When They were Bad by Maria Hoey

Author:Maria Hoey [Hoey, Maria & Hoey, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

Wed 8th March

Early the following morning, Tina and JP were summoned to Coleman’s office.

“I thought you might be interested to know that we’ve received the preliminary autopsy results on Jennifer O’Keeffe,” he told them, patting a buff-coloured file which lay on the desk before him. “Ms O’Keeffe’s death will be ruled accidental.”

“For Christ’s sake!” Tina was too frustrated to hide it.

“I’m sorry the findings of the State Pathologist don’t meet with your approval, DS Barrett,” said Coleman dryly. “But the facts are that no drugs were found in the dead woman’s system, other than a prescription anti-depressant, that and some traces of a low dose of some anxiety medication she’d also been prescribed."

“Yes sir, but..."

Coleman held up a warning hand and Tina fell silent.

“She had not suffered a stroke or heart attack, and there were no clear signs of any suspicious circumstances,” Coleman continued. “Now, you may not agree, DS Bassett, but from the viewpoint of the dead woman’s family, this is the best news possible in a situation where there can be no actual good news.”

“And Lorcan O’Keeffe and his lawyers are satisfied with that, are they?” Tina asked incredulously.

Coleman eyed her coldly. “Not having spoken to Mr O’Keeffe or indeed, his lawyers, I am not in a position to answer that question. However, I imagine he will appreciate the fact that neither time nor expense has been spared in expediting these findings. Small comfort perhaps, but I hope going some way to allaying any suspicions which may have been aroused, in my opinion, unnecessarily aroused, concerning the circumstances in which his sister lost her life.”

“But sir, you said yourself only yesterday that you were prepared to consider the possibility that…”

“Enough!” Coleman snapped. He picked up the buff file and shoved it at Tina.

“Take it,” he said. “Take it and read it for yourself. Acquaint yourself with the facts and after you’ve done that, I don’t expect to hear another word about your fantastic theories and spurious connections. You have other cases on your desk to be getting on with, so I suggest you do just that.”

“But sir….”

“I said enough!” Coleman barked. “Take this and get out!”

Tina got out.

*

“So, it’s right back to me barking up the wrong tree, then,” said Tina.

They were in the car park behind the station, to which JP had practically manhandled her so she could let off steam without anyone to hear her do it. Once there, he said nothing while she paced and ranted until the worst heat of her anger had begun to cool.

“What’s in it anyway,” JP indicated the file she was still clutching in a clenched fist.

By way of answer, Tina shoved the file into his hands. JP opened it, ran an eye over the report. “Nothing here we didn’t already find out at the scene, unless you count a lot of additional facts about the effects of heat on blood vessels and how, combined with alcohol that can lead to a drop in blood pressure. Apparently, it’s pretty much equivalent to fainting.

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