A Case Of Murder (Kendall Book 6) (10 page)

Kendall smiled, as he imagined her actually running, especially with her arthritis. “But that cannot be right,” he interrupted. “Think about it. If you hadn’t waited then you wouldn’t have seen the man fall would you?”

Mrs. Duffy had to agree that was true.

“So you wouldn’t have had any reason to ring the police would you?” Kendall continued.

She nodded. “No, that’s right,” she replied, taking another drink of tea.

“So you rang the police,” said Kendall. “What time was that?”

Mrs. Duffy thought for a few moments. “It was a few minutes to seven,” she replied. “I had just got in and I went straight to the telephone.” She smiled and shook her head. “But I’ve already told the police ….”

“And the police arrived at about seven, I understand,” Kendall interrupted. He heaved a sigh. “So for almost ten minutes the man who fell was still there, lying on the ground, badly hurt maybe, or even dead at that time, and the possible murderer just stands there waiting.” He paused, and took a drink. “Doesn’t seem very likely to me.”

Mrs. Duffy heaved a sigh. “Maybe, maybe not,” she replied. “I really couldn’t say. But I do know that Constable Donovan arrived, and found Mr. Charters on the beach, and that he has been charged with the murder.”

Kendall nodded. “Yes, that’s right, he has been charged,” he agreed. “Did you know him?”

Mrs. Duffy started to smile, and Kendall noticed a sparkle in her eyes. “Mr. Charters you mean? Oh, yes I know him. Not well though, you understand” she replied. “He was friendly enough, but never had much to say. A bit shy I’d say. Kept himself to himself.”

“So do you think he would be capable of such a thing?” asked Kendall.

“To kill someone you mean?”

Kendall nodded.

She shook her head. “Well I would never have thought it, I must say, but the police think he did it. And they must know mustn’t they?”

The police must know
, thought Kendall. He shook his head.
How many times had he heard that, and how many times had it been proved wrong.
“Maybe,” he said. He then drank the rest of his tea, and stood up.

“Thank you Mrs. Duffy, you’ve been most helpful,” he said. “I shan’t delay you any longer.”

He started to walk towards the door. He suddenly stopped, and turned to face Mrs. Duffy. “Oh, there is just one more thing.”

She looked at him. “Yes, what is it?”

“I know that you rang the police,” Kendall said. “Did you also telephone for the ambulance?”

“Ambulance?” she repeated. “Oh no, sir, it weren’t me.”

* * *

It was late in the evening by the time Kendall arrived back at O’Rourke’s. Mollie was already in the dining room ready to order dinner. He waved and walked over. “Have you ordered yet?” he asked.

She hadn’t, but at that moment Moira the waitress arrived to take their order.

“So how was your day?” Kendall asked, after the waitress had gone.

Mollie shook her head. “You can only look around this village so much,” she replied. “I think I’ve covered every square inch, more than once.”

“Well it’s your own fault,” Kendall replied. “You didn’t want to go the police station, so you’ve only yourself to blame.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Guess you’re right,” she agreed. “So how did you get on?”

Kendall thought for a few moments, and shook his head. “Constable Donovan is a nice enough guy, but he’s way out of his league. This case is way over his head.”

“So what did you find out?” Mollie asked.

Just at that moment the waitress returned. She placed the meals on to the table. “Enjoy,” she said, turned and went back to the kitchen.

* * *

Chapter Thirteen

Mallory Entertains

It was a few minutes to two o’clock when Kendall and Mollie arrived at the Mallory residence the following day. The good weather of the day before had been replaced with cloudy skies, and heavy rain.

Lisiniskie Cottage, located just a mile or so outside the village, was constructed in the late eighteenth century. For many years it was the local vicarage. For the past twenty odd years it had been the family home of Mr. and Mrs. Mallory.

* * *

“Two o’clock on the dot, Mr. Kendall, I do like punctuality,” said Mallory as he greeted his guests. “Do come in, out of the rain.”

Kendall and Mollie walked into a spacious hallway, where they were relieved of their wet coats. “Do go in” Mallory said pointing to the door to their left. “Catherine is inside waiting for you.” He took a step back allowing his guests to pass by.

“Mr. Kendall, Miss Adams,” Mallory said. “This is my wife Catherine.”

“It’s very nice to meet you Mrs. Mallory,” said Kendall, offering his hand. “And kind of you to invite us.”

Catherine stepped forward and shook hands. “Please call me Catherine,” she said in a soft Irish lilt.

“I’m Tom,” said Kendall.

“And I’m Mollie.”

Mollie walked into the middle of the room, and slowly looked around. “What a lovely room this is,” she said. “It’s so bright, and cheerful.”

“I’m so glad that you like it,” said Catherine. “Please sit down, and make yourselves comfortable. Lunch is almost ready.”

“We had hoped to have it outside,” said Mallory as he entered the room. “But it’s suddenly turned cold, and now it’s raining quite heavily.”

“Does it ever stop raining here?” asked Mollie.

