A Case Of Murder (Kendall Book 6)

by John Holt

  Mallory smiled. “No, it’s pretty good so far, but I’m sorry to say it, but they say there’ll be rain later this afternoon, and tomorrow is going to be more of the same.”

  “I thought it was too good to last,” replied Kendall. “And you about to go out as well.”

  “I’m just on my way to Galway,” Mallory explained. “I’ve some business to attend to.” He walked over to his garage and opened the door. “How’s your investigation proceeding by the way? Are you getting anywhere?”

  Kendall shrugged. He had to admit that his investigation was going nowhere fast. “Oh, two steps forward, and three back, I’m afraid.”

  Mallory smiled. “Sometimes it goes like that I guess. Then suddenly it all falls into place, you’ll see.”

  “Sure hope you’re right,” replied Kendall. “But as of right now I’m as much in the dark as I was when I first arrived here.”

  “Take my word for it, it will turn out right, you’ll see,” Mallory continued. “You will either find the proof that Charters didn’t commit the crime, or you will become convinced of his guilt, and that will be that.”

  “Well funny you should say that,” said Kendall. “Because I am, at least, convinced that Charters is innocent.”

  Mallory looked surprised. “Well that’s something isn’t it? Progress of a sort.”

  “Guess so,” agreed Kendall. “But I’ve still no idea who the real murderer is.”

  “Give it time, it’ll come,” Mallory replied. “In the meantime this isn’t a social call is it? So was there something I can do for you?”

  “Just a few loose ends, that’s all,” Kendall replied. “Incidentally, what is it that you do exactly?”

  “What do I do?” Mallory repeated.

  “Yes, what line are you in. You certainly travel around a lot, on business I mean. Cork the other day, now Galway, probably Dublin as well for all I know.”

  Mallory smiled and nodded. “And London, Paris, Berlin,” he said. “I also have some clients in the States.”

  “Really,” replied Kendall trying to sound impressed, but not quite succeeding. “So what do you do?”

  “Marketing,” Mallory replied. “I advise companies how to sell more of their products.”

  Marketing, just what did that mean exactly, Kendall wondered. Trying to get an unwilling buyer to purchase something that they didn’t need, and couldn’t afford, he thought cynically.

  “Interesting,” replied Kendall, sounding anything but.

  “So what was it you wanted?” Mallory asked. “I’m in a bit of a hurry I’m afraid.”

  Kendall nodded. “Of course you are,” he agreed. “I promise that I won’t keep you long.”

  “So,” coaxed Mallory. “Go on, what was it?”

  “Nice car,” Kendall said as he moved closer to the vehicle. “An Audi, right”

  Mallory wasn’t really in the mood for discussing cars. “Yes, an Audi RS,” he said beginning to get a little impatient. “I really must get going though, so if you could just get on.”

  Kendall gave a deep sigh. “Sure, I’m sorry, I get side tracked sometimes. My mother always used to say ....”

  “I’m sure she did,” Mallory interrupted. “Some loose ends I think you said.”

  “Right, I did say that,” Kendall admitted. “It’s just something that Mrs. Mulvy mentioned to me.”

  “Bridgit?” said Mallory. “The village gossip.” He sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t mean to sound horrible. She’s harmless really, but she certainly has rather a lot to say, and most of it is pure fantasy. You need to treat whatever she says with a lot of scepticism.” He shook his head once again. “So come on what was it?”

  Kendall reached into his inside pocket and withdrew his notepad. He opened it and started to flip through the pages. “Here it is,” he started to explain. “We were talking about that night, the night the body was found on the beach.”

  “Right, she saw Charters down near the Cove,” said Mallory. “Everyone knows about that. It’s the main piece of evidence against Brian.”

  Kendall nodded. “Well it seems that she saw quite a lot of other things that day,” he said.

  “I’m listening,” said Mallory. “Though, I’m not entirely sure why.” He looked at his watch, and shook his head. “I really am in a hurry.”

  Kendall nodded. “I appreciate that, and I won’t keep you much longer.”

