A Case Of Murder (Kendall Book 6) (8 page)

“A bit late in the day for business wouldn’t you say,” said Kendall. “What do they say, all work and no play, makes Jack a very tired man. I mean you work hard all day long, you should be entitled to some relaxation.”

“Maybe,” said O’Rourke. “But it’s just one of those things I guess. I’m afraid that I had no time earlier, besides I actually got back here at just after ten, but I never came down to the bar until much later, once they had all finished. The work had to be done. Paperwork, you know, it just mounts up. What with the accounts, receipts, orders, taxes, you name it.”

“Yes I imagine it must be hard going sometimes,” said Kendall, far from convinced.

“Don’t you have a secretary to deal with all of that?” asked Mollie.

O’Rourke smiled. “Keep meaning to employ someone, but just never get around to it,” he replied. “And to add to everything else, I’m due an audit next week. You know the local tax man. He’ll want to see everything, and it has to be up to date.”

Kendall nodded. “I know what you mean. Ours is the IRS, the Internal Revenue Service,” he said. “They check every single thing, right down to the last paperclip.”

O’Rourke smiled. “So, what have you got planned for today?” he asked changing the subject.

“Well, today I’m paying a visit to the local police station,” Kendall replied. “The Garda I think it’s called.”

O’Rourke said nothing but simply nodded.

“I’m just going for a walk,” Mollie said. “Someone said the view from the top of the cliff above the cove is worth seeing.”

“It is Miss,” replied O’Rourke. “But please be very careful up there, it’s a long way down, and it can be treacherous up at the top, especially after the rain we’ve had.”

Mollie nodded. “I’ll be careful, don’t you worry.”

“Well I hope you both have a good day, whatever you are doing. The forecast is for sunshine at least,” said O’Rourke. “Now let me see about some breakfast for you.”

He turned and walked towards the kitchen area.

Kendall watched until he was out of sight. He then turned to Mollie. “So what did you think about that then?”

“About what?” Mollie replied.

Kendall shook his head, exasperated. “O’Rourke,” he explained pointing towards the kitchen. “Some business to attend to, indeed, I mean if you believe that you’ll believe anything.”

“Well maybe he did have some business,” Mollie replied. “It could happen couldn’t it.”

“Oh, come on now,” said Kendall. “What business would he have at that time of night?”

“He just told you, paperwork,” replied Mollie. “As well you know the books still need doing, the accounts have to be entered don’t they.”

Kendall shrugged. “Do you really believe that’s what he was doing, his accounts? No he was up to something, and I’d like to know what.”

Mollie heaved a sigh. “Okay, let’s suppose it wasn’t the accounts,” she said. “Ever think it might have involved a lady friend?”

Kendall looked at her for a few moments. “That’s possible I suppose,” he reluctantly agreed. He then looked towards the kitchen, and shook his head. “But highly unlikely I think.”

“Why do you say that?” Mollie asked.

Kendall smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Just look at him,” he said. “I mean would you be interested in someone like that?”

Mollie said nothing, but she had to admit that Kendall certainly had a point.

* * *

Chapter Eleven

The Garda

The local Garda office was located in what appeared to be an ordinary semi-detached house, situated at the end of the High Street. And it certainly was nothing out of the ordinary, except for the blue lantern hanging by the entrance door, and the notice board positioned by the front gate. In letters four inches high it announced
‘Killmacud Garda, telephone number 887655. Officer in charge Police Constable Seamus Donovan.’

In the driveway there was a two year old Ford Mondeo, gleaming white, with a yellow and blue stripe running along the side. Emblazoned along the side was the single word in blue lettering, Garda. By the front door a child’s bicycle lay discarded. In the front garden an assortment of toys were scattered around. The nineteen fifties constructed house had been extended and converted for use by the police just a few months earlier, and Constable Donovan, his wife Mary, and their six year old daughter Kathleen, had been installed. It was a major accomplishment for Donovan, who had qualified as a police officer just eighteen months before.

With the help of Rebecca Amey, who dealt with the paperwork, Constable Donovan had commenced work in earnest, eager to prove himself. Not that there was much to be done in those early days. The odd parking fine, or perhaps a ticket for speeding, or Mulligan drunk and disorderly at O’Rourke, and not much else.

That had all changed with the discovery of the body on the beach.

* * *

“Ah, its Mr. Kendall isn’t it?” said Constable Donovan, greeting Kendall at the entrance.

Kendall was holding the child’s bicycle. “Should I bring this in?” he asked.

Donovan shook his head. “Just leave it there,” he replied. “It’ll be fine. I’ll get to it later. You’ve no need to worry.”

Kendall shrugged, and laid the bicycle back down on to the ground.

