Authors: Casey Hill
Aftermath (14 page)
42
T
he following morning
, she phoned Kennedy and asked him to meet for breakfast at a nearby greasy spoon she knew he loved.
She waited for a good twenty minutes before he arrived, going through two cups of coffee, but at least it gave her the time to figure out how best to play this.
Finally he appeared, typically disheveled, and collapsed in the seat opposite her.
“Sorry I’m late, traffic was mental. Have you ordered yet?”
Then without waiting for an answer, he hopped over to the counter and ordered a large fry-up with extra sausages.
Sitting back down, he licked his lips. “Hope it doesn’t take too long; I’m starving. Josie made me eat that granola shit this morning, looks like something you should be feeding to chickens if you ask me. So, where’s Chris?” he added, as if noticing for the first time that it was just the two of them.
“This is kind of … delicate.”
He stared at her. “Oh no, don’t even think about getting me involved in this stuff, Goldilocks. I’ve been out of that game for years - not that I was much good at it in the first place, ask Josie.”
She couldn't help but smile. “It’s nothing like that. Well, maybe it is … but the point is, I’m sure you've noticed things are a bit … weird between us."
"Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but yeah."
“It’s hard to explain without going into too much detail, but let’s just say this pregnancy thing hasn't helped.”
Kennedy looked mortified. It was fine to tease her about the idea of it, but actually
discussing
it…
“You do know it has nothing to do with Chris, don’t you?” she asked, suddenly concerned that he’d gotten the completely wrong end of the stick.
“Yeah. Don’t want you to think we were talking behind your back or anything, but …he told me about …some fella in America.”
If his face flushed any darker it would soon be the same color as the fried tomatoes on the plate - that with fortuitous timing - the waitress had just laid on the table in front of him.
Reilly nodded. “So again, I just think that it’s best that Chris and I keep our distance for the moment, let things calm down a little. I know he’s been getting the brunt of it from the chief after the O’Donnell thing, and I don’t want to make things worse.”
"Reilly, this is something you really should talk to him about, yeah?” He looked as if he was about to bolt out of his seat, but didn't want to abandon the fry-up.
“I know and believe me, I'm not asking you to intervene in anything personal. Just ... can you hear me out for a minute - let me tell you what's going on? It’s to do with the Morrison case.”
He exhaled a little, obviously relieved to be back on more familiar ground, and she had to smile. “Yeah, of course, what is it?"
She took a breath. "I'm currently exploring an alternate scenario about Friday night, one that concerns Annabel Morrison.”
“Ah Jaysus, not this again."
"Just listen, please.”
"Right, I'm listening."
She went on to explain about the whistling kettle in the background of the 999 call, and the mystery bourbon drinker, as well as the iPhone messages.
"Josh's phone was wiped six minutes after the call.”
"OK," he said. "And why would you not want Chris to know this?"
“It’s not that I don’t want him to know. It's just, I think I need something a little more concrete before he'll listen. Especially given what’s just happened.”
He nodded, and she was relieved he could see her point.
“It could be she only erased the phone because there was something private and perhaps incriminating on it. Maybe Josh found out about an affair, or something along those lines?”
"Or it could be that the phone might give us an indication of someone who’d actually attacked him," said Kennedy, mulling it over.
"Right. So…I think we need to turn the focus of the investigation away from the burglary angle and more towards the Morrisons personally - friends, business associates, that kind of thing.”
"We already interviewed many of those, and nothing stood out as suspicious,” he said, reaching down to fish out a folder from a satchel alongside him. “I still have the reports here.”
When Reilly gave him a questioning look, he shrugged. “Josie types ‘em up for me afterwards. I’d be there till Christmas otherwise.”
Reilly pulled an empty table over alongside theirs, and spread the reports out on the table, out of the reach of Kennedy’s greasy cutlery and toast crumbs.
She picked up the transcription of Dylan Morrison’s Skype call, which she’d already seen on video.
The interview had indeed seemed bland and nondescript, but taken with the new information, she wondered if there was anything that might have been missed.
How long have you been in California?
Almost a year.
You see much of your family in that time?
Not really, no. I mean, for holidays and all that.
Are you at all familiar with your parent’s professional life?
They kept work at work. I mean, I’ve met a couple of dad's business partners once or twice. And mom's friends at the studio would come over for barbecues and all that. But I mean, no, they never really talked to me about business. Why - do you think someone from work stabbed him?
We're just trying to get a sense of where there might have been recent tensions. Maybe a situation where someone would have been mad at your father.
No one was mad. My mom and dad are a really great people. I mean yeah, they fight, but who doesn't? They’ve been together their whole lives.
OK, but I mean outside the family. Anyone have any grudges against your father that you are aware?
Not that I can tell. I mean he's super successful. His employees love him. Investors get lots of money. They all seem okay.
"
T
hat's a little strange
, isn't it?”
"What?" Kennedy scooted over to see what she was reading.
“He goes on a bit of a diversion here.”
"Where?"
She pointed at the transcript. "Chris says that you’re looking for points of tension. Areas where someone might have been upset with Josh. And Dylan immediately talks about Josh and Annabel. He even closes out with the assertion that 'everyone fights.' But Chris wasn't even talking about that."
"So you think it was a slip?"
"I'm not saying that Dylan thinks Annabel might have stabbed his father, but he may well be hiding something--something that could incriminate his parents somehow. That's the same suspicion I’m getting. We're missing out on something here. There's something the Morrisons aren't telling us."
She continued skimming through the file. "Did you interview the daughter?"
"God no," he barked. "She's just a kid."
"I think we should talked to her, find out more about day to day home life."
"Aw, come on Reilly, we can't do that. She’s twelve, it’s too invasive - and Annabel would go nuts.”
