Murder pf a Runaway by BRIAN O'HARE

Author:BRIAN O'HARE [O'HARE, BRIAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-TWO:

Thursday, 26th September

Late Evening

Sheehan was settling down in his lounge to watch the Ten-o’clock News. The doorbell sounded, and he raised his eyes to Margaret. “You expecting someone?”

She shook her head, as puzzled as he was, and rose to answer the door. She turned on the porch light to reveal a somewhat sombre-looking Sergeant Stewart.

“Denise,” Margaret said, her voice welcoming. “Come on in. Would you like a wee cup of tea?”

Stewart tried to give Margaret an answering smile, but it was a poor effort. “No thanks, Margaret. I’m just here to have a quick word with the chief.”

Margaret, sensing Stewart’s errand was serious, said, “He’s in the lounge, Denise. Go on in. I’ll tidy up the kitchen a bit.”

Stewart nodded her thanks and went on down the hall.

Sheehan rose when she entered, his surprise obvious, but he simply pointed to an armchair and said calmly, “Sit down, Stewart,” adding as he too sat, “Don’t normally expect you calling here this hour of the night. What’s up?”

Stewart stared at him, tears beginning to form unbidden in her eyes. For a moment she seemed unsure about how to start, then in a rush, she said, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ve betrayed your trust, and I might have got you into trouble. I’m really sorry, Chief.”Tears flowing, she held his gaze.

Sheehan’s eyebrows rose slightly. “I’ve been in trouble before, Denise. Perhaps you could elaborate?”

“We tried to act as ordinary, independent citizens, Chief.” She brushed tears from her cheek with an irritated hand. “I should have known it wasn’t possible.”

“We?”

“Tom, Simon, Declan and me.”

“Half the team? My goodness. Better start at the beginning.”

“I truly thought I could just act as an agent of the NRM, but DCI Fox will probably figure it all out…” She lowered her head, fiddling in her jacket pocket for a handkerchief.

Sheehan gave her time to wipe her face before saying, “I’m not sure that’s the beginning, Stewart. Could you go back a bit further?”

Stewart composed herself and told him her story, beginning with meeting the troubled and anxious young man on the street outside her office the night before, the conversation with Fox, and the subsequent illicit rescue bid.“And now I’m terrified they’ll pack up and flee the house before DCI Fox’s team.”

“Where are they now?”

“Uh, who? The team? The traffickers?”

“Matei and Alina.”

“I’ve got them put up in a small hotel for the night. They’ll be safe there until I get back to them.”

“Do you think they would be willing to talk to DCI Fox?”

Stewart nodded uncertainly, somewhat thrown by the chief’s line of questioning. She had been expecting a severe dressing-down at the very least. “Yes, sir. Why do you ask?”

Sheehan stared at her for some moments, his expression unreadable. Then he said, “You know better than I do how these trafficked victims are—wasted on drugs, terrified after having been beaten and abused and threatened into submission. They’ll never act as witnesses against their captors.”

Stewart was becoming more and more confused. “Sir, I’m not sure I understand.”

Sheehan again gave her his implacable stare.

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