Murder in Connemara

by Carlene O'Connor

She didn’t remember exactly, but she didn’t think so. She’d said something about an old stone house, but that didn’t mean Veronica connected it to the house she was buying for Nancy. Was that what Veronica found out later that evening? Where Nancy died? And what conclusions did she draw? That someone she’d invited to make amends had lured her sponsor to that stone house? The same one she was thinking of buying? Did Veronica realize right then that someone in her circle was a psychopath?

  She recalled Alexis and her recollection of Nancy’s phone call. Calm down, Eddie.

  Had Eddie learned that Elaine was getting the old stone house? Did he call Nancy and lure her out there? Even if that was true, the lingering and most perplexing question remained the same one Tara had been asking herself over and over and over. Why?

  Chapter 30

  The room at the Garda Station was small and smelled like microwave popcorn and stale coffee. Twenty-five notebooks were piled in front of Tara. This had been a mistake. Tara slid the first one off the pile just to get an idea of the kinds of things Mimi wrote down. She turned to a page in the first notebook.

  Everyone’s walking on eggshells around the Dragon Lady today. She was screaming at her driver. Then again, the poor old man is hard of hearing.

  That must have been the driver before Andy.

  Eddie Oh came to see Veronica today. He’s quite charming. Trouble.

  The beginning of the affair. The next page had a newspaper article, but it was torn out. Only three words remained: Died by Suicide

  What? Who? Barely anything of the article was left, except the date. Two years ago, in June. The notebook was older and the article was shoved inside. Mimi had been snooping into something. Correction. Into someone. Had a suicide two years ago sparked a murder now? Tara would have to ask a few heads about it. She stood up to stretch and yawn. She was going to fall asleep in this stuffy room. If they’d let her take them home, she could try and digest them a little at a time. She picked up the next notebook.

  Bartley startled me today. What is his job anyway? If he’s only her solicitor, then why is he always lurking about?

  Tara skimmed through, looking for anything interesting.

  Veronica accused me of stealing her Tara Brooch! Ah, this was the start of the amends she’d later make to Mimi.

  I swear I didn’t take it. Why accuse me? Anyone could have picked it up, it was always slipping off her. Now everyone is giving me the side-eye. I can’t work in this hostile environment.

  Tara was already getting antsy. She continued to flip:

  I was crying so hard Veronica had her driver take me home.

  Tara reached for the most recent notebook.

  Veronica insists Eddie is working on a new sculpture. Something groundbreaking.

  Tara felt a zip of adrenaline course through her. Was this true? Groundbreaking. Could this be a morbid reference to burying Veronica? Tara thought it through. She was staged. Posed. Like a sculpture. If Andy saw Eddie and Cassidy kissing in the hallway that evening, then why weren’t they coming forward? Wouldn’t they be each other’s alibi? She could see them wanting to protect the dirty little secret but not when murder was the accusation.

  I heard Veronica on the phone this morning. She was freaking out about her bank accounts. I distinctly heard her mention Bartley’s name. Maybe the rumors are true. Maybe he has been skimming all these years.

  That was the last entry. Friday morning. Twenty-four hours later and Veronica would be dead. And a week after that so would Mimi.

  “Anything good?” Sergeant Gable poked his head into the room.

  Tara pointed out the items that had drawn her attention. Gable jotted them down. “Did you find out anything about the music box?” Tara held her breath, wondering if he would answer.

  He nodded. “We spoke to the owner of the shop. Bartley was there to show him a photo.”

  “A photo?”

  Sergeant Gable nodded. “Eddie is the one who brought the music box into the shop to have it doctored.” He must have seen Tara purchasing it. Or watched her as she left the store, then entered and found out she’d bought the music box. Eddie had a lot of fans around here. If he asked the clerk to let him have the music box, it would have been easy to convince the clerk that his intentions were good.

  “My God.” The sculpture. The music box. The affair with Cassidy. The way Veronica’s body was posed. And the innkeeper overhearing Nancy on the phone: Calm down, Eddie . . . “Are you bringing him in?”

