thrilled that I couldn’t get around the prenup. That’s all that happened. I swear. When I stormed away, your father was still very much alive.” She shivered and turned her head.

  Alice looked like she wanted to pounce again, but Siobhán cut her off. “Which way did you exit the abbey?”

  Susan indicated the west entrance. Macdara sidled up to Siobhán. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking the killer entered with the champagne and flutes while Susan was making her exit. With the poison in the flute with your name on it.”

  “But why my flute? And how did the killer even get him to drink champagne? Before the wedding?”

  “I think your flute was stolen to divert attention from the real killer. Just like your cap.”

  “Why me?”

  “I don’t know. But I’m getting close. I have to talk to Eoin and Ciarán.” Thankfully her brood had opted to go back to the bistro. Chef Antoine had made them extras and left the food in the kitchen.

  “Eoin and Ciarán?” Macdara said.

  “I’ll be back,” Siobhán said. “Can you keep them from killing each other until then?”

  Macdara raised an eyebrow. “I’ll do me best,” he said. “But I can’t guarantee it.”

  * * *

  The bistro was jammers. It seemed as if everyone in town was in for a late brunch and eager to pour over the details of the wedding. Chef Antoine had made extra goodies for everyone. Ham and roast were piled on nearly every plate. Siobhán immediately checked underneath the register. The Big Book of Poisons wasn’t there. Ciarán and Eoin were in the kitchen. Siobhán quickly herded them to the back garden.

  “What’s the story?” Eoin asked.

  “Do either of you know where The Big Book of Poisons went?”

  They shook their heads simultaneously. “When’s the last time you saw it?”

  “When you took it from me,” Ciarán said.

  “When we were back here with Chef Antoine,” Eoin said.

  “Then what did you do with it?”

  “I put it back where I found it, on the shelf under the register.”

  “It’s not there.” Siobhán began to pace. “Remember when Antoine was teaching us about all the poisonous herbs?” Eoin’s eyes went wide. He swallowed and nodded. “Did you tell anyone?”

  “Why are you asking me?”

  “I just need to know. Who did you tell?”

  “A few lads. Bridie. James. Macdara. Alice and Paul.”

  Alice and Paul. Of course he was trying to impress Alice. “I’m going to need you to speak with the guards and tell them every single person who might have heard you talking.”

  “Why?” Eoin said. “What happened?”

  Siobhán gently pushed Ciarán toward the door. “Why don’t you go in and have a slice of cake?”

  “I want to stay,” Ciarán said.

  “Two slices,” Siobhán said.

  Ciarán cocked his head, then ran for the door and disappeared inside. Eoin waited.

  “Somebody might have put poison in a flute of champagne,” Siobhán said.

  “Is everyone okay?”

  Siobhán shook her head. “Colm Cahill drank it. I’m afraid he’s no longer with us.”

  Eoin dropped his head. “It’s my fault, isn’t it? For telling everyone about that book.”

  “Oh, petal, no.” Siobhán grasped Eoin’s hands. They were clammy. She held on anyway. “It’s not your fault at all.”

  Eoin nodded, then sniffed. “Chef Antoine couldn’t have done it, could he?”

  Siobhán glanced toward the window that looked into the dining room. “How long has he been in the kitchen?”

  “All day. He’s been here all day.”

  “I’d say that should clear him. Was Brian in here with any of the champagne bottles?”

  “No.”

  “Or did you see any of the champagne flutes around?”

  “I didn’t. I swear.”

  “No worries, luv. I believe you.”

  “I thought it was so cool. The Big Book of Poisons. But it’s not. It’s really not.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being curious. Or imaginative. You did nothing wrong.”

  “Is Alice okay?”

  “She’s okay, luv.” She pulled him close. “Let’s tell the guards what we know.”

  “I’m afraid to eat or drink anything now.”

  She was too. “Nothing to worry about. We’ll just make sure we only eat and drink what we make ourselves until this whole business is sorted.”

  “Will it be sorted? Will it?”

  “It will,” she said. “Of course it will.” She could only pray she was right.

  * * *

  By the time she got back to the abbey with Eoin and Chef Antoine, the guards were there, and everyone was standing by the river, lined up, facing the guards.

  “What’s going on?” Siobhán whispered to Macdara.

  “They’re taking them all into the station for questioning,” Macdara said.