“Do come in I’ve been expecting you,” Donovan continued. “I had a call from Inspector William Whittaker of Scotland Yard. He told me you would be coming.” The officer cleared his throat, and straightened his tie. “I told him that the Garda was more than happy to assist our colleagues at Scotland Yard.”

Kendall nodded. “I’m very pleased to hear that officer,” he said. “Incidentally, it’s Chief Inspector now. He was promoted a few months ago. He is now Chief Inspector.”

Donovan nodded. “He never said anything to me,” he replied. “I must send him an email, offering my congratulations.” He paused for a few moments, and ushered Kendall into the office. “Do sit down.” He pointed to a chair.

Kendall nodded and sat down.

“Can I get you anything?” Donovan asked. “Tea, or I guess you’d prefer coffee? I know what you Americans are like,” he stood up and walked over to the corner. “I could certainly use one.”

“A coffee sounds good,” Kendall replied. “No milk, and two sugars.” He idly wondered if there would be any chocolate cookies to go with it.

A few minutes later Donovan returned holding two mugs of steaming coffee. He handed one to Kendall.
Sadly there were no signs of any cookies, chocolate or otherwise.

“So what can I do for you, sir?” Donovan asked.

“It’s about Brian Charters,” Kendall explained. “He is the Chief Inspector’s cousin, did you know that?”

Donovan nodded. “Oh yes, sir, he did mention that. His mother’s sister’s boy I understand.”

Kendall couldn’t remember the actual family detail. He wasn’t good at that sort of thing anyway, but it hardly mattered anyway. “Did he also mention that he didn’t actually believe that Mr. Charters had committed that murder?”

Once again Donovan nodded. “He did indeed, sir. In fact, he was quite strong in expressing his opinion,” he replied. “But the evidence says something quite different I’m afraid.”

“Perhaps we can take a look at that evidence, Constable,” Kendall replied. He took a drink.
Pity there are no cookies,
he thought. “So let’s see shall we,” he continued. “Getting back to the day of the murder, I understand that you were first on the scene. Is that correct?”

“That’s right, sir,” the Officer replied. “The ambulance was just a few minutes behind me.”

“Ambulance?” repeated Kendall. “Had you called for one?”

The Constable shook his head. “No, I hadn’t made the call, but clearly someone had, because there it was.”

“And you don’t know who,” Kendall said. “You’ve no idea.”

The Constable nodded in agreement.

It didn’t make sense. Something was clearly not right, but Kendall couldn’t put his finger on it.
Someone calls for an ambulance, but obviously not the same person who called the police. Someone who must have seen the man struck down at the very least, but never came forward as a witness. Why not?
Kendall decided to leave it for the time being.

“What made you go to the beach that evening anyway?” Kendall asked. “Was that part of your normal patrol?”

The police Constable shook his head. “Well I do check on the cove as part of my patrol, but not usually at that time of day,” he replied. “No, I went there because we had a call just a few minutes before seven.”

“Who from?” asked Kendall.

The Constable heaved a sigh. “Megan Duffy.” He paused for a moment and shook his head. “Strangely enough though, we had another call a few minutes after, but they never gave a name.”

“Man or woman?” asked Kendall.

“A man,” replied the Constable.

“Any accent?” Kendall asked. “Young or old? Deep voice? Can you remember anything? Anything at all.”

Donovan thought for a few moments. “Irish certainly, and I’d say middle aged. Maybe early forties. But I don’t know for sure.”

“You didn’t recognise the voice?” Kendall asked. “I mean he was probably someone local.”

Donovan shook his head. “No I never recognised the voice,” he replied. “But why do you think it was someone local?”

Kendall smiled. “Firstly, whoever it was, was down near the Cove, in the early evening. It’s not likely to have been a tourist that time of night I don’t think. More than likely they would be thinking about getting dinner somewhere.”

The Constable nodded. “And secondly?”

“Secondly, he knew your telephone number,” Kendall continued. “A stranger wouldn’t know that.”

Once again the Constable nodded. It made sense. “Well I certainly didn’t recognise the voice,” he said. “And I know everyone around here. He must have disguised his voice.”

“Perhaps he did,” Kendall agreed. “The question then, is why? Did he have something to hide? Why not just say this is so-and-so.”

The Constable simply shrugged and shook his head.

“Did he ask for you by name?” Kendall asked.

Donovan thought for a few moments, and then shook his head. “No, I don’t think he did,” he replied. “Why, is that important?”

Kendall sighed. “Maybe not, but it just would have been further proof that he was a local, that’s all,” he explained. “I wonder why he was being so secretive. Why didn’t he just say who he was?”

Donovan shook his head. “I never gave it any thought at the time,” he replied. “I should have.”

