by Val Collins
FORTY-SEVEN
Jenny raced over to Aoife. Unlocked the handcuffs and untied the tea towel from around her head. Aoife spat out the scarf.
‘Quick, Aoife. We have to get out of here before he comes back.’
She helped Aoife to stand and half pulled her towards the kitchen door. They were almost there when the kitchen door opened.
‘Jenny, what are you doing?’ Derek removed the gun from his pocket and pointed it at Aoife’s head.
*
Jenny stood in front of Aoife.
‘I’m helping you, Derek. Things are bad, but we can fix them. You, I and Aoife are going to drive to the airport. We’ll empty our bank accounts and you will get on the first plane out of the country. I’ll keep Aoife with me for three days. Then I’ll let her go. You will be free and nobody else has to die.’
‘No, Jenny. I would die without you and the girls.’
‘We’ll buy phones nobody can trace and you’ll phone me when you’re settled. The girls and I will join you wherever you are.’
‘It’s too risk—what the hell is she doing?’
Aoife had taken her phone out of her pocket. As Jenny swung around, she hit ‘send’ on the text message. Derek raced across the room and knocked the phone from her hand. The screen cracked as it landed on the tiled floor. He picked it up and said, ‘Bloody Moloney. She told the bastard I was the murderer.’
Grabbing his own phone, he pressed a number. ‘Hi, Alan. Is the DI in?…No, that’s okay. I’ve been delayed myself. Don’t say anything. I might make it before he does. Talk to you later.’
He put the phone back in his pocket and, keeping the gun pointed at Aoife’s head, used his other hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
‘It’s over, Jenny. There’s nothing else I can do. Moloney will be here in no time.’
*
‘You can use me as a hostage,’ Aoife said. ‘Carry out Jenny’s plan, only make the police take you to the airport. Jenny can keep me here until you’re safe.’
Derek grabbed her and held the knife to her throat.
‘Do you think I’m an idiot, Aoife? I would never make it to the airport.’
‘Yes, you would.’ Aoife barely opened her mouth, careful not to jerk the knife. ‘Conor is a man of his word.’
‘Oh, will you shut up. I am so sick of hearing about the great Detective Inspector Moloney. I do most of the work in that department and he sits at his desk taking all the credit. That should have been my job. How do you think it feels reporting to a jumped-up nobody like him?’
Keeping her voice low and calm, Aoife said, ‘Whatever you think of Conor, he loves me. He wouldn’t do anything to endanger me.’
‘She’s right, darling. We can still work this out.’
‘No, Jenny, we—’
They all froze as a door banged shut and Caoimhe shouted, ‘Hi, Mum. What’s for dinner?’
Jenny yelled, ‘Go do your homework! We’re having dinner in the sitting room.’
The kitchen door swung open ‘But I’m star—Dad, Mum, what’s going on?’
Jenny rushed over and put an arm around her daughter.
‘Your dad is arresting Aoife. It’s a long story and I’ll tell you about it later. Where’s your sister?’
‘She stopped at Nessa’s. I told her not to be late for dinner.’
Jenny took her wallet from her bag and held it out. ‘I haven’t had time to make dinner. Go around to Nessa’s, get your sister and take a taxi into town. Go someplace nice for dinner and then go to the movies. By the time you get home, your Dad and I will have all this sorted.’
‘But—’
‘No time for buts, Caoimhe. Go now.’
‘Jenny, I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘I can’t fix this, Jenny. It’s the end of the road for us.’
‘Mum, what—’
‘Derek, let Caoimhe take care of her sister and we’ll work this out when she’s gone.’
‘No.’ He held out his arm. ‘Come here, Caoimhe.’
‘No!’ Jenny grabbed her daughter’s hand and pushed her towards the door. ‘Get out now!’
‘What’s happening? Mum! Dad!’
‘Caoimhe, I need your help.’
Caoimhe moved closer as Jenny shouted, ‘No!’
‘Good girl,’ Derek said. He threw the knife on the floor and covered it with his foot. Keeping one arm around Aoife’s neck, he put the other around Caoimhe’s shoulder.