  “Eoin and Chef Antoine might be able to help. We think the killer stole Ciarán’s Big Book of Poisons.”

  “I’ll bring them along then.”

  “How long will they be able to hold all the wedding guests at the station?”

  Madcap flicked his eyes over her. “Why?”

  “I’m close to figuring this out,” Siobhán said. “I’m so close.”

  Macdara sighed. “I could probably bury them in paperwork for a few hours.”

  “Thank you,” Siobhán said. “Thank you.” Macdara nodded. She hurried over to O’Brien. “I’m going to need your help.”

  O’Brien, to her surprise, agreed. “Anything,” he said. “Anything you need.”

  * * *

  Siobhán had a specific list of questions, and she knew she had to start at the beginning. She had to start with the Huntsmans. And then she needed to ask Brenna a very important question. Fact-check something with Susan, and if she couldn’t answer it, maybe Faye could.

  Ask the guards another very important question, and double-check it with Val. She turned to Macdara once more as the guests began walking toward the station. “I need your help.”

  “Finally.”

  “Do not let Alice or Paul out of your sight. Not even for a second.”

  “You think they’re in danger?”

  Siobhán nodded. “I do,” she said. “I do.”

  * * *

  Carol Huntsman reluctantly took the call, which Siobhán placed from the reception desk of the castle. Siobhán made it quick. She only had five questions. “Who took the fax?” She kept her voice stern, letting Carol know that she wasn’t messing. Her hand trembled as she wrote down the name she didn’t want to hear.

  When Carol spoke next, her voice trembled. “Alice was so furious with me.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “The tracksuits. Because of the tracksuits nobody knew what or who they saw that morning. If they weren’t wearing them, maybe someone could have identified the killer. Or cleared an innocent. We left town before the guards blamed us too. How was I to know someone would be murdered on our property?”

  Siobhán glanced at her fourth question. “Did you tell the guests that someone in Kilbane was robbing folks?” Once again Carol vehemently denied that accusation. Siobhán expected as much. “Does the castle have a secret passage that can be accessed from the outside?”

  “How did you know?” Carol asked.

  “Who did you show it to?” Siobhán asked. She
underlined the name already written in her notebook. When she was finished with the phone call, she went to the back of the castle and finally found the little wooden door in the patio. She lifted it. Stairs led down to the passage. The killer had used this very passage to sneak into the castle and push Siobhán down the stairs. There was no need to go down and make the journey. It was enough to see how it was done. Next she collected some soil from the lavish gardens, and finally a guard showed her the exact spot along the wall where the killer had buried Kevin’s belongings.

  * * *

  As soon as she completed her business at the castle, Siobhán ran back to the bistro and collected the item she needed out of Gráinne and Ann’s room.

  Next she asked O’Brien for the envelope of alibis. “None of them are missing,” O’Brien pointed out as he handed it over. Siobhán knew that. But one of them had been altered. Brian’s. And Siobhán thought she knew why. She got permission to speak with him and watched as he read his alibi. “I left out an item,” he said, sounding thoroughly perplexed.

  “No, you didn’t,” Siobhán said. “It was deleted.”

  “By who?” Brian asked. “And why?” Siobhán disappeared before he could badger her any further. She would ask O’Brien to find out if anyone in the police station had allowed the killer to use one of their computers and printer. Susan Cahill was next on Siobhán’s list.

  Susan was all too happy to be let out of the guard station to talk to Siobhán. “Yes,” she finally admitted, “my red lipstick has gone missing. Why do you care?” Siobhán asked her second question. “Of course he threatened it. He threatened it all the time.” Siobhán wrote something down. “It means nothing,” Susan said. “If that was the reason, he would have been killed before we even got to this godforsaken village.”

  “Don’t assume you know where I’m going with this,” Siobhán said. “And if you breathe a word of our discussion, you will be arrested straightaway. There’s no Armani in a Cork City jail.” Siobhán was bluffing, but Susan’s eyes grew wide, and she clamped her lips shut.

  She talked to Faye next. “Of course it wasn’t me. I was already representing his wife.”

  Siobhán nodded. It was hardly a mystery that Colm had his own solicitors. She would have to find out who all he employed and have the guards start making calls.

  Next Siobhán questioned all the guards who had been on duty Friday afternoon until one admitted his transgressions. From the tone of his voice, it was clear that he was ashamed he had broken the rules. “It was a rather special occasion.”