  Mallory heaved a sigh. “So what else did she see?”

  Kendall shook his head and gave a little laugh. “Well she actually said that she also saw you. You were heading towards a place called Seapoint.”

  “She actually said that, Seapoint,” Mallory replied. “Did you know that from there, you carry on down to the Coast Road, and that leads on to the Cove.” He paused for a moment, and started to smile. “She said that she saw me that day did she? What time was this?”

  Kendall looked at his notepad. “She said that it was about six-thirty.”

  “She must be mistaken,” Mallory said. “It wouldn’t be the first time that she got mixed up like that. She does it all the time. How Vincent puts up with it, is beyond me. She was probably thinking of a totally different day. Probably weeks after. Or a different person entirely.”

  “So it wasn’t you, then?” said Kendall.

  “No, it certainly wasn’t me,” Mallory replied, shaking his head. “I was out that day, on business, as usual.”

  “Could you tell me where?” asked Kendall.

  “Well I can’t think that it’s of any importance,” Mallory replied. “But if it helps, and I can’t see how, it was probably Galway, where I’m off to right now in fact, and I think I probably stayed overnight. I usually do.”

  “You’re certain?” Kendall pressed.

  Mallory shook his head. “No I’m not certain, I mean it was some time ago,” he replied. “I’ll have to check my diary, and get back to you. Will that be alright?”

  Kendall nodded. “Certainly it will be alright,” he replied. He didn’t actually have too much of a choice did he?

  “She also said that she saw O’Rourke out for a walk, just a little while before she saw you.”

  Mallory shook his head, and started to laugh. “Now I‘ve heard everything,” he said. “You are telling me that she said she saw O’Rourke at about six-thirty, out for a walk.” He paused and shook his head once again. “O’Rourke is a workaholic, Tom. The only important thing to him is his pub, and making money. Nothing else matters, and he certainly wouldn’t be out for a stroll. At that time of day he would have been at his bar, getting ready for the evening.”

  Kendall shrugged. “Well that’s what she said, and apparently he was obviously in a hurry, and seemed worried about something.”

  Mallory heaved a sigh. “The only thing that would worry O’Rourke, is how his sales were going.” He paused and looked at his watch once again. “I’m sorry but I really must get going, so was there anything else?”

  Kendall shook his head. “There’s just one other thing, and then I’m done.”

  “Yes, go on what is it?” said Mallory.

  “You never called for an ambulance did you?” Kendall asked. “That day, the day of the murder. You didn’t call for one did you?”

  Mallory shook his head. “I’ve just told you that I was in Galway that day, so how could I?” he replied.

  Kendall nodded. “Sorry, my stupid error,” he said. “Just another loose end.”

  “Right then, if that’s all, I best be off.”

  Mallory got into his car, and turned on the ignition. He wound down the window, and leaned out. “I’ll see you in a couple of days then,” he said, and drove away.

  * * *

  Kendall watched until the car was out of view. He shook his head. There was something worrying him, something about what Mallory had said. From years of experience Kendall knew when he was being lied to, and Mallory had certainly lied just a few moments ago. Or at least
he hadn’t been entirely honest. Why? Kendall wondered. What was he trying to hide?

  Kendall shook his head. Just another little mystery to add to all of the rest. Hopefully a talk with O’Rourke would prove more worthwhile.

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  A Few Loose Ends

  It was just after four o’clock by the time that Kendall got back to O’Rourke’s. The bar was busier than normal. Apart from the usual crowd, a coach party had arrived, on its way to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry.

  “Ah, Mr. Kendall, I’ll be right with you,” O’Rourke called out as he saw Kendall come in. “As soon as I’ve seen to this lot.” He indicated the large crowd waiting to be served.

  Kendall smiled, and nodded. “No problem, whenever you’re ready will be just fine,” he replied, and went to sit down in the corner. He took out his notebook and started to make some notes while he waited.

  * * *

  “Here we are,” said O’Rourke, placing a glass on to the table in front of Kendall. “I’m sorry it’s been so long, but I never expected that lot.” He turned his head and indicated the coach party. “Not that I mind you understand. I can’t really complain can I?”