Aoife struggled, but he tightened his grip until she was having difficulty breathing.
‘Sit down, Jenny.’
Jenny didn’t move. Both hands covered her mouth.
‘Dad?’
‘It’s okay, Caoimhe. I’m going to take care of everything. Now, Jenny, your plan about the airport is never going to work. There is only one option left.’
‘What?’
‘When we married, I swore to take care of you until the day I died. I promised you that I would always be there for the girls. You know I always keep my word. I can’t be there for our family the way I would like to be. Aoife and her text have seen to that. But we can all still be together.’
‘You don’t mean—’
‘It’s the only way, darling.’
FORTY-EIGHT
‘No, no, Derek. Not the girls. You can take me with you, but the girls stay here.’
‘We can’t leave them on their own. What kind of parents would that make us?’
‘Dad, where are you going?’
‘Hush, Caoimhe. This is important. I have to make your mother understand.’
‘Understand what?’
‘Caoimhe! I told you to be quiet! Jenny, I need your help. If I have to go, bloody Golden Boy Moloney isn’t getting to have his family either.’ He waved his fingers in the air. ‘I’m kind of tied up here. You’re going to have to take care of Aoife.’
‘Dad!’
Caoimhe tried to pull away from her father. As he went to grab her, Aoife took the opportunity to sink her teeth into his arm. Derek yelped. She kicked him in the shin and raced for the front door.
Derek picked up the knife and pointed it at Caoimhe’s throat. ‘Stop her, Jenny, or I’ll do it right now.’
Jenny screamed, ‘No!’ She raced after Aoife, flung herself on top of her and knocked her to the floor. Derek joined them, knife still to Caoimhe’s throat. He kicked Aoife in the stomach.
‘Dad!’
‘Caoimhe, hush! You mum’s going to take care of Aoife. Then all three of us will sit down and wait for your sister. I’ll explain it all to you then.’
‘Derek!’
‘Jenny, take the gun out of my pocket and shoot Aoife.’
‘Dad, no! Please!’
Derek shouted over Caoimhe’s sobs. ‘Jenny, do it now or Caoimhe will have to go first.’
Jenny’s hand shook as she removed the gun from Derek’s pocket.
‘You know how to fire it. Do it.’
‘Let Caoimhe go. Then I’ll kill Aoife.’
‘No, my love. You’re a good mother. It’s only right that you would put your daughter before me, but I can’t have you shooting me before I’ve done my duty by all of you.’
‘I can’t shoot her while she’s that close to Caoimhe. What if I miss?’
Derek sighed.
‘That box you were going to give to charity, the one with the girls’ old toys. Where is it?’
‘In the garage.’
‘Get it.’
‘What?’
‘Hurry!’
‘Dad, please!’
‘Caoimhe, listen to me. You’re too young to understand, so you’ll have to take my word that I’m doing what’s best for my family. I can’t have you ruining it, so if you make one more sound, your sister dies the second she sets foot inside this house. Tell me you understand.’
‘Yes,’ Caoimhe sobbed as Jenny ran back into the room carrying a large box.
‘Take
out the skipping ropes.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it’s important. Bring them over here. Now tie one end of the rope to Aoife’s hand.’ He wiggled the knife at Caoimhe’s throat. ‘Remember, I’ll use this if I have to.’
Jenny tied the knot.
‘Hold it up so I can see it.’
Derek examined it and shook his head.
‘No. That’s not good enough. Double-knot it and pull it tighter. Use her right hand.’
‘Aoife’s left-handed,’ Jenny lied.
‘Okay, her left hand, then.’
Jenny held up the knot for inspection.
‘Good. Now give me one end of the rope and move Aoife as far away from me as possible.’
Jenny took Aoife’s arm and led her about three feet away. Derek yanked at the rope. ‘That’s good. Now, use the second rope to tie her to the kitchen chair.’
