Murder in an Irish Village

by Carlene O'Connor

  “He did neither,” Siobhán said. Had Niall confronted Mike about stealing his passport? Was there a chase? A violent struggle?

  Bridie was already on edge; there was no use asking if Mike had had any run-ins with Courtney. Instead Siobhán asked Bridie if Courtney knew about the affair.

  “Of course not,” Bridie said. “Nobody knew. Except Niall.” And now he’s dead. It hung in the air. Bridie stared at her empty teacup as if the name of the murderer were written in the leaves.

  Niall was one thing, but Siobhán couldn’t imagine Mike hurting Courtney. They couldn’t be dealing with two separate killers in Kilbane, could they?

  The first one is the hardest. Oh, God. What if Courtney found out about the affair, or somehow suspected Mike of murdering Niall and confronted him? Could Siobhán really know what he would do if he’d already murdered once and his back was up against the wall? “Did you notice anything different about Courtney lately?”

  Bridie twirled her tea cup around the table. “Different how?”

  “Did she mention she was looking into the case?”

  “She talked about the murder, of course, with just about everyone who came into the shop. You know Courtney. But looking into it? Of course not.”

  “Then someone who came in must have provided a tip. Were there any folks in recently who stand out for any reason?”

  Bridie considered this. “Mary Murphy was in to learn how to use e-mail.”

  “At the gift shop? Why?”

  “Courtney set up her computer in the back and decided she’d let people use it. You know, like an Internet café. For a charge, like. You should have thought of it first.”

  Siobhán sat up straight. “Forget the entrepreneurial bit. When was this?”

  Bridie tilted her head. “Day before yesterday? I believe that’s right.”

  “Courtney showed her?”

  “I showed her. And, heavens forgive me, but it was like trying to teach a monkey how to type.”

  “Who did she want to send an e-mail to?”

  “Apparently everyone. Insurance people, Billy’s solicitor, I don’t know who all. But poor thing. Progress isn’t fair to the elderly, is it?”

  Siobhán didn’t think of Mary Murphy as elderly, but it was true, she was from a generation who didn’t think they’d ever need to own a computer just to get along in the daily world. “Did she send any e-mails?”

  “That’s why she was there, wasn’t it?”

  Siobhán bit her tongue. “Did you catch a glimpse of any of those e-mails?”

  “Of course not.”

  Siobhán got up and refreshed their tea and biscuits, then sat back down. “Did anyone else make a surprise visit?”

  Bridie smiled. “The movie star was in.”

  The Yank. Siobhán wasn’t surprised Bridie was calling him that. “Did he buy anything?”

  “No. As a matter of fact, I found his behavior rather odd. He asked a lot of questions about foot traffic and square footage and the like.”

  “He’s interested in buying one of our buildings. Starting up some kind of mystery business.”

  “Male strippers,” Bridie said with a grin.

  Siobhán laughed, then stopped. It felt so wrong to laugh when Courtney was gone.

  “Sorry,” Bridie said. “Poor taste. Still. I’d even give up our chipper to see that.”

  Siobhán called Macdara. She didn’t expect him to answer, not with a second murder to investigate, but she had to tell him what she’d learned. She crossed herself before betraying Bridie’s confidence. It couldn’t be helped. She reached his voice mail and spoke into it quickly in case it cut her off.

  “I’m not investigating, but as you can imagine, the bistro was buzzing today, and Bridie unburdened herself on me. First, it may be nothing, but Chris Gorden isn’t here just to check on ancestors. He’s actively sizing up real estate and is in cahoots with Alison Tierney to buy whatever properties he can, including Courtney’s gift shop. Second, you may want to have a look at Courtney’s computer. Mary Murphy was using it to send e-mails. I don’t know if that has anything to do with what Courtney discovered, but it’s a place to start. And third—this is the worst bit, and you know I don’t enjoy sharing news like this, but it might be important: Mike and Bridie apparently had an affair last year when Séamus was busy with his racing schedule. I’m only telling you because Niall found out about it and was trying to extort both Bridie and Mike Granger for ten thousand euro each. Mike lied to us about Niall’s passport. He didn’t find it; he stole it. He thought Niall was going to try to leave the country as soon as he got someone—apparently anyone—to give him twenty thousand euro. I don’t know if any of that helps, or why anyone would kill poor Courtney—”

