Who is Alice?

by Miranda Manning

  “I’ll keep trying until I get him.I presume that Cassandra is safe in the hospital?”

  “Unless this country has gone to the dogs altogether, I think she is.”

  Chief Superintendent Tom McEvoy was about to leave the station to go home when he got the call from Hugo Lynch.Somehow he wasn’t surprised.

  “I’m on my way home,” he said.“I’ll call out.Your house is on my way.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” said Hugo.

  “All in a day’s work,” Tom McEvoy said and they both knew that strictly speaking it wasn’t.

  Hugo felt like he’d been making tea or hot chocolate all evening.He had just brewed up again when the Chief Superintendent’s car drew up outside. He was a large broad man with an air of authority and confidence and that was just what Hugo needed at that time.

  Hugo began tentatively.“I really don’t know how to say this but I had the feeling that you weren’t happy to have confiscated my computer last week and I am guessing you got the instruction from a very unusual source.”

  “Yes,” the Chief Superintendent answered.

  “Am I right in guessing it came from the Taoiseach’s office?” Nicola enquired, knowing the answer before she heard the reply.

  “Not his office.He rang me himself. I smelled a rat immediately but I couldn’t refuse the Taoiseach.How did you know?”

  “Can you assure us that this conversation is confidential?” Nicola asked.

  “Of course,” the Chief Superintendent replied and so Nicola told him the whole story.

  “The most recent thing,” she concluded, “is that we believe that he took out a contract on Cassandra Grey, Alice’s former neighbour. The thug who attacked her told her that he was going to kill her and that she had enemies in very high places. He broke her cheekbone, several of her ribs, throttled her, knocked out some of her teeth and she has severe bruising to her abdomen and legs. He is an appalling sadist and obviously enjoyed his job. Fortunately he was interrupted. But he got away.”

  “When is the case coming up?” the Super enquired.

  “On Monday. I’m not sure any of us is safe between now and then.” Nicola was terrified at this point.

  “I was thinking that Nicola and Cassandra could stay here until after Monday,” Hugo said.

  “But that would put you and Eliza in danger,” Nicola said, “and so far he doesn’t seem to have aimed anything at you – except for the computer business, of course.”

  “I think I can arrange security around the clock here until after the court case,” said Tom. “It would be cheaper and more effective than arranging security for all of you at different locations. And if you like, Nicola, I will go with you now to your apartment and you can pick up as much as you need for the next few days.”

  “That would be excellent.” Hugo was relieved.“Ideally we would like the security to appear low key.We would like that the children and the other tenants are not aware of it.”

  “I think we can arrange that. You will see it but passers-by who are unaware of it in all probability won’t notice it.”

  “It’s a good job we have a vacant apartment,” Hugo said.

  “I will call to the hospital tomorrow to assure Cassandra that all is well,” the Chief Superintendent said.“In any case I have a valid reason to call to discuss the assault with her.It will take me till tomorrow to arrange the security but I should have it in place by about 10 a.m.I don’t think anything else will happen between now and then.Jack Madden will not realise that his murder attempt has failed until the morning and unless he is really on the ball he wouldn’t have an opportunity to arrange anything else.”

  For a few minutes the three of them sat in silence, taking in the enormity of the situation.Here they were calmly discussing the fact that the leader of the country appeared to have tried to murder one of their friends – perhaps twice.

  It was three nights before the court date.

  Tom McEvoy visited Cassandra early the following morning.Because he was a garda the hospital allowed him in even though they had not completed their tests on the patient.He was horrified at what he saw.The woman looked as if she had been in a head-on car crash.Her face was completely swollen and was purple in colour.He could also see the ligature mark on her neck.

  “Hugo Lynch has invited you and Nicola McCarthy to stay at his home for as long as is required and I have arranged security for the house,” he said in a whisper.

  “That’s very kind of Hugo but I can’t put him through that.They may try again.”

  “You have no option but to stay with them or in here. I can’t guarantee your safety if you don’t.”

  “But I have nothing except the clothes I came here in.I haven’t my phone, my purse – anything of a personal nature,”Cassandra’s diction was still not clear.

  “I can arrange for two female gardaí in plain clothes to go to your apartment and get all that you require. If you give them the code they’ll go in and if they are stopped they’ll say that they are your sisters. We’ll have them under surveillance all the time. We can arrange any repairs to secure the place as well, if that turns out to be necessary.”

  “Do you know what I do for a living?” Cassandra asked, afraid that if he knew he might be less willing to offer her this protection.

  “I have a good idea.It’s not for me to judge.My job is to keep you and the others involved in this situation safe.”He kept his voice low as he spoke.He didn’t need some nosey nurse getting wind of what was going on and going to the papers. Nicola had explained to him her plans for after the case – if it was successful – for getting Alice what was due to her and the girls.She didn’t want anything to happen that might give Jack Madden any advance warning about what was to come.

  “They are letting me home today,” Cassandra said.“They think that there is no really serious damage done but I’m to have complete bed rest for the next week.”

  “Well, take their advice and you should make a good recovery.”

