by Val Collins
‘He must be in a permanent state of panic, then.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He never lets you out of his sight. We call him The Glueman at work. Anytime you enter the building he’s stuck to your side until you leave.’
‘The Glueman? Really?’
‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’ve upset you. I assumed you’d noticed.’
‘I’m not upset. Jason’s very tactile, that’s all. He’s the same at home.’
‘I’m surprised you put up with it. My girlfriend would kill me if I followed her around like that.’
This conversation wasn’t going the way she’d planned. ‘Can you help me, Niall?’
‘What’s the problem?’
Aoife explained the accounts system in DCA and Robert’s reaction to her accessing the system and getting information from Eilis.
‘It might be nothing, Aoife. Some people are possessive about their files. They’re not so much protecting their information as building up their egos. I’m so important everything I touch is high security, type of thing.’
‘You think I’m overreacting?’
‘Maybe. On the other hand, the system is set up so only Robert knows what’s going on. It’s possible he’s stealing. The BMW and the house in Sorrento Terrace make that likely, and I can’t imagine why he would need such complicated account numbers. Sixteen digits and four letters is ridiculous. Either he doesn’t know what he’s doing, or he wants to make sure the staff are concentrating so hard on the account number, they don’t notice anything else. Also, checking all the invoices himself is very suspicious, and no accounts manager would ever reward speed over accuracy. That sounds like another attempt to distract the staff. Have you told the police?’
‘Not yet. That’s why I need your help.’ She handed him the USB containing the spreadsheets. ‘Can you look at this and see if there’s anything suspicious? Anything that would make the police take me seriously.’
‘Okay. I’ll give you a ring if I find anything.’
*
Aoife was leaving the restaurant when she noticed a missed call from Laura. She wasn’t returning it. Laura was the enemy now. Was she stealing from DCA too? Dan and Robert obviously doubted they could trust her, but criminals often distrusted their accomplices. But Gavin seemed genuinely worried about money. Unless Laura had money she wasn’t telling him about. Maybe she planned to leave Gavin. If so, she wouldn’t want him looking for a share of her ill-gotten gains. Now she thought about it, hadn’t Laura handed her the tea that Karen had drunk, and wasn’t it Laura’s suggestion they meet in the park the night Aoife had almost been killed? But it was also Laura who had saved her life. Nothing made sense any longer.
Aoife’s phone rang again.
‘We have to meet urgently,’ Eilis whispered.
This couldn’t be good. ‘I’m nearby. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes. Where?’
‘Pub we met in last time.’ The phone went dead.
Aoife ordered two coffees and waited. Eilis rushed in, pale and breathless.
‘What happened?’
‘I checked with Niamh, the new PA. Robert was supposed to be out of the office until two, so I popped over at twelve-thirty. I was chatting to Niamh, waiting for a chance to drop the USB on her desk, when Robert returned.’
‘Oh God! What did you say?’
‘I pretended I didn’t know Tom was out sick. I said we’d agreed ages ago to go to an exhibition in the art gallery and when he didn’t meet me in Dame Street, I came to see what was delaying him.’
‘Did he believe you?’
‘He was suspicious. He asked Niamh if I had been inside his or Dan’s office. She swore I hadn’t left her desk, but he must have checked to see if anything was missing, because twenty minutes later he and Dan arrived in Dame Street. They said a large amount of money had been stolen from Robert’s office during lunch hour and insisted everyone empty their bag and pockets but they were only looking for keys and USBs. When they didn’t find anything, they sent everyone home and said they would search every office. They started with Marketing.’
‘Where’s the USB?’
‘They made us all stay in the big open-plan office while they searched us. People made a huge fuss and in the chaos I managed to stand beside the large plant in the corner. I buried the USB in the soil.
‘We’re cursed.’
‘I had one piece of good luck.’ Eilis held up a small Dictaphone tape. ‘I managed to get this past them.’
‘Is that—Eilis! You were supposed to keep that safe.’
