THE MOURNE MOUNTAIN MURDERS: totally gripping crime fiction by Robert McCracken

Author:Robert McCracken [McCracken, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Book Folks bestselling crime fiction publisher
Published: 2022-11-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

Donna Cassidy yelped in fright.

‘You scared the shit out of me! What the hell do you want?’

Irritated, she returned to loading groceries from a shopping trolley into the boot of her car. He had made her jump, but Desmond Crossley didn’t really frighten her. He would be hard-pushed to frighten anyone even on a dark night such as this. The man looked bedraggled; his expensive suit was crumpled, and his white shirt held a multitude of dried bloodstains. When he stepped from the shadow into the light, Donna saw his face more clearly. His lower lip was split and swollen and there were several deep and bloodied gouges on his cheeks.

‘What happened to you? You look like you’ve gone ten rounds with Tyson.’

‘I had an argument with my darling wife.’

‘I hope she came out of it looking better than you do.’

‘Susan is quite the athlete. She packs a strong punch. And she’s accurate when it comes to throwing things.’

His hand went to his face to illustrate the damage he’d sustained.

‘You must have done something to upset the poor woman.’

‘She was screwing Martin Shiels.’

‘Did you kill him?’

Crossley ignored the question and finally stated why he had come to see Donna.

‘I need your help,’ he croaked. ‘I’m looking for McDermott.’

‘Aren’t we all, sunshine.’

Unfazed, she closed the boot and wheeled her trolley to the collection point. When she attempted to get into her car, Crossley grabbed her by the arm. She shrugged him off easily.

‘Get off me, Dessie. I can’t help you.’

‘Please, Donna. The police are looking for me. My name is bound to show up among Shiels’ files. I’ve no one else to turn to.’

Donna, still wearing black, in mourning for Terry Quinn, held a steel cold gaze for the nervous Crossley. She stepped closer and could smell his stale sweat. As a young couple walked by with their shopping trolley, she lowered her voice and spoke quietly.

‘Listen, Dessie sweetheart, if the cops have got their hands on Shiels’ files, then we’re all in for it. I worked for him too, remember. And he owed me money. It’s all right for you and slutty Susan, you have the funds to make a run for it. I’m stuck here playing the widow.’

She pushed him backwards then opened the car door and climbed inside. Before she had the chance to drive away, Crossley scurried to the passenger door and got in beside her.

‘What the hell, Crossley?’

‘You’re going to help me find McDermott. He must have all the answers.’

Donna shook her head in disgust at the man cowering in the seat beside her.

‘Dessie, you’re doing my head in. You can come home with me and have a cup of tea. We’ll have a word with spineless Sean, see if he knows what’s happened to McDermott. But that’s all I’m doing for you, understand?’

She drove her Volvo briskly from the shopping centre at Newtownbreda and headed down the Ormeau Road towards Friendly Street. With a cigarette in her hand, she kept an eye on her mobile in its cradle as she drove.

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