“Oh yes, it certainly does,” replied Mallory. “I think it was on a Tuesday, in June, 2003 if I remember correctly.” He smiled, and then started to laugh. “Besides yesterday was fine wasn’t it? That’s it for now until next year.”

“Never mind him,” said Catherine, throwing a friendly punch. “You should have been here last week. We had beautiful weather then. It was so hot. Clear blue skies day after day.”

Kendall shrugged, and heaved a sigh. “That’s what O’Rourke said,” he replied. “It will probably be like that again after we’ve gone home.”

Mallory smiled and sat down. “Let’s hope it improves before then,” he said. “The forecast is a bit unsettled, but that usually means some days will be good, and others will be …. Well you know.”

So much for the weather report,
Kendall thought. Hardly scientific. “Well, a nice stretch of good weather would be nice,” he said. “Certainly make our trip a bit more enjoyable.”

“Yes, of course, you are here on holiday aren’t,” said Catherine. “How long are you planning on staying?”

Mollie shook her head. “I wouldn’t exactly call it a holiday,” she replied, looking at Kendall. Kendall shrugged but said nothing. “And we don’t really know how long we’ll be staying.”

“A few weeks, or a few months,” added Kendall. “It depends.”

“Not exactly a holiday?” Catherine repeated. “I don’t understand.”

“Mollie and Tom are here to investigate that murder that took place a few months ago,” explained Mallory.

“The man on the beach, you mean,” said Catherine. “But I thought the police had arrested Brian Charters for that.”

“They have,” said Kendall. “He goes to trial in a few months’ time.”

“Well then,” said Catherine. “I don’t understand.”

“The thing is Mrs. Mallory …. Catherine, there are some people who don’t believe that he did it,” said Mollie.

“His cousin is a Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard,” Kendall explained. “He doesn’t think he did it, and he has asked us to make some inquiries.”

Catherine looked puzzled. “I still don’t understand.”

“Tom is a private detective, my dear,” said Mallory. “Now do you follow?”

Catherine stood up, “It’s all beyond me. The police don’t usually arrest innocent people do they?”

“It has been known I’m afraid,” replied Kendall.

Catherine shook her head and sighed. She wasn’t convinced. “Anyway, I’ll get the lunch,” she said as she walked towards the door. “I won’t be long.”

“Can I help,” offered Mollie.

Catherine smiled. “Oh no, I wouldn’t think of it, you’re our guest,” she replied. “It’s all ready anyway, it just needs bringing into the dining room.” With that she left the room closing the door behind her

* * *

Mallory stood up and walked over to the drinks cabinet in the corner of the room. “Sherry, Tom,” he asked. “And you Miss …. Mollie.” He poured the drinks, turned and returned to his seat. He handed a glass to Mollie, and one to Kendall.

“So, Tom, I have to admit that in reality I’m as puzzled as Catherine,” Mallory said looking towards the closed door. “You really are here to investigate the murder a few months ago, aren’t you?” Mallory continued.

“That’s right,” said Kendall. “As your wife said, the man on the beach.”

“But why? Like Catherine, I just don’t understand,” Mallory said. “I mean the Irish police seem to have the matter well in hand. Mr. Charters is in custody and, as you said, he comes to trial in a few short months, so what’s to investigate?” He shook his head. “Certainly I understand that some people might think Charters is innocent, especially his cousin, or whatever. I mean that’s to be expected, but do they have any proof?”

Kendall shook his head. “No they don’t,” he replied. “That’s why they’ve asked me to see what I can find out.”

“So how’s it going?” Mallory asked, taking a drink.

Kendall shook his head. “Too early to say,” he replied. “Did you know Charters?”

Mallory smiled. “Does anyone really know anyone else?” he replied. “I first met Brian about four months ago. Bumped into him in Quinn’s Stores. Another English man and all that you know. We hit it off and became quite good friends. He came here quite a lot, and we – my wife and I, Brian and his lady friend, often went into Cork for the theatre.”

“He has a lady friend?” asked Mollie.

“He did have,” replied Mallory. “She disappeared shortly after his arrest. Don’t know where she is now I’m afraid.”

“Some friend,” said Mollie. “To just up and leave when he needed her.”

Mallory shrugged his shoulders. “You’re probably right. In fact you are right,” he said. “She just didn’t want to be involved. I mean after all it was a case of murder.”

“Guess so,” said Kendall. “But even so it does seem a bit hard. Just to dump someone when they were in trouble.”

“You’re right of course, but I can’t be too hard on her,” Mallory replied.

“You must have got to know him fairly well,” said Mollie.

Mallory shook his head slowly, and heaved a sigh. “Well I thought I had, and then this happens,” he replied. “A murder right here in our own back yard, and then Brian charged.” He shook his head again. “I just don’t know.”

“You don’t think he committed the murder do you?” asked Kendall.

Mallory looked up. “I have to say that I didn’t believe it at the time,” he replied. “The evidence though, it just seems so overwhelming. Of course who knows what will come out at the trial when it eventually gets to Court.”

Kendall shook his head.
What evidence
, he wondered. He hadn’t been overwhelmed by what he had been told by Constable Donovan, but decided to leave that aspect for the moment.