  “We will be. Checking on CCTV cameras now, and we have another guard tailing him.”

  “Did you ever find out how someone got into my shop and hid upstairs to rig the chandelier?”

  “Heather Milton.”

  Tara wasn’t expecting that. “What?”

  “She said someone came into her shop that morning claiming to be the caterers. Said you were supposed to let them in, and if she didn’t the caviar was going to go to waste.”

  “I didn’t have caviar.”

  “We think it was the killer.”

  “I don’t suppose she was able to identify him?”

  “She said the man was literally hiding behind a huge stack of boxes.”

  “She let them in my shop?”

  “Worse than that.”

  “What?”

  He sighed. “She was in a hurry to get to an appointment. They swore up and down they would just drop the boxes off and return the key.”

  “She didn’t.”

  “I’m afraid so. The key was returned several hours later. We checked with a key shop. Sure enough, a male came in to make a copy.”

  “Let me guess. They didn’t get a good look either.”

  “Correct. We combed through CCTV footage. Whoever he is, he made sure not to look at the cameras. We only see a coat and his cap.”

  “If Eddie did have that music box tweaked—and he and Cassidy are sleeping together—”

  “Wait. What’s this?”

  Shoot. She thought she’d told him. Or texted him. Hadn’t she? “Andy saw them kissing in the castle Friday evening.”

  “I thought he hadn’t checked in yet.”

  “Exactly. If they’re each other’s alibis, why haven’t they come forward?”

  “Excellent question.”

  “Do you mind if we take a walk? I need fresh air.”

  Gable nodded and they headed out. Tara took a moment to breathe. The weather had taken a turn; there was a crisp, fall feel to the air.

  “You seem to be turning something over,” Gable said. “You’d make a good detective.”

  Tara laughed. “It’s oddly similar to design.”

  “How so?”

  “It’s a pattern. I’m trying to work it out.”

  “Why don’t you try working it out aloud?”

  “Eddie rigged the music box to play ‘The Old Woman From Wexford.’ Cassidy is the one that accused Veronica of killing her husband. The song has the same theme—only the husband tricks the wife and—”

  “I’m familiar with the song, Ms. Meehan.”

  “Well, given that her first husband is dead and therefore not a suspect . . .”

  “Go on.”

  “Do you think Cassidy thought Veronica planned on killing Eddie?”

  “Why on earth would she kill an ex-husband?”

  “I worded that wrong.” They started to walk. The musicians and tourists were out. Music and chatter and laughter poured from every corner. Cigarette smoke curled into the air. “What if Cassidy was winding Eddie up?”

  “You’re thinking Cassidy is in on this?”

  “You tell me. Did she buy the marble stones?”

  Gable didn’t answer directly. “That’s not enough proof.”

  She did buy the marble stones. “Have you checked into Bartley’s finances?”

  “We’re trying to get a court order. By the time it’s approved, this lot will be long gone.”

  “He’s always around. And he’s been with her a very long time.” Someone
had been planning this for a very long time. “Why wasn’t he on her amends list?”

  “Perhaps she treated him differently than the others.”

  “Does that seem likely?”

  “Have you seen the man? He’s a hulk. I wouldn’t mess with him and I’m a guard.”

  Tara laughed again. She stopped short. Just ahead, a man was standing outside a pub, looking out toward the bay. Danny.

  “Go on, so,” Gable said. He touched Tara’s shoulder. “Your work with me is done. I rescind the gag order.”

  * * *

  By the time she reached the pub, Danny was no longer outside. She found him bent over a pool table, and it wasn’t a bad view. She wasn’t paying attention to his shot, but from the grin on his face when he stood and turned, it found its pocket. His grin disappeared as their eyes locked. “Give me a minute,” he said to his pool partner. He set his stick down and approached. “I see you’re alive.”

  “And well.”

  “Good to know.”

  “I was asked to help out on the case. He didn’t want anyone knowing, including you and Uncle Johnny, and I’m sorry about that.”

