Page 128 of Three Widows

‘Did you wear gloves?’

Luke’s jaw dropped, and McKeown saw the realisation dawning on the lad’s face of what he had walked himself into.

‘No! Shit. Whatever happened there, my prints will be all over the gaff. Fuck.’

‘Not so clever after all, are you?’

‘Shit, fuck.’

‘I want a description of the woman.’

‘No way, man. She said that if I talked, I’d end up in the bottom of Lough Cullion. Said her boss would break my legs and then my arms, and gouge my eyes out. Gruesome shit.’

Now it was the turn of McKeown’s jaw to drop. The lad had described how the two murder victims had been found. Information that had been withheld from the media. He stepped back, releasing him. ‘She said all that?’

‘Yeah. Fucking headcase, if you ask me.’

‘And still you did it.’

‘Fifty quid is—’

‘Fifty quid, I know. You’re coming with me to make a statement and to look over some photographs.’

‘What about my shift?’

‘Should have thought of that when you took blood money.’

‘Blood money? What are you talking about? I only opened a fucking door.’

‘You let in a killer, and now a young woman is taking her last breath in this world because of you.’

Luke had the sense to keep his mouth shut.

‘Your good friend Amy Corcoran is almost dead, and you set her up to be murdered.’

He wasn’t prepared for the lad to take flight, and the kick to his shin hurt bad, but McKeown was bigger and faster despite the shock. He caught Luke, and this time he handcuffed him.

‘Now I have you for evading arrest.’

‘You never said you were going to arrest me.’

‘You must be deaf as well as stupid. Come on.’

And just for spite, because he was pissed off, McKeown marched Luke back through the crowded supermarket and out to the car.

80

The air around Ragmullin was stagnant. The relentless heat, following the torrential rain a few days ago, had lost its initial appeal, and it was now just overbearing.

Kirby dragged off his jacket and bundled it up under his arm. Found his cigar. Lit it and inhaled deeply. He nearly let it fall, his hands were shaking so badly.

Why had Amy become a target for the killer? Was it something to do with her previous job at Bowen’s? Was it because she’d been fostered by Helena’s mother? Was it even because of Luke Bray? No, that dimwit hadn’t the wherewithal to plan and carry out the abductions and brutal murders. If not Luke, then who?

He rounded a corner and was surprised to find he was back at the station. Garda Martina Brennan was coming out the door with Lynch. Both women took him by the arm and hugged him. So, they had heard.

‘Don’t do anything stupid, Kirby,’ Lynch said.

‘That’s the second time that’s been said to me in the last half-hour. Did you know that Amy called me Larry? Had me looking around to see who Larry was.’