Page 42 of The Guilty Girl

‘I call it landscaping. I still don’t know him.’

She wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not. Was Cormac someone who found lying easy and omitting the truth even easier?

Leaving the room, she wondered which version he was telling her. The truth, lies, or fiction with an element of truth? She needed to talk to the DJ, Richie Harrison, wherever the hell he was. And when Hannah was deemed fit and passed the psych examination, she was in for a grilling.

But what about the photograph? Why had Lucy shared it? Maybe Maria Lynch would find something on the laptop. What Lottie needed was the dead girl’s phone.

20

Kirby pinned Jake Flood’s photo to the board in the incident room.

‘Looks like butter wouldn’t melt,’ Garda Brennan said.

‘Oh, there you are, Martina. We have a missing teenager and a stolen car, as well as the murder investigation.’

‘What’s the story with the missing kid?’

‘Fifteen-year-old Jake Flood. Lives at 16 Brinsley Terrace with his mother, Elizabeth, known as Liz, and ten-year-old sister, Sharon, fondly called Shaz.’ Kirby stopped to take a breath. ‘Jake is implicated in selling drugs at Lucy McAllister’s party. Hearsay for now, but probably true. Stole his mother’s car last night. An ancient Fiat Punto. Bright blue, if you don’t mind. He’s involved with a boxing club, Ragmullin Goldstars. Lucy’s dad, Albert McAllister, is a boxing promoter. But it seems Jake may have a connection to a gang of youths on bikes who sell drugs. A right mish-mash of information.’ He tapped his cigar shirt pocket in frustration.

‘We should get Garda Lei in here,’ Martina said. ‘He’s had more punctures than you’ve had Happy Meals, trying to catch those lads.’

‘Give him a shout for me, please.’

When Martina went off to find Garda Lei, Kirby tried to breathe normally. He liked her, and he knew she liked him – as an older brother. He figured it would remain like that as long as Detective Sam McKeown was around. Despite a major eruption when McKeown’s wife received a mysterious phone call telling her that her husband was conducting an affair with Martina, he seemed to have weathered that particular storm. Maybe it was time for another phone call.

Before he could think about it further, a shadow fell over the room as the sun cut around the side of the building.

‘You wanted me?’ Garda Lei hurried in.

Lei was the newest recruit to Ragmullin station. He was as short as Kirby, but the similarities ended there. Lei was lean without being skinny, though he could give Boyd a run for his money in that department. He was also fresh-faced and eager, whereas Kirby was flabby, flushed and faltering in his enthusiasm for the job. As far as Kirby knew, Garda Lei had been born and bred in nearby Longford, where his mother hailed from. His father was second-generation Chinese. Kirby pitied the young man being assigned to the bicycle unit. The abuse he must get didn’t bear thinking about. Kirby himself had been ridiculed for his weight and appearance, so God knows what verbal taunts Lei had thrown at him.

‘Garda Brennan tells me you might know about Jake Flood and the drug-dealing teenagers on bikes. What can you tell me?’

Lei studied Jake’s photo. ‘He can move, so he can. He left me for dead a while ago.’

‘Was he with the gang at the time?’

‘A few of them were causing a ruckus outside the girls’ school. I followed them. All I got was a blistered arse for my trouble.’

‘Did you talk to Jake at all?’

‘No.’

‘Know anything about him?’

‘I keep my ear to the ground. He’s a more recent recruit. I heard his dad died last year and he’s been acting out ever since. He’s not your usual scumbag. I have the feeling the kid took a wrong turn in life; eventually he’ll find his way back.’

‘Can’t wait that long.’ Kirby gave Lei a rueful smile. ‘Jake’s been missing since last night and we need to find him.’ He filled him in on what they had learned so far.

‘I’ll ask around,’ Lei said. ‘Someone must know where he is. He’s definitely not at home then?’

‘No, only his mother and sister are there. His phone’s switched off. Follow up on the car. Make sure the usual missing person notifications are sent out, and run everything by me first.’ Not that he didn’t trust Lei to do the job, but he couldn’t risk Lottie chewing his arse if something went public that shouldn’t.

‘He’s keen,’ Garda Brennan said, returning as Lei left.

‘Implying I’m not?’

‘Not at all, but you have to admit, you can’t beat the flow of fresh blood running through the station.’