  Danny frowned. “Sergeant Gable?”

  “Yes. They needed an in. Time was running out.”

  “Was?” Danny arched an eyebrow. “Did they catch him?”

  “They’re narrowing in on a suspect. They said I was done.”

  Danny looked at her for a long time. “Are you? Done?”

  “No,” she said, stepping up. “I’m not done. Not with this case, and not with you.” It was the most brazen thing she’d ever said to him. “Are you?”

  He looked at her for a long time. “I’m not involved with this case.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “No,” he said. “I’m not walking away.”

  “Good. I have a few things I want to check out.”

  “Are you asking me to come with you?”

  “Yes. I’m asking you to come with me.”

  “Will you tell me everything you know?”

  “Yes. I will.” She owed him that. And she didn’t want to do this alone.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Not necessarily in order—the realty shop, Ballynahinch Castle, Clifden art gallery, the old stone house, and Inishbofin Island.”

  Danny whistled, then let out a low laugh that made her feel like doing somersaults. “Let me rephrase that. Is there anywhere we aren’t going?”

  Chapter 31

  Heather Milton was not thrilled to see Tara, but she did soften at Danny’s handsome face. She let them enter and asked if they wanted coffee or tea.

  “The old stone house,” Tara said. She’d found a copy of the flyer and produced it. “Did Veronica purchase it?”

  “I’ve already told the guards.”

  “Please,” Danny said. “It’s important.”

  Heather gestured for them to sit down. “It’s still available. If you’re in the market.”

  “But . . .” Didn’t Veronica purchase it for Elaine?

  “She died in the middle of the negotiation.”

  “I see.”

  Heather sighed. “I went to the first property visit with her.”

  This was news. “You did?”

  Heather nodded. “Of course. You’ve seen that old ruin. It’s only worth the land if you ask me.” Tara disagreed. She’d keep the old stone and use it to rebuild. “Veronica’s driver took us. Her bodyguard and that sponsor woman was with her.”

  “Bartley and Nancy?”

  Heather’s eyes were wide. She swallowed and nodded.

  “Why didn’t you come forward when I found her body there?”

  “I did.” She folded her arms. “To the guards.”

  “Oh. Good.”

  “I’ve seen you with Sergeant Gable.” Sweat beaded on Heather’s forehead. Something was bothering her. “Do you have his ear?”

  “She does,” Danny said. “Go on.”

  Heather swallowed. “I didn’t think it was important at the time, it’s probably not.”

  Tara was literally on the edge of her seat. She wanted to shake Heather to make the words tumble out faster. “Go on.”

  “Veronica started a fire.”

  “A fire?”

  Heather waved her hand. “Just a little one. She burned something out there. We all smelled like peat when we came back.”

  “What on earth did she burn?”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t pry. They all seemed to know. Except me and the driver.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because she and Nancy, and the bodyguard, watched it burn. Then they shook hands.”

  Calm down, Eddie. Tara didn’t know how that fit the pattern. But somehow, it was key to solving this.

  * * *

  Danny and Tara stood outside as a cold wind whipped around him. “We have a few options,” Tara said.

  “Tell the guards immediately, or check out the old stone house first,” Danny said.

  “Exactly.”

  Danny took his truck keys from his pocket and began to toss them in the air. Tara laughed as they headed for the property.

  “Just a quick look and we won’t touch a thing.”

  * * *

  “I can see why you like it,” Danny said as the old stone house came into view.

  “Who said I like it?”

  “Your eyes,” Danny said. “They danced every time Heather Milton mentioned it.”

  They reached the structure and stepped in. “Can you believe Heather would tear it down?”

  “She doesn’t have the eye for preservation that you do,” he said. “Before we start looking for clues, tell me what you would do with this structure, Miss Interior Designer.” Tara filled him on her imaginings: the dark wood floors, the wall of windows, the open kitchen, the roaring fireplace. Danny’s inner builder came out as he added specifics to her ideas, and before they knew it they were standing in a completed house, overlooking the bay, drinking coffee, while Tara read the newspaper and Danny fiddled with something under the sink. It was the first time they’d flirted about such a future together. They fell silent at the same time, stretching out the daydream.

