A Case Of Murder (Kendall Book 6) (6 page)

“He never done it you know,” the boy suddenly announced.

“Done it,” repeated Kendall surprised. “Done what?”

“Oh you know. The man on the beach,” Keiron explained. “Mr. Charters never did it, he wouldn’t harm a fly. He was gentle and kind.”

Kendall nodded. “I’ll remember what you said, Keiron,” he replied. “You know I don’t think he did it either.”

Kendall shook his head, and started to smile as he remembered what he had been thinking just a few short minutes ago.
Perhaps Charters was guilty as charged. Might as well pack up and go home.
He shook his head once again and looked at the boy.

“So Keiron, what do you do around here?” Kendall asked. “I mean what do you do for fun?”

The boy smiled. “Well there’s not a lot to be honest. There’s the football club, but it’s not much. We don’t have a full team you see. And even if we did there’s no one to play against.”

He paused for a moment, and reached inside his coat pocket. “Would you like to see my badge?” He held out his hand, and proudly displayed a silver and bronze, Killmacud F.C. badge. “Mr Charters had one just like it, and so does Mr Lynch. They are both members.”

Somehow Kendall could not imagine Keiron and Lynch playing a game of football. “So did they play?” Kendall asked.

The boy laughed. “No, they never played,” he answered. “They were just supporters, and ran the club. Mr. Charters was the Secretary, and Mr. Lynch was in charge of the money.”

Kendall smiled, certainly the club would need to be organised, and properly run, and keeping the accounts would be necessary. “So is there anything else?” Kendall asked.

“Well, I have to go to school of course,” Keiron continued. “It’s in the next village. And I help Mr. O’Rourke at the hotel, when I can. But most of all I like helping Mr. Lynch at the yard. He’s teaching me fishing.”

Fishing!
Kendall thought.
Fishing, and a football club that didn’t have a full team, or anyone to play, and that was it. The excitement must be overwhelming.
“That sounds pretty good,” Kendall said, trying to sound that he meant it. “How’s it coming?”

The boy shook his head. “Not good,” he replied. He paused for a moment, and then heaved a sigh. “I best get back, Mr. O’Rourke wants me to help re-stock the bar.”

He started to walk towards the door. Kendall put his hand out. “Just a sec,” he called out. He reached into his pocket and took out a five euro note. He handed it to Keiron. The boy thanked him, opened the door and went out.

Kendall watched as the door closed. He shook his head. He still could not believe it. Charters and Lynch, friends. It just didn’t seem possible, but there it was. Keiron had said so, so it must be right. He looked across at the telephone. He decided to give Whittaker a call, but with a different message.

He dialled the number. It was answered on the fourth ring.

“Chief Inspector, it’s me, Kendall.”

“Hello Tom,” replied Whittaker. “So how’s it going?”

Kendall thought for a few moments, and smiled. “Well its early days,” he said. “But we’re making progress.”

* * *

Chapter Eight

Local Excitement

During dinner later that evening, Kendall had told Mollie about his conversation with Keiron. “So it seems that our friend, Derren Lynch was working with Charters,” Kendall explained. He was the associate that Whittaker mentioned.”

Mollie shook her head. “I don’t believe it,” she replied. “I just don’t like the guy.”

Kendall shook his head, and smiled. “You sound like old Mulligan,” he said. “I don’t like him, says you. Why not, says I? What’s wrong with him?”

Now it was Mollie’s turn to smile. “You’re a fine one to talk,” she replied. “Only a little while ago you thought that he was too pushy, remember.”

Kendall nodded. “Sure I remember, but that was before.”

“Before what?” asked Mollie.

“Before I spoke to Keiron, that before.”

Mollie shook her head. “Well I still say you’re wrong.”

“Well I have to say I was surprised, but according to Keiron, Brian Charters spent a lot of time at Lynch’s boatyard,” Kendall continued. “And it makes perfect sense to me. That’s why Lynch kept asking if I would like to go out on the boat. He wants to talk, in private.”

“Well I don’t buy it,” Mollie pronounced. “I think it’s more likely that the friend was Mallory. That makes more sense to me.”

Kendall shook his head, and heaved a sigh. “Why? Because they are both English,” he said dismissively. “Too obvious. No, if I was a gambling man I’d put my money on Lynch.”

“Did you say something, Mr. Kendall?” a voice asked. It was O’Rourke, who had just entered the dining room.

Kendall looked up. He hesitated for a moment. “Oh, I was just talking about Mr. Lynch,” he explained. “I was just saying that I might take up his offer, and go out on his boat.” He turned to look at Mollie. “Isn’t that right.”

Mollie took a deep breath. “Oh yes, that’s exactly right,” she replied. “A boat trip sounds like fun.”

“Ah now, isn’t that grand,” said O’Rourke. “Just as we said you should do. Forget about that nasty old murder, just enjoy yourself. Let us hope that the weather improves.”

