* * *
When Lyons and Bolger re-entered the interview room, Williams was sitting with his arms folded in front of him, looking sullen. Joyce, however, was in a much cheerier mood.
“My client is prepared to admit to a number of, shall we say, mistakes that he has made in an effort to preserve his reputation from hysterical schoolgirls, and let’s be honest, much of the evidence you have shown us here today is very circumstantial. We could probably accept manslaughter on one count, and then maybe the other matters could be left where they are?” Joyce said rather hopefully.
Lyons looked the solicitor straight in the eye.
“I think we’ll let the jury decide on the veracity of our evidence, shall we? James, would you be so kind as to charge Mr Williams here with three counts of murder; rape; arson; attempted murder; offences under the Wireless and Telegraphy act 1926, as amended, and anything else that our evidence has revealed, and see if you can get him remanded before Judge Meehan. That will be all, Mr Joyce.” She turned and left the room.
“Christ, how much raw meat did she have for breakfast?” Joyce said to Bolger when Lyons had left the room.
“I think it was his attempt to burn her alive out at the hangar that did it. Oh, and she doesn’t like boats either!” Bolger said.
* * *
“Come in, James, take a seat, would you like a coffee?” Hays said as James Bolger entered his rather plush office on the top floor of the Mill Street Garda station. “I just wanted to have a word with you about how you’re finding things here – a sort of unofficial review, if you will.”
“Thanks, sir. Not too good to be honest. I’m not sure that I’m cut out for this type of work. It all looked so easy on paper when I was studying criminology, but it’s very different in reality, isn’t it?” Bolger said.
“Yes, it is indeed. Look, I’m not going to try and persuade you to give it more of a chance or anything like that. You’re an adult, and you know your own mind best. But I would like to know what your intentions are, if you know them at this stage.”
“I think I’d like to move on, sir. It doesn’t have to be immediate if it would make things awkward for you with Chief Superintendent Plunkett. But maybe a transfer to some other area of the force that isn’t so, well, in your face, if you’ll pardon the expression.”
“Yes, I know what you mean. Leave it with me for a few days. I’m sure we can use your obvious talents elsewhere to good effect. I wouldn’t want to lose you altogether, so I’ll have a snoop around, see if we can come up with something that suits everyone. Are you keen to stay in this region?” Hays said.
“Well, I hope this doesn’t cause offence, but no actually. I’d rather be back in Dublin, if that’s possible.”
“Understood. As I say, leave it with me. I have some good connections in HQ. I’m sure we’ll be able to sort something out.”
* * *
When Lyons got back to the squad room, a spontaneous round of applause greeted her. Shouts of “well done” and “congratulations, boss” rang out across the room. The entire team was there: Eamon Flynn, Sally Fahy, Mary Costelloe, Liam Walsh, John O’Connor, and Sinéad Loughran, who had come across from her laboratory. When the noise settled down, it was clear the assembled crowd were expecting some form of response from Lyons.
“OK, OK, thanks everybody. I only have one thing to say,” she said with a serious face, “I don’t ever want to have to arrest a suspect in a fucking rubber dinghy again, EVER!”
The whole team, including herself, laughed out loud.
Character List
Superintendent Mick Hays – newly promoted to Superintendent, Hays longs for some “real” police work.
Senior Inspector Maureen Lyons – the feisty Garda who is also Hays’ partner.
Inspector James Bolger – a new recruit in the force’s attempt to modernize.
Detective Sergeant Eamon Flynn – an observant and tenacious Garda who never lets go.
Detective Sergeant Sally Fahy – an ex-civilian worker who loves police work.
Detective Garda Mary Costelloe – a new member of the team who shows great promise.
Detective Garda Liam Walsh – recently promoted from the uniformed ranks. Will he make the grade?
Garda John O’Connor – the unit’s tech-savvy assistant.
Sinéad Loughran – the forensic team leader with a good nose for wrongdoing.
Garda Pascal Brosnan – the lone Garda in charge of Roundstone Garda station.
Garda Jim Dolan – based in Clifden, Dolan doesn’t like too much work-related stress.
Garda Peadar Tobin – a good-looking young Garda with chivalrous tendencies.
Sergeant Séan Mulholland – a wily old Garda who runs the station in Clifden in his own unique way.
Fergal O’Dwyer – an accident investigator from the Irish Aviation Authority.
Sandra Jameson – O’Dwyer’s assistant.
Brian O’Neill – a highly skilled helicopter pilot who works for the coastguard.
Jane Wells – O’Neill’s equally highly skilled co-pilot.
Ger Fortune – the well-to-do builder who made good during the Celtic Tiger.
Barbara Fortune – Ger Fortune’s wife.
Fionn Devaney – an architect with big ideas.
Mrs Devaney – Fionn’s wife.
Emma Fortune – Ger Fortune’s pretty seventeen-year-old daughter.
Amy Cunningham – Emma Fortune’s best friend.
Donal O’Connell – headmaster at Emma and Amy’s school.
Derek Williams – Emma’s form teacher and games master.