‘Not there,’ Derek said as Jenny placed the rope around Aoife’s waist. ‘Tie it above her chest. Make sure her arms are by her side.’
The rope was so loose, Aoife could already move one hand. A bit of wiggling and it would be free.
‘Now you have enough space, darling. Shoot her.’
‘I can’t! Oh God, Derek! Stop this madness.’
Caoimhe yelped as Derek dug the tip of the knife into her throat.
‘Stop! Stop! I’ll do it.’ Jenny held the gun in the air and pointed it at Aoife’s head. ‘I’m sorry, Aoife. I’m so sorry.’
*
Aoife struggled with the rope. It loosened but didn’t give. She rocked the chair from side to side, put all her weight against the back and knocked the chair over.
The gun went off.
Aoife was on the floor, still pulling at the ropes, when Derek said, ‘Didn’t I teach you better than that, Jenny? Anyone could have made that shot. You were nowhere near her.’
‘She moved.’
‘What did you expect? You should have aimed at her stomach. You could have shot her in the head later.’
Aoife yanked at the ropes as Caoimhe cried.
‘It’s not my fault, Derek. I tried.’
‘You didn’t try very hard, darling. Golden Boy mustn’t have checked his phone yet, but the neighbours will have heard the shot and called the police. You’re wasting the little time we have left, and it’s precious time the three of us could be spending together. We deserve a last few moments as a happy family. Don’t ruin it.’
‘I’m doing my best.’
‘No, you’re not, Jenny. Now, walk over to Aoife and put the gun against her head.’
‘What?’
‘You heard me. Put the gun against her head. And remember, if you do anything stupid, Caoimhe won’t get to enjoy any family time.’
‘I can’t do it, Derek. I just can’t.’
‘You have until the count of ten. Nine…eight…seven…six…five…’
‘Okay, okay, stop.’
‘Four…three…’
Jenny raced over to Aoife and held the gun to her temple.
‘Two…’
Jenny shut her eyes. Caoimhe screamed as the gun fired.
FORTY-NINE
Aoife had finally managed to free one arm. She used her shoulder to knock the gun out of Jenny’s hand. As the gun crashed to the floor, Aoife pulled the rope over her head. She yanked at the second rope, but the knot wouldn’t give. She was still tied to Derek.
Keeping one arm around Caoimhe’s neck, Derek pulled at his end. Even with one hand, he was stronger than she was. Aoife hooked one foot around the leg of the kitchen table. Good! He’d have to let go of Caoimhe to use both hands. Pulling Caoimhe into a standing position, Derek pushed her in Aoife’s direction. Jenny got to her feet.
‘Jenny, pick up the gun, hold it to her head and shoot her.’
Jenny didn’t reply.
‘We’ll start again. Ten…nine…eight…’
Jenny walked to the gun. As she bent to pick it up, Aoife unwound her foot from the kitchen table. Taking advantage of the extra length she had gained when Derek moved closer, Aoife reached out her foot and kicked the gun away. It landed a couple of inches from her hand. She stretched out her hand as Derek yanked on the rope. Without the table to latch on to, Aoife slid across the floor. She pointed the gun at Derek’s head.
*
‘Drop the rope.’
Derek did as she instructed but he kept the knife to Caoimhe’s throat.
‘Take that gun from her, Jenny. Do it now.’
‘Derek—’
‘Remember, I always keep my prom—Caoimhe! Stop that! I told you what would happen to your sister if you made a fuss. Jenny, this needs to be over right now. Take that gun from her.’
Aoife was now sitting on the floor. As Jenny moved closer, she raised the gun, pointed it at Derek’s head and fired.
*
Caoimhe and Jenny screamed. Derek fell to the floor and all three stood frozen, looking down at him.
Caoimhe ran to her mother. Jenny put her arms around her and looked over her head at Aoife.
‘I would have shot you.’
‘I know.’
They heard the sirens in the distance. Aoife motioned towards Derek.
‘Are you okay?’
Jenny nodded. She hugged Caoimhe tighter. ‘Whoever that lunatic was, he wasn’t my husband.’