Something about spilled milk, and water under bridges, came into Kendall’s mind. “Not to worry, it’s too late now anyway.” He paused for a moment.
Too late or not, it was still a question that needed an answer.
“It’s just a bit odd that’s all.” He paused once again, wondering how on earth he would go about discovering the identity of the person who made that call three months previously. It wouldn’t be easy, although there were a few who could be eliminated straight away. Mulligan was way too old, so he could be crossed off. And so could the English guy, Mallory.
Two down,
he murmured.
How many more to go?

“So what did he actually say?”

“Not much,” replied Donovan. “Just get to the cove quick, there was trouble, and then he hung up.” He paused for a moment and took a drink of coffee.

“He just said trouble, nothing more,” said Kendall.
Not exactly earth shattering
, he thought. “So what about Megan Duffy?”

“Oh, she’s a lovely lady. She lives in a small cottage down on the coast road. It’s not too far from the cove,” Donovan replied. “She was on her way home when she heard a noise. She looked down at the beach, and said that there was a struggle going on, and that we should get there fast.”

“She said a struggle?” repeated Kendall. “Her exact words?”

“That’s right,” the Constable agreed. “She said that there were two men arguing, and she was afraid someone would get hurt.”

“Did she describe them?” asked Kendall.

The officer shook his head. “No she didn’t, she couldn’t see them that clearly, but of course we know who the two men were.”

Kendall was far from convinced. “Did she actually say that she saw Brian Charters?”

The Constable shook his head. “Well, no she didn’t, but it was him alright. I saw him when I arrived at the beach.”

Kendall shook his head.
Maybe, but was he there earlier,
he wondered.
When Mrs. Duffy was there.
“Do you think she had called the ambulance?” he asked.

Donovan shook his head once again. “I don’t actually know, but I don’t think so.” he replied. “Is it important?”

Kendall smiled.
Was it important? Of course it was important.
“Maybe not,” he replied. “But it just seems strange that the ambulance arrived so quickly. A few minutes after you arrived you said.”

The officer nodded in agreement. “That’s right, but I doubt that it would have been Mrs. Duffy. I mean she just thought there was a struggle going on, a bit of an argument. Would she have thought an ambulance would be needed?”

Kendall shook his head. “No, I have to admit that I very much doubt that.” He paused for a moment. “And yet someone positively knew that an ambulance would be necessary, and made the call.”

“I’m afraid I’ve no idea about that Mr. Kendall,” the officer said. “I never gave it any thought. The ambulance just arrived, and that’s all I know. It didn’t think it was that important.”

Kendall nodded. “Maybe, maybe not,” he replied. “But it seems to me that it means that there was at least one other witness that we know nothing about.”

“Maybe it was the same person who made that second phone call,” the Constable suggested.

“Maybe it was, maybe not,” said Kendall. “But the most important point is whoever it was must have seen the whole thing.”

The police officer nodded. “Yes, you’re right, I never thought of that.”

Kendall remained silent for a moment. “There was certainly another witness, but who?”

The Constable said nothing.

“Now what about this ambulance anyway,” Kendall continued.

“What do you mean?” asked the officer.

“Where did it actually come from?”

“There’s an ambulance station in the next village,” Donovan explained. “It’s about five miles away.”

“Five miles!” repeated Kendall. “That would take five minutes at least, probably nearer ten, and it arrived just after you.” He picked up his cup and drank the rest of his coffee. It was cold. “I’m guessing that the ambulance was called a long time before you were, at least five minutes before, or even ten.”

Donovan looked puzzled for a moment. “But that would mean ….”

“Precisely,” Kendall interrupted. “If I’m correct it would mean that the ambulance was called before Charters was actually around.” He paused for a moment. “And that would mean that Charters wasn’t involved in any fighting that went on.”

The officer nodded. It certainly made sense. “So if he wasn’t involved, are you saying that he didn’t commit the murder?”

Kendall shook his head. “It’s too early to say,” he replied. “But let’s just say I having some doubts.”

The Constable was clearly unsure what to say or do. “Shouldn’t I tell someone and have him released?”

Kendall shook his head once again. “As I said it’s too early. Besides they won’t let him go just on my say so, will they? I need to bring in the real murderer.”

Donovan nodded. “Guess you’re right,” he said.

“I am,” said Kendall. “If he is innocent then the guilty person is out there somewhere feeling quite safe. Let him continue to think so.”

Clearly the officer wasn’t convinced, but agreed. “Okay we’ll leave it,” he replied. “For now.”

“Good enough,” replied Kendall. “Let’s get on with what happened shall we. So you had a call, from Megan Duffy, and you made your way down to the cove, right.”

The Constable nodded his agreement.

“When you got there what did you find?”

“Mr. Charters,” the Constable replied. “He was just bending down close to the man’s body. There was blood everywhere, and he had a knife in his hand.”

Kendall nodded. “Right, and what about the other man, the victim?”

“Oh, he was quite dead, sir,” said Donovan.

“You checked the body,” Kendall asked.