  “I’m going to court on Monday.I don’t care if it kills me and God knows it may.That creep is not going to get away with what he did to Alice and those girls.”

  “I understand your feelings.We will try and make the journey to Ennis as comfortable as possible.I’ll be going myself as an observer.It’s a public hearing.”

  “What do you think that will do to your career if Jack Madden sees you?”

  “I don’t think he knows me to see and I will be in civvies but in any case I am willing to take my chances.”

  Cassandra smiled even though it hurt her face.

  Nicola went to work from The Coven the next day.They told Alice that Cassandra had been assaulted in the street the evening before and that she would be coming to stay at The Coven while she recovered.They would all go to Ennis together.She didn’t know as yet just how serious the assault had been and they decided not to tell her who they thought was behind it.

  The day was as normal as could have been expected.Alice didn’t seem to notice the unmarked cars that were around the area during the day.

  Hugo, Eliza and Alice were shocked when they saw Cassandra. Tom McEvoy had picked her up at the hospital and the nurses had given her instructions not to get out of bed except to use the bathroom for the next four days.They all knew that she would ignore that instruction.But she did gratefully accept their help. Alice had to liquidise all her food since it was nigh impossible for Cassandra to chew anything due to her facial fracture.

  Chapter 32

  The Coven was a hive of activity on the 14thof February. Nicola, who was sharing an apartment with Cassandra, was woken by her mobile phone at seven. Her heart lurched.Who could be ringing her so early? She had an unspoken agreement with friends and relations that they didn’t ring each other before eight or after midnight unless it was really urgent.

  It was a blocked number and when she answered it she was treated to a pretty tuneless rendition of “I Just Called to Say I Love You”.

  “You cl
own!” she laughed.“You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  “God, I knew my singing was bad but I expected a better reception than that!Should I try ‘All You Need is Love’?” Séamus was completely unabashed.

  “I actually forgot what day it is. It was a lovely thought.But I have been so preoccupied that I didn’t even get you a card.”

  “Never mind! We can have dinner tonight if this case goes alright. What time are ye setting out?”

  “About half past eight, I think.The Chief Superintendent is taking us.”

  “He’s a brave man. I’d say that will be enough to grind his career to a halt.”

  “That doesn’t seem to bother him. To be honest, Cassandra and I feel very safe with him and Alice doesn’t know who he is at all.So it’s a fairly good arrangement.”

  “I suppose so. And it’s probably best that none of you use your own car.”

  “Yes – especially after what happened to Cassandra the last time.”

  “How is Cassandra this morning?”

  “I haven’t spoken to her yet.You woke me up, remember!I had better go.See you down there.”

  “Okay. See you.And I meant it, you know.”

  “You meant what?”

  “That I just called to say I love you.”

  “Clown,” Nicola replied and ended the call smiling.

  Cassandra still looked awful.Her face was purple.She looked frail but thankfully her diction had improved.

  “I wonder could we go for an adjournment?” Nicola mused.

  “Not on your life,” Cassandra said through swollen lips.“This is our opportunity to nail Jack Madden and I won’t wait a moment longer than is necessary.I’d say Alice wouldn’t want to adjourn either.After all, this is her life!”

  “I suppose you’re right.Do you need help dressing?”

  “If you could help me into the shower and maybe drying off, I’d be glad.Every time I move my torso it hurts.Talking isn’t exactly fun either but you can’t help me with that.”

  When Cassandra and Nicola arrived down to the kitchen Hugo was there making porridge.

  “Alice is getting breakfast for the girls and then I will take them to school,” he informed them while serving up two piping hot bowls of porridge, along with generous servings of blueberries.

  “Thanks, Hugo,” Nicola said.“We’re very grateful. We’d better try to stay out of view of the girls. They may twig that something is up if they see us both here so early in the morning, particularly with Cassandra in the state she is in.”

  “Yes, I’ll leave with them at about quarter past eight. Tom should be here around then and hopefully all of you will be ready to roll.”

  Cassandra carefully tasted the porridge.It was delicious and just the right consistency for someone who couldn’t chew.

  “Are you alright, Cassandra?” Hugo enquired.“Are you sure you can do this today?”

  “I’m fine.I can do it,” Cassandra replied with a weak grin.“I may just collapse into my bed when it is all over but I’ll be able to hold out until then.”

  “You’re very brave,” was all Hugo could say and Nicola agreed with him silently.

  Hugo left them to their own devices when the time came to take the girls to school and they watched through the window as the two girls skipped beside him to the jeep.He was a treasure – both women knew it and were so happy that he was there for all of them at this time.

  They noticed that a black people-carrier passed Hugo in the drive and they held their breath until they saw Tom McEvoy emerge.Just as they were about to open the front door to him Alice came down the stairs in the same pink suit she had worn at the last court hearing. Nicola again thought how appropriate it was but Alice had lost her child-like innocence in the last few months and now she looked like a woman and a mother who had serious worries for the future of her children.

  Tom McEvoy had borrowed his sister’s people-carrier.It had the dual advantage that it was not recognisable as his to any gardaí or court officials in Ennis that might know him but also he could put down the seats to form a sort of bed for Cassandra so that she could lie down during the journey, thereby taking the strain off her fractured ribs.He even had a rug to put over her in case she was tired and wanted to sleep. Alice and Nicola sat in the other seats and they began their journey.