  “Let’s look for clues,” Tara said, pulling out two pairs of gloves and handing one to Danny.

  The fire pit was opposite where Tara had found Nancy’s body. Whatever they had burned was long gone. “I was hoping for a scrap of paper, something,” Tara admitted.

  “Was Nancy Halligan on her official amends list?”

  “No.”

  “So why was she here?”

  “Nancy was her sponsor. Perhaps she was just here for moral support. Amends were a big step for Veronica.”

  Danny nodded. “And Bartley was involved because?”

  “I think he handles Veronica’s finances.”

  “And there were rumors he was skimming?”

  “Just from Mimi’s notebook. If the innkeeper is to be believed, it was Eddie who lured Nancy out here.”

  “Show me where you found her.”

  Tara led him to the other side of the house. She pointed to the area. “There.” She looked out to the bay. The rowboat was gone. “If Eddie lured her out here—how did he subdue her?”

  “Subdue her?”

  “Let’s say he picked her up at the ferry and drove her out here. Fine. Why didn’t she just walk somewhere for help? Why stay right here? She wasn’t tied up . . .” Tara gasped.

  “What?”

  “Cassidy’s sleeping pills.”

  “I’m lost.”

  “Cassidy said her sleeping pills were missing.”

  “Did they do a toxicology report on Nancy?”

  Tara shook her head. “I don’t think so. Her death was at first considered heat stroke. It wasn’t until Veronica’s body was found that murder was suspected. By then Nancy had been cremated.”

  “If Cassidy was in cahoots with Eddie, why would she announce that her pills had been stolen?”

>   “To give herself cover.”

  “When there was no suspicion of pills in Nancy’s system and no way to prove it?”

  “That is a good point.” Tara began to pace. “Either she’s innocent and her pills were stolen—by Eddie—or . . .”

  “Or?”

  “She blamed Andy for stealing the pills, and the marble stones. She was either hoping he’d work as a scapegoat or . . .” Tara’s head snapped up. “Or she’s worried about evidence that hasn’t yet been discovered.”

  Danny nodded. “I guess we know what we’re looking for now.”

  * * *

  They started at the base of the hill where Tara had seen the rowboat. They searched in one section at a time as cows, and sheep, and a donkey looked on with general curiosity that waned the longer they were there. They searched all the way up the hill, and in every corner of what remained of the old stone house. The skies opened up and it began to rain. “We should go,” Danny said. “We won’t be good to anyone if we get sick.”

  He was right. They started back toward the car. If Nancy had a backpack with her, and Tara had just killed her, what would she do with it? Take it with me. But the pill bottle might have dropped. On the way back to the car, Tara stopped and looked at the ground. “This is where we need to search. All the way back to the car.”

  They started scouring in sections again, forced to bend down closer to the ground as the rain came in. They were soaked, and nearly to the road when Danny yelped.

  “Found something.”

  Tara hurried up. It was a white bottle covered in dirt. Danny wiped it off with his gloved hand, just enough to see the name, and Tara huddled closer. “Sleeping tablets,” he said. Tara looked at the name, holding her breath.

  Cassidy Hughes

  Chapter 32

  Things moved quickly after the guards took the prescription bottle as evidence. Detective Gable gave her a heads-up that the guards would be retaining Eddie and Cassidy but letting the other guests leave. He needed her help to keep the group together before they could arrest the pair. Bartley’s finances had checked out; there was no evidence he’d been skimming from Veronica. He said they were burning a list of Veronica’s regrets at that fire pit, an idea of Nancy’s to help Veronica let go of the past. Iona’s story about her medical care coming to an end had checked out, and Sheila and John had indeed received a recommendation letter when they went to their location in the book. Along with marriage counseling, apparently, an offer Tara hoped the couple would take advantage of.