“So why didn’t you say you knew him?” Mollie asked. “The other day at the bar.”

Mallory looked at Mollie for a moment and smiled. “If you remember no one admitted knowing him did they,” he replied. “O’Rourke, Lynch, Quinn, Mulvy, me. None of us. No one owned up did they?” He paused for a moment. “They all knew him, right enough” he continued. “He was a regular at O’Rourke’s, even Ceilidh night. I mean what else is there to do in this village?”

Kendall was puzzled. What had Mrs. Duffy said?
He kept himself to himself. And yet he went to the Ceilidh.
It didn’t make sense, unless someone was lying, although for what reason was unclear, or maybe they were simply mistaken. Kendall decided that Mrs. Duffy was mistaken. She was losing the use of her legs, her eyesight, and her hearing, she was probably losing her mind as well. Kendall decided to leave that thinking to one side for the time being, but it did, however, throw doubt on Megan Duffy’s testimony.

“So why deny it?” Kendall asked.

Mallory thought for a moment, and shook his head. “With all due respect, this is a small town, and you are both strangers here,” he replied. “You don’t know us, but more to the point we don’t know you. We don’t like people snooping into our affairs, asking a lot of questions, it’s worrying to say the least. I suppose the truth of the matter is we don’t really want to get involved that’s what it comes down to.”

“So why have you apparently changed your mind?” asked Kendall.

“Let’s just say that I’m not convinced, like some of them, that he is actually guilty.” Mallory replied. “And now you are raising the same doubts.”

“Oh I see,” replied Kendall. “But what about the evidence? You said that it was so overwhelming.”

Mallory smiled. “What evidence?”

“But you just said that the evidence was overwhelming,” said Mollie.

“I did, didn’t I?” agreed Mallory. “That’s what the Garda would have us believe.”

“You just said that you weren’t actually convinced of his guilt, like some of them. What did you mean?” said Mollie. “Did you mean O’Rourke?”

Mallory smiled and nodded. “Well I have to admit that in his case it is a little different.”

“In what way?” asked Kendall.

“With him there’s absolutely no doubt, none whatsoever,” explained Mallory. “O’Rourke is totally convinced of Charters’ guilt.”

“Why would that be?” asked Moillie.

Mallory shook his head. “I really have no idea, I’m afraid,” he replied. “O’Rourke never liked Charters though, that was more than obvious, but I think it went deeper than that.”

“Do you know why he disliked Charters so much?” asked Kendall.

Mallory shook his head, and drained his glass. “Haven’t the slightest idea I’m afraid,” he replied. “Sorry I can’t help you. You could ask him.”

Yes I could,
thought Kendall, although he didn’t really think O’Rourke would be too pleased, and more to the point he probably wouldn’t have a valid answer anyway, or at least an answer that was helpful.

At that moment the door opened and Catherine came back into the room. “Lunch is ready,” she announced. “Anthony please show our guests the way.”

* * *

“Now just help yourselves,” Mallory instructed, waving his hand towards the table. “Tom you sit over there, and Mollie you sit just here, next to me.”

“Oh, come on Anthony, we can’t expect our guests to serve themselves now can we?” scolded Catherine, sighing. She picked up a plate. “Now Miss ... Mollie, let me see what I can get you.”

She started to load the plate with all kinds of food. “This ham is from a local farm,” she explained. “In fact we get all of our food locally.” She continued to load the plate. When she had finished she placed it in front of Mollie, and then proceeded to prepare a similar dish for Kendall.

“White wine or red?” Mallory asked.

“Oh white” replied Kendall.

“Red” said Mollie at the same time.

Mallory smiled. “No problem, we have plenty of both.”

“So have you ever been to Ireland before?” asked Catherine, as her guests settled down to their meal.

“No,” replied Mollie. “We were coming earlier this year, but certain things got in the way.”

“Oh, what happened?” asked Catherine.

Kendall looked at her and smiled. “Oh it wasn’t much,” he replied. “Just a small matter of a murder.”

Mallory almost choked on his wine. “Murder did you say?”

“That’s right,” said Mollie. “Murder seems to follow us around.”

Mallory shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

Fifteen minutes later the whole story of Kendall and Mollie’s trip to London had been explained.

“So just a few weeks ago we were witnesses in the trial at the Old Bailey,” Mollie explained.

“That’s when our friend, Chief Inspector Whittaker asked us to investigate the murder that took place here,” Kendall added.

“And here you are on the trail of another murderer,” said Catherine.

Kendall nodded. “That’s about the size of it,” he replied. “It’s a living I guess.”

“So Mollie, what do you think about that?” asked Mallory. “Doesn’t sound too great to me.”

Mollie smiled. “Well I have to say that it certainly interferes with the shopping trips,” she replied. “Stops me from spending too much money though.”

Catherine started to laugh. “Perhaps we can rectify that while you’re here,” she said. “You and I will go into Cork and do a bit of shopping. How does that sound?”

“Sounds good to me,” said Mollie. “What do you think Kendall?”