FIFTY
Two days later…
It had never occurred to Aoife that she would be arrested. In her entire life, she had never expected to be brought to a police station against her will, to be fingerprinted and cautioned. Three hours later she had been released on condition that she return for questioning at 8 a.m. the following morning. She was expecting it to be difficult. She had no idea how difficult. The very fact that every word she said was being taped was intimidating in itself. They allowed her three short breaks, but the interviews went on forever. Conor had warned her she would be there all day. He was right. At ten minutes to midnight, they told her she was free to leave.
As promised, Conor was waiting to take her home.
‘That’s it, Aoife. They won’t bother you again.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive.’
‘I’m so tired.’
‘Stay in my house tonight. I’ll get us a takeaway.’
‘No. I want to see Amy.’
Conor drove her to Kildare. Aoife was too exhausted to talk, but she couldn’t sleep either. Conor turned on the radio and switched it to Lyric FM. Neither of them liked the channel much, but it seemed appropriate for her mood.
After a half hour, she began to feel more like herself.
‘Have you ever killed anybody, Conor?’
‘No.’
‘I didn’t expect it to feel like this.’
‘What do you feel?’
‘Nothing.’
*
‘You’re probably in shock, Aoife. It might take a few days before it hits you.’
‘What if I never feel anything?’
‘It wouldn’t bother me. Would it bother you?’
‘I don’t know. Could I be the same person if I can kill another human and not care?’
‘You killed a monster who butchered children.’ Conor shook his head. ‘I still can’t believe it. Derek Lehane! I thought he was the most moral person I had ever met. How could I not have seen who he really was? For God’s sake, I’m supposed to be a detective.’
‘Derek kept himself to himself. Everybody avoided him in social situations. You told me you never spoke to him about anything but work.’
‘And why didn’t it occur to me that I should be concerned about that?’
‘Don’t blame yourself, Conor. We all thought Derek was the quiet, calm type. None of us could have guessed that beneath was a pot of simmering rage. It must have been bubbling away for years. Your promotion and the fear that Shane was trying to steal his family blew the lid off.’
‘I’m not surprised he resented my promotion, but I never guessed the de
pth of his hatred.’
‘None of us did, not even Jenny. Although I thought it was strange that he always referred to you as “Detective Inspector”. Who else calls you by your full title?’
‘Nobody. But Derek was always so formal, it seemed to fit with his personality.’
‘I think the formality was a shield. It kept people at a distance so it was easier for him to hide his real feelings. Every time he said “Detective Inspector”, I think he meant it as sarcasm. Almost like saying “here comes the so-called Detective Inspector. Isn’t he pathetic” kind of thing.’
‘He wasn’t wrong. I was pathetic. My right-hand man was murdering all around me and I thought he was a decent, honourable man who respected the law.’
‘I think the law was an outlet for Derek’s anger. It gave him power, something he obviously needed desperately. He got to watch people at their lowest and feel satisfaction in his own part in bringing them down.’
‘How did Jenny not see that something was wrong?’
‘It’s possible his relationship with Jenny was what motivated him to keep his anger under control. She and the kids were the one good thing in his life. They were the only people who enjoyed his company. To an extent, I believe he tried to live up to Jenny’s idea of him. When I asked him why he became a policeman, he said it was to protect families. Through his family’s eyes, Derek saw an ideal version of himself. Maybe that’s why he told Jenny about the cases he was assigned. He was casting himself in the role of the hero. And that’s the way his family saw him, so to Derek, families were sacrosanct. Anybody who threatened his family or, to a lesser extent, any family, deserved to die.’
‘And Jenny?’
‘Jenny saw what she wanted to see. She said that when she first knew him, Derek barely spoke to her. She filled his silences with what she wanted to believe he was thinking. And when something seemed off, it was easily explained by the stress of his job. When she phoned me to tell me that Ruth was murdered, she mentioned that she had known something was wrong with Derek the previous evening. When she asked him about it, he said he was upset about work. Like they say, “there are none so blind…”’