  Whether it was the presence of a man or whether they knew that this was a far more serious and far-reaching case than the first, nobody suggested putting on a CD.They listened to Morning Ireland in virtual silence and after the nine o’clock news Tom tuned into Lyric FM without consulting the women.

  They turned into the car park in the courthouse to find it almost full – much busier than the first time they were there.

  “No ministerial cars, as far as I can see,” Nicola said quietly.“He mustn’t be here yet.”

  “That’s not really an indication of anything. I’m not using my own car,” Tom replied.“He’d be mad to drive in here in a state car.My guess is that he will be in an anonymous car belonging to one of his minions and he is hoping that this case will not attract media attention – and he just might get away with it.”

  “I’d say he came in that clapped-out Toyota over there,” Cassandra said and they all laughed, despite how much it pained Cassandra to do so.

  “Something has attracted media attention,” Nicola said as she was getting out of the car. “Look at the cluster of people at the doorway. At least one of them has a microphone and I think I recognise a guy from the Irish Times.”

  “Oh, God,” Alice murmured.

  “Ignore them,” Tom said. “There may be a murder or something being tried today. Walk straight by them. We don’t want them to take an interest in us.”

  Cassandra leaned heavily on the arm of the Superintendent as they walked up the steps into the foyer of the courthouse and immediately Alice’s counsel was at her side.

  “We were on first, but I requested an adjournment till this afternoon. The other side have intimated that they might be willing to settle. I need the three of you to come with me immediately.”He looked at Tom and asked, “Who are you?”

  “Just a friend,” Tom replied.

  “You can go wherever you like but the women must follow me.”

  In a gallant gesture he offered Cassandra his arm. She took it gratefully and they walked slowly down the stairwayinto the basement where Gerard Murphy opened the door of one of several meeting rooms.

  Séamus was already in the room as was Jack Madden and his legal team. It was a characterless room. There was an oblong table and eight chairs, like in a conference room. Gerard indicated to them where to sit, putting Alice as far away as was physically possible from Jack Madden. Alice was beside herself with anxiety. Nicola and Cassandra were also nervous at this turn of events. They didn’t expect to have to deal with the situation in this way.

  “Let’s get this over with,” Jack Madden snarled as Alice’s barrister was about to make the introductions. “I think we all know who everybody is.”

  “Mr Madden, for the benefit of your legal team I wish to make the introductions since they have not met two of my witnesses before today,” Gerard Murphy said calmly and he proceeded to introduce the women.

  “I think we all know that you have a very weak case for title to the disputed apartment on Taylors Hill,” the Counsel for Jack Madden said.

  “On the contrary,” Gerard said calmly. “I don’t think we would be in this room if you didn’t think we have a pretty good case. Besides, there are the principles of natural justice to consider. What are you offering us?”

  “An order to end this farcical situation as soon as possible. Mr Madden, in his generosity, is offering €100,000 to this woman and that will be the end of it.”

  Alice held her breath. Nicola was dismayed and Cassandra was just plain angry.

  “That is a ridiculous offer,” Gerard Murphy said in a voice which was bordering on aggressive. “Your client had an ongoing relationship with my client for a
bout thirteen years. He put her up in the apartment, which she presumed would be her home for life and they had two children together.”

  “That is a barefaced lie,” Jack Madden said in the tone of a person who expected to be believed. “I took pity on Alice O’Brien when she was pregnant and alone because she was an employee and this is how she repays me!”

  Gerard Murphy threw him a scathing look and continued. “He then put her and their children out on the street rendering them homeless and you expect her to walk away from this with just €100,000. That’s not going to happen.”

  “You have absolutely no proof of any of these allegations.” Jack Madden’s counsel was incensed.

  “Oh, but I have. I have a neighbour, Cassandra Grey, who saw Jack Madden in that apartment block nearly every week for the relevant period and she is willing to testify that he spent several nights a week in the disputed apartment.”

  “Nobody will believe that whore,” Jack Madden snarled.

  Nicola groaned inwardly and Alice gasped audibly.

  “I will thank you not to refer to my witness in such disrespectful terms,” Gerard Murphy said.

  “Still,” Jack Madden’s barrister said, “she’s hardly a person whose word could be trusted. It’s not exactly an edifying way to earn a living.”

  “No more unedifying than yours!” Cassandra spoke sharply. “Going into all sorts of contortions defending the indefensible and taking money from all sorts of renegades just because they can pay you big bucks, no matter what the rights and wrongs of the case!”

  Everybody in the room stared at Cassandra. She may have been bruised and battered but she was in no way cowed.

  “I will be under oath and my word will be believed,” she continued, looking straight at Jack Madden as she spoke. “I am very familiar with Jack Madden’s lifestyle over the past thirteen years.”

  “Now,” Gerard Murphy continued, “are you willing to up the offer or will we go into court this afternoon?”

  Alice held her breath. The idea of waiting for two hours in Ennis Courthouse until her case was heard appalled her.