* * *

It was just after nine, with dinner over, when Kendall and Mollie returned to the bar. As they walked in, Kendall leaned into Mollie and whispered. “Another thing Kieron told me, there’s nothing to do here, nothing at all.”

Mollie began to smile, and looked around the bar. Mulligan and Mallory were still there. The young man, Lynch, had gone. Over in the corner a young couple were arguing about something. At the bar O’Rourke was deep in conversation with two young men. “Well he wasn’t wrong about that was he?”

Kendall nodded. “Quite a bright kid I’d say.”

Mollie said nothing, but continued to look around the bar. “I wonder where our Mr. Lynch is,” she whispered.

Kendall looked over at the bar. “I expect he’ll be here, after all there’s nothing else ….”

“Nothing else to do, I know,” Mollie interrupted.

* * *

O’Rourke looked up as Kendall and Mollie arrived at the bar. “Good evening, Mr. Kendall, and Miss Mollie, I was just giving these two young fellas here directions. They are on their way to Galway.” He paused and look at the men. The two men thanked him, turned and left.

O’Rourke watch them go, then he turned to face Kendall. “Now then, what can I get you?”

“A whiskey for me,” said Kendall. “And what will you have Mollie?”

“I’ll have a Martini,” Mollie replied.

“A martini it is,” repeated O’Rourke. “Would that be a double for you sir?”

Kendall shook his head. “No, a single will do, thank you.”

Mollie looked up at Kendall. “Not feeling well then?” she asked. Kendall merely shrugged.

O’Rourke started to pour the drinks. “I hope that the dinner was to your liking,” he said.

“The dinner was fine,” Kendall replied. Mollie said nothing but nodded and smiled.

The door opened and the young man from the boat yard came in. “Ah, Mr. Kendall,” he said smiling. “’t’is himself.” 

Kendall nodded. He looked at Mollie. “Told you so didn’t I?” he turned to face Lynch. “Back again I see.”

“Oh yes, back again,” the man replied. “There’s not much else around here. The nearest cinema is thirty miles away, and that’s about it. So it’s either O’Rourke’s or the old box I’m afraid.”

“The box,” said Kendall puzzled.

“The television,” the man explained.

“Oh, I see,” said Kendall. “So I suppose the body on the beach was a bit of local excitement.”

“Ah, I suppose it was, for a little while at least,” replied Lynch. “’tis a sorry state of affairs though when the only entertainment we get is someone being murdered.”

Kendall had to admit that it was hardly the entertainment he would prefer. “Did anyone know the man?” he asked. “The one who was murdered.”

No one answered.

Kendall looked around. “I just wondered if anyone knew anything about the man.”

O’Rourke looked up and shook his head. “I’d never seen him before,” he said. “What about you Mallory?”

Mallory looked up, and quickly shook his head. “No I never knew him,” he replied. “Never saw him before, not until his picture appeared in the newspaper.”

“If the truth be known it wasn’t that interesting,” said O’Rourke. “Never knew the victim.”

“What about Brian Charters?” Kendall asked. “Did anyone know him?”

Once again there was silence. Then O’Rourke spoke. “He was a bit of a loner by all accounts,” he explained. “Never came in here that much.”

“You hardly ever saw him,” added Lynch. “Not very sociable. He’d say hello, and that but would never stop for a conversation.”

“What about the football club?” Kendall asked. “I understand that there is one here in Killmacud. You’re a member aren’t you Mr. Lynch?”

Lynch nodded. “I am, this is the badge,” he replied pointing to an enamel badge in his lapel. “I have to admit that it isn’t much of a club, not like it used to be. But I can tell you Charters wasn’t in the least interested in it, or anything else locally, come to that. He kept himself to himself.”

“But I understood that Charters spent a lot of time at your yard,” said Kendall.

Lynch looked surprised, and shook his head.

“Was he interested in boats?” Kendall continued. “Or was he into the fishing?”

Lynch shook his head, and smiled. “I don’t know where you heard that Mr. Kendall, but as far as I can recall he was never at my yard.”

“Are you sure?” asked Kendall. “I was told that he was there quite often.”

Lynch shook his head once again. “I’m sorry but you are mistaken, I tell you he was never there.”

Kendall heaved a sigh. “I don’t understand it, they were so definite,” he replied. “I must admit though that I did find it strange.”

“Who told you?” asked O’Rourke.

Kendall smiled and shook his head. “I’d rather not say, and if it’s not true, as it sounds, there’s no pint. They were just mistaken I guess.”

“Or deliberately misleading you,” suggested Mallory.

Kendall considered the point for a few moments. “That’s possible,” he agreed. So far the locals had been anything but helpful. Perhaps it was a deliberate attempt to confuse him.