  Macdara’s voice mail cut her off with a loud beep. Great. Even his mobile was reprimanding her now. Siobhán hadn’t meant to rattle on. She hated people who left rambling voice messages. But she had to give him everything—who knows which tidbit might just be enough to crack the case—

  Crack the case wide open. Those were the exact words Courtney used. As if she had no doubt as to the killer’s identity. What had she learned? Who else had she called? Macdara would find her mobile and check it out, wouldn’t he? How Siobhán wished there were a camera on him so she could see what he was doing and learning about the case.

  Had Courtney actually been right about the killer? Or had she accidentally alerted her killer? And if she was in his or her warpath, didn’t that mean Siobhán could be next? Macdara was right. She should stay out of it. She couldn’t put her siblings through any more trauma. But how could she drop it now? It was unfathomable that someone could do this and get away with it. Siobhán sighed and snuck into the kitchen for a slice of brown bread with her tea. Some days it was the little things that got her through.

  Chapter 37

  Maria came to the bistro the evening of Courtney’s murder to say good-bye. She was lugging a huge suitcase. “I can’t believe how much stuff I brought,” she said. “Just a weekender, and I’ve filled an entire suitcase.” Siobhán laughed and sat down with Maria for a few minutes, dreading the moment when she left again. She kept waiting for Maria to mention the murder. It was all anyone else was talking about, but Maria was behaving as if nothing else in the world existed other than Dublin and Trinity College. Would Siobhán have been just as obnoxious if she had gone?

  “I’m sure you heard about Courtney,” Siobhán said. “It was the biggest shock of me life.”

  “The whole town is talking about you. You’re like a divining stick for dead bodies.”

  “I’m like a what?”

  “You know those sticks that bend when you get them near water?”

  Siobhán just looked at her. Maria shrugged. “Anyway, I didn’t want to mention it in case it upset ye even more.”

  So much for not hanging around the crime scene. Everyone knew she was the first to find Courtney anyway. “It’s horrible,” Siobhán said. “But I suppose James will be getting out now.”

  “That means you can come to Dublin!”

  “I don’t know about that,” Siobhán said. After all that had happened, Dublin seemed so remote now.

  “I’ll tell Aisling you say hello, and that ye hardly miss us because you’re too busy tripping over dead bodies.” Maria hugged Siobhán before she could respond.

  “My Joe Maxi is here,” Maria said. Sure enough, a taxi idled at the curb. Siobhán helped her throw the suitcase into the boot, and then they hugged again. Siobhán waved as the taxi pulled away. Gawd, that suitcase was heavy. Just a weekender, and I’ve filled an entire suitcase . . .

  Siobhán had a sudden thought. Niall had been dressed up because supposedly he was going to Dublin to see a solicitor. So where was his overnight bag? He must have had one. Even a small one. Gráinne hadn’t said whether or not they’d planned on spending the night, but surely he would have had a bag in case things went long or they missed their train? Or even to change out of his suit once the ap
pointment was over. If he did have a bag, where was it? Had the killer removed it from the scene along with Niall’s phone? Had he disposed of it somewhere? Hung on to it? Would Mary Murphy know anything about his trip or what kind of bag he might have used? She was hoping she’d be in the bistro after the news of Courtney.

  Siobhán hated going all the way out to her house. It was not terribly far in the scope of things, but definitely separate from the rest of the town. It wouldn’t be so bad with her scooter. She’d been smart to make that investment.

  She still hadn’t heard back from Macdara. He wasn’t avoiding her because of the kiss, was he? She was glad she had distractions on her mind; otherwise she’d be thinking about that moment even more than she already was. She wouldn’t bother Macdara with another phone call about missing luggage until she paid a visit to Mary Murphy to see if she could find out exactly what kind of bag they should be looking for.

