Angel of Death: A Belfast Murder Mystery full of suspense and twists (Inspector Jim Sheehan Series Book 1) by Brian O'Hare

Author:Brian O'Hare [O'Hare, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SIX

E

ight-thirty on Thursday morning and some of the men in the room were bleary-eyed and yawning. Sheehan had called this early briefing session before the detectives headed off for their daily grind of researching, questioning, chasing up minor leads. The principal’s memorandum was important enough but Allen’s phone call yesterday evening had been filled with possibilities. He wanted Allen to share his discoveries with the group as soon as possible. He was saving that for later in the meeting, however. There were other reports to be delivered as well. He called on Loftus to speak first.

Loftus spoke from his table, sitting back but speaking clearly. “I went back to the Lough Erne Hotel and had another wee look at the monsignor’s alibi. I told you earlier that it was tight but Allen’s talk about a disguise rattled me. And now I’m not so sure …”

“You mean he could have committed the murder?” McLoughlin seemed pleased at the possibility.

“All I’m saying is that his alibi is not a hundred per cent airtight. It might have a hole in it.” He paused unsure how to proceed.

“Is this some sort of new parlour game, Loftus?” McCammon said, often on a short fuse these days. “We throw possible answers at you and you tell us if we’re right or wrong?”

Loftus’ freckles deepened as he flushed and he hurried on. “Sorry, it’s just that I was talking to the day-time receptionist at the Lough Erne Hotel. He told me that he arrives for work every morning a few minutes before seven o’clock. The thing is, you can see the staff car park from the reception area and apparently the night man always drops everything as soon as he sees the day guy driving in. He usually goes out for a wee chat at their cars before the day guy goes on in. So there’s a three or four minute gap at that time, sir, when the front desk is left unattended. It would be easy for someone to slip in or out of the hotel unnoticed at that point, particularly if there were any others moving around as well.”

“Doesn’t mean the monsignor’s lying,” Doyle said. “It just means that his alibi is not as tight as it was.”

“It just means we can’t trust his alibi at all,” McLoughlin said.

“Does he have alibis for the other two killings?” Sheehan asked.

“No, sir. Home alone. No witnesses,” Loftus said.

“All right. Good work, Loftus. All we can do is file that along with everything else and keep an open mind about it. For myself, I can’t see the monsignor as our man but don’t let that stop you following up any leads that you find.” He paused and went on casually, “Did you have time to check out the organist, Mrs …”

“Sands, sir. Yes, I’d say she’s clean. She doesn’t have alibis for the nights in question but anything I’ve heard from talking to those who know her, neighbours, the school she works at, would indicate that it is normal for her to be at home alone.

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