‘I did. It was taped to the bottom of my desk. When we were allowed back into the office to get our bags, I slipped it into the back pocket of my jeans.’
‘I promised Joe nobody would ever find it.’
‘Nobody would have looked for it under my desk. How could I have known the office would be searched?’
‘Do you think they’ll find the USB?’
‘No, because I’m going back to get it.’
‘What? Don’t be stupid. They’ll catch you.’
‘I have it all worked out. Niamh said Robert’s taken all the keys to Stephen’s Green. He and Dan are the only ones with keys now, so one of them is going to have to go to back there before five to lock up. Dan will send Robert while he continues the search. He’ll be making so much noise I can easily avoid him. I left the fire escape slightly open. All I have to do is pop up the stairs, cross the corridor to the office and grab the USB. Simple.’
‘It’s dangerous, and why risk it? Even if they find the USB, they can’t connect it to you.’
‘Robert’s sure it was me. Why else would he come flying over to Dame Street before he even had a chance to check the Stephen’s Green office properly? But Niamh said I was never out of her sight, so I think a part of him is hoping he’s mistaken. If he finds the USB in Dame Street he’ll know I put it there.’
‘He’s not going to find it. You hid it too well. When they don’t find anything, Robert will figure Dan mislaid it or deleted it or something. It wouldn’t be the first time. Robert’s going abroad for the weekend and—’
‘How do you know that?’
‘A friend told me. The point is he’ll have forgotten all about the USB by the time he comes back, and by then Niall might have found something we can take to the police.’
‘Maybe you’re right.’
*
Eilis had missed lunch, so they went to the Larder. She ordered the special and Aoife ordered coffee. Eilis was halfway through her meal when Aoife’s phone rang. It was Niall.
‘You’re going to get me fired, Aoife. All I’ve done since lunch is check the figures you gave me.’
‘Did you find anything?’
‘The spreadsheets I have just cover payroll. How many staff do DCA have?’
‘One hundred and eighty when I left.’
‘They’re paying two hundred and six.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive. And one hundred of those work regular overtime.’
‘DCA don’t pay overtime. Is one of the people on the payroll John Donovan?’
There was a few seconds silence, then Niall said, ‘Found him. He earns fifty-two thousand euros a year and works overtime every month. Does he exist?’
‘No, but Robert’s using a credit card in his name.’
‘He’s probably using a lot of different cards. My guess is they’re siphoning at least eight hundred thousand a year through payroll. Who knows how much they take from their invoice scamming, and it’s a safe bet they have a few other scams running as well. They could be taking up to a million a year.’
‘Oh my God! I thought it was a few thousand here and there. Where would DCA get that much money, and how could it not be missed?’
‘Are they government-funded?’
‘Partially.’
‘I bet they’re buying off the odd civil servant. A million’s not much in terms of government spending. If the correct
forms are completed, it won’t even be missed. They might be paying off their auditors as well. I have one other spreadsheet to check. Then I’ll do up a report on my findings and you can take it to the police. I have to get some work done now, so I’ll have the report tomorrow or Friday.’
*
‘Oh—! Oh my—’ Eilis covered her mouth with her hand. ‘A mill—a million! Aoife, they’re not going to let this go. They’re not going to hope the USB is lost. They’ll tear up the floorboards if they have to. No way is Robert going abroad for the weekend when a million euro is at stake. And when they find it, they’ll know I put it there. They’re going to come after me.’
‘Okay, don’t panic. Go to your parents’ tonight. They won’t be able to find you in Spain.’
‘First I have to get the USB.’
‘No, Eilis. It doesn’t matter if they find it when you’ve left the country. When we go to the police, you can come home.’
‘What if the police won’t investigate? We don’t know who else is involved in this scam. What if they know powerful people? What if they can put a stop to any investigation?’
‘Then we’ll go to the papers.’
‘I could be dead by then. No. I’m going after the USB today.’