“We could get a shrink to do it. Make it less scary for her."
"And what? Have that Flanagan guy there too? Or worse, Annabel?"
"I suppose. If we have to."
"Reilly, then this line of investigation won’t stay under the radar. If you're sniffing around the wife for this then everyone - including the media - will very quickly cotton on to that. Never mind Chris - O’Brien would lose his life. I really don't think that's a good idea."
He had a point. "Well who else could tell us if they'd been having problems?Annabel's colleagues, maybe?”
"That'd get back to Annabel too.”
"There has to be a close friend--someone who goes way back with both. With them married so long, there has to be."
“Gordon Ryan? Teammate of Josh's when he was playing for Leinster. We interviewed him."
Reilly flipped forward to that interview.
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Gordon.
Happy to help, of course.
So how long have you known Josh?
I'd say, well... let's see probably about twenty-five years now.
How did you meet?
We were in Blackrock together. Good mates back then, especially considering he stole my spotlight. All about the game, all about the team. Well, the team AND Josh Morrison.
So you were good friends?
Pretty close, yeah. I was at his and Annabel’s wedding. Me, Ian and... oh bloody hell, what was his name... Gerry Duffy I think it was, yeah. And Josh was at my wedding too. Annabel too.
Have you kept in contact with him over the years?
Yeah, barbecues and what-not. We went to each others kids’ birthday parties and all that. Saw Dylan graduate too, but my girls are still a few years’ off that yet.
Did you notice anything causing stress to the family recently? Any quarrels or problems?
Annabel and Josh never fought. Not like the rest of us. No, they were right as rain.
What about outside the family?
Not that I know of. Truth be told, Josh keeps to himself on business matters. Really we only talk about rugby. These days, we meet up for matches mostly.
Were there any other people in his life, apart from work or home, that would be angry at him? Some third party with a grudge, maybe?
Nah, nothing like that. Josh's got no enemies. Everybody loves Josh Morrison. Everybody's always loved Josh Morrison.
Okay, well I think that's about it Gordon, thanks for coming in.
That's it, then? I hope Annabel's OK, anyone taking care of her?
She’s distraught understandably, which is why want to get to the bottom of this and find her husband’s attacker as quickly as possible.
Course. She loves him more than anything. Bet my life on it. All right, thanks. See you later, mate.
"
D
idn't see
any red flags there," said Kennedy.
"I don't either," Reilly admitted. “All a little too clean. Do people usually gush this much about their friends’ relationships? Seems like everyone - along with the media - keeps on insisting they are this perfect couple. I mean, come on... all couples fight.”
“True, that.”
She bit her lip. “Were all the people amongst the Morrisons’ inner circle the same? All insistent about this perfect marriage?”
Kennedy thought about it. “Yeah, now that I think about it. Tara Murphy especially.”
"Right, Annabel’s co-presenter. Is she as annoying in real life?"
Kennedy smirked. “I wouldn't know," he muttered, which Reilly took for a "yes."
She thumbed through the file and found Murphy’s transcript.
Ms Murphy, thanks for coming in.
Anything I can do to help. The poor soul. What monster would do this to Josh? You are hot on his trail, aren't you?
We are putting all available resources into this case, I assure you.
That's good. That's good. It's just such a tragedy. I can't even get Annabel to answer the phone. Not that I'd expect her to, but I just want to see how she's doing. You're taking good care of her, aren't you? She's okay?
Understandably upset of course, but being very brave.
Of course. Yes, she would be. Always so brave.
Have you been around Mr. and Mrs. Morrison over the past few months? Socially?
We've had dinner once or twice.
Can you attest to their overall temperament?
Happy as Larry. They always are. How they can keep themselves together after so many years in such a healthy way, it's really a kind of … magic. I can't fathom having so much patience and dedication. Of course, that's probably why I'm divorced.
Did you hear from them about any sort of recent stress on the family, or issues that were of concern?
No, not at all. Everything seemed to be fine. Better than fine really. Of course with only one kid left in the house, what would they have to argue about? Well, not that they argued. As a matter of fact I don't think they've argued in all the years I’ve known them.
I was referring to outside the home. To your knowledge, was there anything happening outside the home that might be causing stress or concern for the family?
No, not that I know of. Everything seemed to be going brilliantly for them - always is.
R
eilly stopped reading
and clicked her tongue.
"What is up with that? Someone, again unprompted, harping on about the fact that this perfect couple never fight."
“I suppose when you look at it like that …” said Kennedy.
"What about on Josh's side then, anyone from Perk?"
“His right-hand man, Fred Hegarty. Not a lot came from that either."
Reilly went to the transcript.
How is he?
Alright... well, not alright, but stable.
Did you see them? I mean… the knife wounds?
Afraid so.
It's unbelievable this could happen. That someone is capable of that. I mean it had to be someone he knew doesn't it? This sort of thing doesn't happen at random, does it?
Well, that's precisely what we're trying to sort out. Now, you’re fairly close to Josh?
Very much. We work side by side every day. Trust him with my life, and he mine.
Did you know if Josh was having any problems at home?
No, not especially. I mean everyone has their problems, I suppose. Annabel and him seemed to be getting along well. I mean, at least when she was in a good mood, ha. Ah, that’s not fair, what do I know. Annabel’s a gem, you know that. But yeah, they had a good marriage, as far as I could tell. Not that I'm one to talk.
What about at business, everything good there?
Yeah, Perk’s doing great. Unprecedented growth.
Anyone at work have it out for him? Any grudges? Someone he pissed off or let go?
No, no nothing like that. He's a great boss. People love to work with him.
Wholesalers, he may have pushed a bit too hard … competitors, maybe?
Believe it or not, Detective, Josh's is salt of the earth. Never did anything. To anyone.