  Kendall understood only too well. “Business is business,” he said. “You don’t turn your nose up at that.”

  “You certainly don’t,” O’Rourke agreed, as he busily wiped the table. “Will Miss Adams be joining you?”

  Kendall shook his head. “No, she won’t,” he said. “She went into Killarney with Catherine Mallory. Hopefully she’ll be back to join me for dinner though.”

  “I hope she has a nice time. It’s beautiful up there,” said O’Rourke. “In the meantime is there anything else I can get you?”

  Kendall shook his head. “No, nothing thank you,” he replied. “Not right now.” O’Rourke turned and started to head back towards the bar. “But could you spare me a few minutes, I’d like a word,” Kendall continued.

  O’Rourke stopped, turned and walked back to where Kendall was seated, and sat down. “Well now, so what can I do for you?” he asked.

  Kendall took a drink. “Will you join me?” he asked.

  O’Rourke nodded. “That’s most civil of you, sir. Most kind,” he replied. “Sure now, I’ll have a Guinness.” He turned to face the bar. Catching the barman’s eye, he called out his order. He then turned back to face Kendall. “So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked.

  Kendall took another drink. “Oh, it’s just a few things about the night of the murder,” he explained. “A few loose ends you might say, that just need tying up.”

  O’Rourke smiled. “Sure now, it was a long while ago, and the old memory isn’t as good as it used to be,” he said. “Besides I told the Garda everything I knew at the time, not that it was much you understand. So I’m not sure if it’ll be much use going over it all again.”

  Why was it that no one wanted to talk about the murder? After all what was the problem with a few questions? So maybe they had been asked, and answered already, probably many times. What about it. Certainly it all happened several months ago, but unless they had something to hide, all that they had to do was repeat what they had told the police. Simple as that. Where was the harm?

  Kendall nodded. Certainly, he knew all about memory, and how bad he could become. He had to write notes to remember the notes. “No I guess you’re right there. Maybe it won’t be much use,” he agreed. “In fact it will more than likely be a complete waste of time, but I’d appreciate it anyway, you know. It might be a help, you never know.”

  O’Rourke looked back at the bar. The coach party had left, and business had quietened down. There were only a few stragglers left now, and Gerry the barman seemed to be coping quite well. O’Rourke turned back to face Kendall. “Right enough,” he said. “So what’s on your mind?”

  Kendall took a deep breath. “I was speaking with Mrs., Mulvy, earlier today.”

  “Ah, Bridgit, she’s a lovely lady to be sure,” said O’Rourke, a grin slowly spreading across his face. “And what was the darlin’ lady saying?”

  “Well it was quite interesting,” replied Kendall. “She said that she saw Mr. Charters that evening, the evening of the murder. He was just crossing the street, on his way to the park.”

  “That’s right, that’s common knowledge,” interrupted O’Rourke. “Charters was out walking with his dog. He went out every evening, regular as clockwork, and always took the same route. Along the main street, through the park, down to the Coast Road, and on to the Cove. You’d think that he’d get bored with the same thing like that all the time.”

  “There’s your Guinness, and a whiskey for your man,” a voice interrupted. It was Gerry. He placed the drinks on the table, turned, and then returned to the bar.

  O’Rourke took a drink, and looked at Kendall. “Now what was it I was saying?”

  “You were talking about Mr. Charters walking his dog,” Kendall reminded him.

  “Indeed I was,” said O’Rourke. “It were about seven in the evening if my memory serves. She came out of Quinn’s store just as he was closing up, and she saw Mr. Charters across the street.”

  “That’s correct,” agreed Kendall. “Except she says that it was a little before seven, about a quarter to.”

  O’Rourke looked surprised. “Odd, I was sure that she had told the Garda that it was about seven,” he said. “Anyway I’m thinking that the really important thing was that she actually saw him.”

  “Maybe,” said Kendall, “The thing is, well Mrs. Mulvy, she said that she also saw some other people that day, a little earlier, when she was on her way to Quinn’s Store.”

