Death in the Burren by John Kinsella

Author:John Kinsella [KINSELLA, JOHN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-906018-63-4
Publisher: Original Writing

CHAPTER 15

“CON WASN’T GIVING MUCH AWAY,” Holland commented when he returned to the dining room, having seen Curtis to his car.

“At least we now know there have definitely been two murders.” Ann looked pensive.

“I cannot imagine why anyone would murder Eileen, and in such a cruel and calculating way.” McAllister was quite sickened by what Curtis had told them. “I’m thinking back to the last time I saw her. When was it? Thursday. Yes, last Thursday at the Orchid Hotel. It was such a beautiful evening, with the Italians playing on the lawn. They dedicated their playing to her and then they asked her to play for them, which she did willingly. It was a strange choice, though, a piece by Debussy a lament for a dead nymph. It was incredibly beautiful, haunting, but I found it quite disturbing. I probably romanticised the incident too much by thinking she was using the music as a channel to express her own sadness.”

“Tell me about that, John. I didn’t know the girl.” Ann asked.

“She was a sculptress who lived and worked alone in a studio just beyond Michael Balfe’s hotel, not far from Poll Salach. Her husband had been drowned accidentally at Fanore last year and I thought it a sad coincidence that she had drowned there also.”

“Suicide had crossed my mind,” Susan interjected, “taking into account her possible mental state.”

“Mine also,” McAllister admitted, “but the truth is even worse. She seemed quite friendly with Balfe and I thought they might have some future together. There was something peculiar going on between Michael and the Italians, or their manager to be more accurate. I caught a glimpse of the two arguing that evening, and in Ennis Cathedral at the concert. I didn’t think anything of it at the time but I wonder now what could possibly have been going on.”

“Do you remember, John, the evening we drove to see Michael when we heard that Eileen had drowned?” Susan asked.

“He was very cut up I remember.”

“And you had some idea that her death and Hyland’s might in some way be connected.” Susan went on.

“It was just the beginning of my astonishment at the number of extraordinary happenings since I arrived in Derreen. My mind was simply in overdrive at the time, I didn’t know what to think.”

“Do you remember we spoke about Michael on our way back here?”

“That’s right Susan. Even though he was obviously distraught his whole bearing didn’t seem to be natural, somehow.”

“You felt it was more than simple grief.”

“Yes,” McAllister agreed, “there was something more to it. Do you remember as we were leaving Michael looked at us strangely and appeared for a moment to want to say more? Then he changed his mind.”

“This is really all beyond me.” Ann brought them back from their musings.

“Me too.” Frank was equally puzzled.

“But tell me about your experiences, Frank,” McAllister changed the subject,” you’ve been through a hell of a time. We never got around to finding out why Curtis released you so suddenly.

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