  There was a stillness to Mary Murphy’s house. The curtains were drawn tight against the windows, even in the midday heat. The steps creaked as Siobhán made her way up to the dilapidated front door. The only sound was an occasional clink of wind chimes, which hung askew from a rusted hook dangling over the door. A moldy smell permeated the air. The house had the feel of a child’s toy left to rust in the rain.

  There was no use peeking in the windows; they were all completely covered. Siobhán tried the door. It was locked. Should she check around back? What did she hope to learn by getting inside the house? Siobhán practiced her excuses as she hurried around to the back. I heard what sounded like a call for help inside. The door was open; I could have sworn someone said to come in. She was expecting me.

  I was afraid she’d come to the same fate as Courtney Kirby.

  Siobhán stopped in her tracks. What if she had? Siobhán didn’t want to see another body, not in her lifetime. She should call Macdara again. Would he believe that she was simply paying a neighborly visit? She was pretty sure he was a man with limits. He might have feelings for her, think her the most beautiful woman in Kilbane, but if she continued to defy his order to stop investigating, he could very well never pursue her again.

  And if he wanted her so badly, why wouldn’t he come with her to Dublin? She could bring the entire brood as well. No, that wasn’t how life worked. She was the one who was supposed to leave the nest. How many people ever took the nest with them? Siobhán looked up to find Mary Murphy bursting out the back door clutching a suitcase. Mary had her eyes on the ground, and Siobhán didn’t move quickly enough.

  Mary Murphy slammed into Siobhán, almost knocking the wind out of her. Siobhán gave a little cry, and Mary let out a scream.

  “Jaysus, Mary, and Joseph,” Mary Murphy said, stumbling back. “Don’t ever sneak up on a person like that again.”

  “Sneaking? I was standing still.”

  “What are ye, a tree? What in heaven’s name are you doing here?”

  “Where are you going?”

  “What are you doing in my back garden?”

  “Looking for you.”

  “I’m on my way out, as you can see.” Mary brushed past her and headed down the drive. Siobhán hurried after her.

  “What’s wrong?” Siobhán asked. She had never seen Mary Murphy look so panicked.

  Mary whirled around. “How can you ask me that after what happened to poor Courtney?”

  “It’s horrible. But you seem particularly frightened.”

  “Mind your own business.”

  Why was everyone saying that to her? Couldn’t anyone think of anything original? Just then a silver SUV pulled up the drive. What was Alison Tierney doing here? She and Chris Gorden stepped out.

  “I’m ready,” Mary Murphy said. Chris nodded at Siobhán and then heaved Mary’s suitcase into the back of the SUV.

  “What’s going on?”

  Mary Murphy shook her head. “You’re trespassing on his property now,” she said with a nod to Chris.

  “You sold it?”

  “And everything in it,” she said. “It’s brought me nothing but hard times. You know yourself.”

  “She wanted to sell,” Chris said. “I didn’t push her.”

  “I’m going to use the money to free my son,” Mary Murphy said. “That’s all my poor Niall was trying to do, God rest his soul.”

  “That’s what I have to talk to you about,” Siobhán said. “Please. Before you go.”

  “I’ve nothing to say. Not to you, not to anyone.”

  “I think I know why you’re running.”

  Siobhán reached into her pocket and pulled out the threatening note someone had left in the bistro. “You sent me this.”

  Mary Murphy eyed the note like it was a snake capable of striking. “How do you figure that?”

  “I remember seeing the pile of old magazines when I was here for the wake.” Siobhán wasn’t sure Mary had sent her the note, but she wanted to see her reaction.

  “Which means anyone who was at the wake had access to those magazines,” Mary pointed out.

  “Is this note from you or not?”

  “It is not. I’d say it’s from the killer. Why won’t you listen and stay alive?”

  Siobhán glanced at Chris and Alison, who were far enough away that they couldn’t overhear the whisperings. “You’re not concerned about my safety. You’re worried I’m going find out that you continued the blackmail that Niall started. You’re the one getting too close to the killer. That’s why you’re running.”