‘It’s too dangerous, Eilis.’
‘It’ll be in and out before Robert even reaches Stephen’s Green. What could go wrong?’
I know I’m right. It’s our only option now. Why won’t he listen to me?
THIRTY
Aoife and Eilis stood in the doorway of the Spar, where they had a good view of the entrance to Manor House. Eilis checked her watch.
‘Four forty-two. Any minute now. Oh! There he goes.’
Robert hurried up Dame Street.
‘Remember, text me the minute Robert returns. I have my phone on vibrate, so nobody will hear.’ Eilis ran around to the back entrance to Manor House. Aoife waited until she had time to reach the fire escape, then texted, ‘Be careful.’
Two seconds later her phone pinged. ‘Duh!’
Aoife tried not to think of all the things that could go wrong.
Five p.m. and no sign of Eilis.
‘OK?’ Aoife texted. Her phone pinged almost immediately.
‘Dan making tea. In and out of kitchen. Waiting.’
Five-ten and Aoife’s phone pinged again. ‘Going in.’
They were running out of time. Robert would be back any minute. Aoife prayed Eilis would hurry.
Five twenty-five. Aoife’s phone rang. Her heart soared, but a glance at the screen told her the call was from Laura. She cut it off. Still no word from Eilis. Aoife hopped from foot to foot. What was keeping her? She was afraid to blink in case Robert came back without her noticing.
Five forty-five. Where the hell was Eilis? Aoife texted again. ‘What’s happening?’
No answer.
Five-fifty. She’d waited too long. Something must be seriously wrong.
Keeping an eye out for Robert, Aoife hurried across the road, ran to the alley at the back of Manor House and peeked around the corner. She could see the fire escape door. It wasn’t completely shut. Should she go in? She took one step. There was a loud bang and a man came crashing through the door. Aoife flattened herself against the wall. A few seconds later, she risked peeking around the corner again. The man was young, tall and broad. He was dressed completely in black. A hood and a scarf hid his face. It was Joe.
*
Joe stood in the middle of the laneway and did a complete circle. He sprinted up the lane, in the opposite direction from Aoife, stopped, did a complete circle and raced towards Aoife. Aoife was about to run when the footsteps stopped. She peeked around the corner again. Joe was standing in the middle of the lane, the palms of his hand on top of his head. He did another circle, pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped his eyes. A dark object landed on the ground. It was small and rectangular. Aoife was focusing on it so hard she forgot to watch Joe. A loud bang made her jump. Joe had forced open the back entrance to a building at the end of the lane. He disappeared. Aoife ran down the lane. As she got closer to the object Joe had dropped, she was certain. It was a Dictaphone tape.
Loud footsteps sent her running back the way she had come. Joe thundered into the lane, looked around, picked up the tape and disappeared again. Aoife tiptoed down the lane, keeping an ear out for footsteps. The DCA fire escape was wide open.
It was difficult to be quiet on a concrete staircase, but Aoife did her best. She felt sick to her stomach. Her breathing was ragged. She had difficulty moving her legs. They felt weighed down by some invisible force.
At the bottom of the third-floor stairwell she found Eilis. She was crumpled into a ball, her arm sticking out at an impossible angle. Her eyes were wide open. Aoife heard a small whimper. For a mad second, she thought Eilis might still be alive, then she realised the whimper had come from herself. She forced herself to check Eilis’ pulse. Nothing. Eilis’ body was warm, but Eilis was gone. Aoife pulled out her phone and dialled 999. Before finishing the call, she hung up. She had to get out of here in case Joe came back. She touched Eilis’ cheek. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered. She took deep breaths to stifle the nausea, then, holding on to the wall for balance, she got to her feet. Halfway down the second-floor staircase she remembered Eilis’ mobile. She forced herself to return to the body and search the pockets. Eilis’ phone was missing.