Charlie Willis – runs the flying club based at Galway airport.
Terry Normoyle – a highly experienced aircraft engineer.
Séan McCreedy – station manager at the airport on Inis Mór.
Paddy Lavelle – owns a fishing boat that he keeps in Roundstone harbour.
Darragh Egan – has a fast rigid-hulled inflatable boat that he uses for tourist trips in and around Bertraghboy Bay.
Ernest Joyce – a Galway solicitor.
James McMahon – an architect from Galway who is well known to the Gardaí.
Tony Fallon – used to have his own business, but now works in forestry.
More fiction by David Pearson
If you enjoyed MURDER ON AT THE PONY SHOW, MURDER ON PAY DAY and MURDER IN THE AIR, check out the other books in the series, also featuring Irish detectives Hays and Lyons.
All of these books are FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback in single editions from Amazon.
The first three books are also available in a great value box set.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Z1CJR44/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z1CJR44/
Book 1: MURDER ON THE OLD BOG ROAD
A woman is found in a ditch, murdered. As the list of suspects grows, an Irish town’s dirty secrets are exposed. Detective Inspector Mick Hays and DS Maureen Lyons are called in to investigate. But getting the locals to even speak to the police will take some doing. Will they find the killer in their midst?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07C8GJ889/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C8GJ889/
Book 2: MURDER AT THE OLD COTTAGE
When a nurse finds a reclusive old man dead in his armchair in his tumbledown cottage, the local Garda surmise he was the victim of a burglary gone wrong. However, having suffered a violent death and there being no apparent robbery, Irish detectives Hays and Lyons are not so sure. With no apparent motive it will take all their wits and training to track down the killer.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07C3VRR7Z/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C3VRR7Z/
Book 3: MURDER ON THE WEST COAST
When the Irish police arrive at a road accident, little do they know it will lead to evidence of a kidnapping and a murder. Detective Maureen Lyons is in charge of the case but struggling with self-doubt, and when a suspect slips through her fingers she must act fast
to save her reputation and crack the case.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D322RKB/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D322RKB/
Book 7: MURDER AT THE HOLIDAY HOME
A local businessman is questioned when a young woman is found dead in his property. His caginess makes him a prime suspect in what is now a murder inquiry. But with no clear motive and no evidence, detectives will have a hard task proving their case. They’ll have to follow the money, even if it leads them into danger.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P9W6T6J/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P9W6T6J/
Book 8: MURDER ON THE PENINSULA
When a body is found in a car on a remote beach, detectives suspect foul play. Their investigation leads them to believe the death is connected to corruption in local government. But rather than have to hunt down the killer, he approaches them. With one idea in mind: revenge. Working out against whom and why will be key to stopping him in his tracks.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07SPM71L9/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SPM71L9/
Book 9: MURDER AT THE RACES
One of the highlights of Ireland’s horseracing calendar is marred when a successful bookmaker is robbed and killed in the restrooms. DI Maureen Lyons investigates but is not banking on a troublemaker emerging from within the police ranks. Her team will have to deal with the shenanigans and catch a killer.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07X9MKZL4/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X9MKZL4/
Sign up to our newsletter to hear about new releases, special offers, and more:
www.thebookfolks.com/newsletter/
Coming Soon…
THE GALWAY HOMICIDES – BOOKS 7-9
Three more gripping Irish murder mysteries from the best-selling series. Another great value box set!
Comprising the seventh, eighth and ninth books in this series: MURDER AT THE HOLIDAY HOME, MURDER ON THE PENINSULA and MURDER AT THE RACES
FREE with Kindle Unlimited. All the books in this series are also available separately on Kindle and in paperback.
Other titles of interest
If you like murder mysteries, why not try these books?
Broken Angel by Diane Dickson
An eerie corpse dressed as a bride, a killer playing a macabre game, and a woman detective prepared to follow her instincts. Enter DI Tanya Miller, the missing persons specialist brought in to investigate the disappearance of a woman from a motorway services. Someone is playing a sick game, and she’s determined to catch him, no matter what it takes.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DTGFS1H/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DTGFS1H/
The Innocent and the Dead by Robert McNeill
One girl is found dead – strangled in the woods. Another, the daughter of a rich, well-connected businessman, is kidnapped. Unassuming detective, Jack Knox, must solve these two cases. But the Edinburgh crime-solver will have a hard time getting his superiors to accept his unconventional methods. Will he gamble too much?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VWB8BBD/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VWB8BBD/
Impurity by Ray Clark
Someone is out for revenge. A grotto worker is murdered in the lead up to Christmas. He won’t be the first. Can DI Gardener stop the killer, or is he saving his biggest gift till last?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081Z817GY/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B081Z817GY/
FREE BOOKS IN YOUR INBOX
As a thank-you to our readers, we regularly run free book promotions and discounted deals for a limited time. To hear about these and about new fiction releases, just sign up to our newsletter:
www.thebookfolks.com/newsletter/
The Galway Homicides Box Set 2 Page 44