  Siobhán wanted to add that Courtney might still be alive if Mary Murphy hadn’t sent e-mails from her computer, but she didn’t have confirmation of that just yet. “But why would you send people threats through e-mail? Didn’t you know they could figure out who was sending the e-mails?”

  “I didn’t know a t’ing about those computers. I thought they were anonymous.” Mary’s voice shook with fear. So Siobhán was right. Mary had e-mailed the killer. “There’s a Delete button. I thought that meant it deleted whatever you did after you did it!”

  “Who did you e-mail? What did you say? Why did they kill Courtney?”

  Mary Murphy whirled around and lunged into the front seat of the SUV, then leaned over and blared the horn. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

  Siobhán ran up to the vehicle. Mary Murphy rolled her window up. Siobhán kept talking, not caring now whether or not Alison or Chris heard. “Garda Flannery is going to seize Courtney’s computer. If you used her account to send threatening e-mails, you have to tell me who all you sent e-mails to.”

  Mary Murphy rolled her window down a smidge. “I’m doing the smart thing and getting out of this town alive. I suggest you do the same.”

  “Who did you e-mail? Help me narrow down the list of suspects, please.”

  Chris looked at Siobhán, then at Alison. “I say we don’t give her a ride until she tells us,” he said.

  “No answers, no ride,” Alison said.

  Although she was glad Chris stepped in, she couldn’t believe how Alison Tierney obeyed him. Movie star looks certainly served him well.

  “Mike Granger, Bridie, and Declan,” Mary Murphy said. “Your killer is one of those t’ree. And if I had known they were going to t’ink Courtney was threatening them, or if I had known they could figure out where the e-mail was comin’ from, I wouldn’t have done it. Are you satisfied? I’m sorry. E-mail is the devil’s work. Now get me out of here.”

  “Declan?” Siobhán said. “What did Niall have on Declan?”

  “Those are the t’ree I e-mailed. Alison, let’s go.”

  “Billy’s car, the furniture, your things? You’re leaving everything?”

  “I had some things shipped. The rest I never want to see again.”

  Alison started up the car. “Wait,” Siobhán said. “Is one of Niall’s overnight bags missing?”

  Mary’s eyes widened. “Yes, his black bag. I’ve looked everywhere for it. Why do you ask?”

  “He was going to Dublin,” Siobhán said. “It’s a lo
ng day trip. I bet he was planning on spending the night. Which meant he would have needed to pack a bag. And he didn’t have one when he was found.”

  “I bet the killer has it,” Mary said.

  “Where can I reach you if we find it?” Siobhán asked. She wanted to know where Mary was going.

  “You can’t,” Mary Murphy said.

  “I don’t think Garda Flannery will be happy that you left. People will talk.”

  “I’ve heard worse.”

  “Can I look inside your house?”

  “I told you. It’s not mine anymore.” The car pealed out, leaving Siobhán and Chris standing in the drive. She turned to look at the house. Home sweet home.

  “You’re welcome to come in,” he said. “If you think it will help.”

  “They just left you here?” Siobhán said. “No motor car?” She couldn’t help it; she glanced at Billy’s car.

  “I’m not touching that,” he said. “Don’t worry.” He pointed to the bike leaned up against the porch. “Mary said I could use that to get around.” Ah, the bike that Siobhán wondered if Niall had stolen. Or maybe Bridie gave it to him. She certainly was going out of her way to placate him. Did Séamus know Niall had the bike? Why did she care so much about that? Because she hated the thought of anyone stealing something that didn’t belong to them. Maybe she’d mention it to Séamus. Then again, Chris thought it was his bike now. Was she ever going to learn to stay out of everyone’s business?

  “What’s wrong?” Chris said.

  “Niall might have stolen that bike from Sheedy’s,” Siobhán said. Let him handle it.

  “If he did, I’ll go in and pay for it.”

  “Thank you,” Siobhán said. If he was a killer, he certainly was a polite one. She texted Macdara in case he wanted to follow Alison and stop Mary from leaving. Mike Granger, Bridie, and Declan. What on earth did she have on Declan?