*
It was her fault Eilis was dead. Eilis had told her Robert and Dan weren’t murderers, but Aoife thought she knew better. Joe must have killed Delia. His cousins would have welcomed him into their world and, at least in the short term, he could have lived a life of ease, but he had chosen to take a poorly paid job with the boss from hell. And what was his reward? Being fired for dishonesty. It was ironic, really. He’d killed Delia because he hadn’t wanted to be forced into a life of crime.
Laura must have told him about Aoife’s investigation. That was why Joe had tried to poison her. He had waited until the strategy meeting so there would be plenty of suspects, but when Karen had become his unintended victim, he’d tried to save her. And Aoife had made him even more desperate by telling him about the tape. While the police were in the building, and later when they’d brought Joe in for questioning, Aoife had been safe, but when Joe had thought the time was right, he’d tried to run her down. Was it he, or one of his associates who’d tried to kill her on the motorway? When both attempts had failed, he had tried to get her alone, asking her to go back to the house with him and to get in his car. He probably thought the tape was in the house and he could force her to give it to him before he killed her. And what had she done? She’d practically told him Eilis had the tape. It didn’t take a genius to work out she only had two friends, and Laura was obviously telling Joe everything she knew, so the tape had to be with Eilis. Joe had followed Eilis. Maybe he’d even seen her take out the tape. He must have thought it was his lucky day when Eilis went down the laneway and up the fire escape. No CCTV cameras to catch him there. Poor Eilis. And her poor parents. Would her father even understand why she no longer visited him?
Aoife ran the entire way to the Luas stop. She was deep in thought as she waited for her train. What was she going to do now? Joe had Eilis’ phone. He’d see her texts. If she did nothing, she would be Joe’s next victim.
*
Heuston was one of the few places that still had public phones, but Aoife soon discovered few of them worked. She was down to her last euro when she managed to get through to the police station.
‘I was walking down the alley behind Manor House in Dame Street when I saw two young men acting suspiciously. They ran out the fire escape. Both were young but only one was facing me. He was tall and broad. His friend said, “Come on, Joe, we’ve got to get out of here”. I went up the stairs to see what was going on. There was a girl lying dead on the floor.’
Aoife hung up before she could be asked any questions. The police would arrest Joe tonight. Even if they didn’t beli
eve her, they’d have to take him in for questioning. It would buy her some time.
The police would find her DNA and fingerprints in the fire escape, but she could explain that. She’d taken the staircase during the last fire drill.
She was outside Maura’s house when she remembered the CCTV cameras. Joe had covered his head and face, but she hadn’t. The cameras would have caught Eilis going into the laneway, Aoife following her and then hurrying away. Joe had been careful not to be seen leaving the alley. She would be the only suspect. And if the police traced her call, Heuston was covered in CCTV cameras also. The police would think she’d made up the story about Joe to protect herself. They would have all the evidence they needed to arrest her.
*
Aoife was rooting for her key when Maura’s door opened.
‘Aoife, thank God. I’m on my way to the hospital and I don’t want to expose Amy to all those germs.’
‘What happened?’
‘It’s my uncle. The priest? He was in the day ward for some minor procedure. Never said a word to me about it until the hospital insisted someone had to collect him. The nurses aren’t happy.’ She looked at her watch. ‘The ward closes at seven. I have to run.’
She was gone before Aoife had a chance to say anything.
*
Aoife paced the kitchen. There was no doubt she’d be arrested, but could the police get a conviction? Surely they needed a motive?
Jason’s car pulled up at 10:20 and Aoife ran into the hall. This was no time for stupid fights.
‘Jason, I think I’m going to be arrested.’
Jason went into the kitchen and plugged his phone into the charger. Aoife followed him.
‘Jason, for God’s sake! This is serious.’
For the first time in weeks, Jason made eye contact. There was a slight smirk on his face. Did he look triumphant? No, she must be imagining it.
‘Remember my friend Eilis? She’s dead, and remember a car tried to knock me down a few weeks ago? Then there was the poison—where are you going? Are you listening to me? Jason!’