  “No doubt she did,” replied O’Rourke. “What about it?”

  Kendall drained his glass, and signalled to Gerry for a refill. “And another Guinness for Mr. O’Rourke,” he called out.

  “So who else did she see?” asked O’Rourke.

  “Well, she said that she saw Anthony Mallory,” Kendall explained. “She said that it was about six-thirty, or just before.”

  “So she saw Mallory, what about it?” asked O’Rourke.

  “She said that he was heading towards a place called Seapoint.” Kendall continued. “Do you know it?”

  O’Rourke nodded. “Sure I know it, why wouldn’t I know it? It leads on to the Coast Road,” he explained. “Not very far from the Cove.”

  “That’s what she said,” said Kendall.

  “I suppose you’ve mentioned this to Mallory?” said O’Rourke.

  Kendall nodded.

  “So, what did he have to say?” asked O’Rourke.

  Before Kendall could reply, Gerry arrived with the drinks. He placed them on the table. He leaned towards O’Rourke. “Sean, it’s near two, don’t forget I have to go at half past, I did tell you.”

  O’Rourke nodded. “I remember, don’t worry.” He looked at Kendall. “I won’t be much longer.”

  Kendall smiled and nodded. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”

  Gerry turned and returned to the bar. O’Rourke looked back at Kendall. “So what did Mallory say?”

  Kendall shrugged. “He said that she must have been mistaken, and that it wasn’t him. He said that he was away that day. He couldn’t remember where he had gone, but he thought that it was probably a business trip to Galway.”

  “Well there you are, she made a mistake, it happens. Anthony often goes up to Galway, or some other place, on business.” O’Rourke stood up. “Now I really ought to get back to work.”

  “But you haven’t finished your drink yet,” Kendall said pointing to the glass. “Actually, there is something else, if you don’t mind.”

  “Go on,” O’Rourke replied.

  Kendall smiled. “She said that she also saw you.”

  “She actually said that she saw me,” said O’Rourke, as he sat back down. “When was that?” he asked.

  “She couldn’t actually remember the time,” explained Kendall. “But she said tha
t it was certainly a little while before she had seen Mr. Mallory.”

  O’Rourke smiled. “You know, Mr. Kendall, as I said Bridgit’s a lovely lady, but she’s not altogether, well you know.” He put his hand up to the side of his head, and did a circling action. “You know you really can’t take too much notice of what she says. She has a habit of making things up. I think she’s just looking for attention you know.” He paused for a moment. “I mean Vincent, that’s her husband you see, well he’s alright I guess, but he’s not the greatest, and he does take her a little bit for granted.”

  “So she never saw you then?” replied Kendall. “Is that it?”

  “From about five thirty until late in the evening I’d be here now wouldn’t I,” said O’Rourke. “Here in the bar. I mean where else would I be?”

  “She said that you were in a hurry, and that you looked worried,” Kendall continued.

  O’Rourke took a long drink, and shook his head. “She never saw me, simple as that.” He then drained his glass and stood up. “I best be getting back to work,” he continued. “You know what they say, no rest for the wicked.”

  Kendall nodded. “Just one more thing before you go,” he said. “The day of the murder, did you by any chance call for an ambulance?”

  O’Rourke smiled and shook his head. “No, it wasn’t me. As I said I was here all the time till late in the evening. I never saw anything, so why would I be calling for an ambulance?”

  Kendall nodded. Why indeed? He thought. “No reason,” he replied. “No reason at all.”

  * * *

  It was just half past seven when Mollie arrived back at the hotel. Loaded with parcels it was clear that the trip to Killarney had been worthwhile. As she entered the bar she saw Kendall sitting over in the corner. She waved and walked over to where he was sitting.

  “Looks like you had a good day,” said Kendall, as she placed her parcels on a side table and sat down.

  She smiled, and nodded. “I had a great day,” she replied. “Catherine knows all of the right shops, and we went everywhere, and we had a lovely cream tea, with scones and ….”

  “With what?” interrupted Kendall.