“But why would anyone do that?” Kendall asked. “Unless, of course, they had something to hide.”

“Ah now, that’s nonsense,” said O’Rourke. “What would anyone have to hide?”

What indeed,
thought Kendall.
After all it was only a murder after all.
“So it probably didn’t surprise anyone when Charters was charged with the murder,” he said.

Mallory went to say something, but changed his mind.

“No surprise at all,” said O’Rourke. “What do they say, you have to watch the quiet ones.”

Kendall knew the saying.

“Hardly a reason for accusing someone of murder, though,” said Mollie.

“You may be right there Missy,” said Lynch. “But when you look at the evidence it all ….”

“Another drink, Mr. Kendall,” came a voice to Kendall’s left. It was Mallory. “And you Miss Adams.”

“That’s very kind of you Mr. Mallory,” replied Kendall. “Same again, thank you.”

“Same again,” Mallory instructed. “And a gin and tonic for me.”

O’Rourke started to pour the drinks. “By the way, Mr. Kendall, Derren isn’t entirely correct you know, when he says there’s not much to do here.” He finished preparing the drinks and placed them on the counter. “There’s always the football club.” He paused for a moment. “This is the club’s badge.” He pointed to a small metal badge on his lapel. “I’m a member, and so is Derren.”

Derren nodded and pointed to the badge in his lapel. “Everyone’s a member,” he added. “We’ve got to have some pleasure haven’t we, to make up for coming here.”

O’Rourke smiled and looked at Lynch. “Right you are, but don’t forget that we do have our own weekly bit of excitement right here.”

“And what would that be?” asked Derren.

“Why you wouldn’t be forgetting the ceilidh tomorrow night now would you?” said O’Rourke. “It’s the high point of the week.”

“The what?” asked Kendall.

“The Ceilidh,” repeated O’Rourke. “You pronounce it Kay Lee.”

“It’s traditional Irish music,” explained Derren. “And how could I possibly forget about it? I’ve been trying for years without success.”

“If you can call it music,” said Mallory.

“They have a band here every Saturday, so you might want to go home on Friday,” Derren continued smiling. “It starts at about nine thirty. I normally leave by about nine thirty-five.”

Derren started to laugh, and looked at O’Rourke. “Only joking. It’s really not that bad,” he said, holding up his hands. He looked back at Kendall. “You never know you might actually enjoy it.”

“I have to say that Simon and Garfunkel are more to my taste.” Kendall looked at Mollie. “What do you think?” he asked.

She smiled and nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

Kendall looked back at Lynch. “Okay, we’ll be there,” he said. “Nine thirty, on the dot.”

“So what about tomorrow?” asked Mallory. “Have you any plans?”

“Oh, we thought we’d have a look at the village,” replied Mollie.

Mallory smiled. “Good idea,” he said. “Shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes or so, what about the rest of the day?”

“Perhaps we’ll take a stroll down to the beach,” suggested Kendall. “Take a look at that cove.”

“Carrick Cove, you mean?” said O’Rourke.

“The very same,” replied Kendall.

O’Rourke turned towards Mallory and shook his head. Kendall wondered what that was all about. Some kind of a signal perhaps, or was it intended as a warning.

“I should wrap up warm,” said Mallory. “The forecast for tomorrow isn’t good, and those Atlantic gales can be pretty fierce.”

“The cove is very open,” added Derren. “Back in the old days there was many a wreck flounder on that shore. A wrecker’s paradise.”

“It’s really not worth the bother,” said O’Rourke. “There’s not much to see, especially if the weather’s bad.”

Why didn’t they want him to see the Cove? What were they hiding?
Kendall wondered.
Was this a warning for him to keep away, or was he becoming ever so slightly paranoiac?

“By the way you really must come up to the house for lunch,” Mallory continued. “My wife would love to meet you both. How about the day after tomorrow, say two o’clock?”

Odd, Kendall thought. One minute he was being warned off visiting the cove, the next minute he’s being invited to lunch. It didn’t make sense. He wasn’t prepared to play along with their games. “That’s nice of you, but ….”

“That’s very nice of you,” Mollie interrupted. She looked at Kendall. “We’d be delighted to accept, wouldn’t we?”

Kendall nodded. “Delighted,” he repeated. “Thank you.”

* * *

Kendall was a very confused man when he returned to his room later that evening.
So Charters was bit of a loner,
Kendall murmured.
You hardly ever saw him,
said Lynch. And yet Keiron was definite, Charters was always down at the boatyard. That’s what he had said.
Why would Keiron tell lies? To get attention, perhaps. To sound important. To be helpful, maybe. But who to? To the authorities, or to Charters himself, to show his innocence.
It was definitely a possibility but not likely.

Kendall shook his head, it just didn’t make sense. You had to be very clever to tell lies, and keep it up the pretence. Sooner or later you would slip up. Sooner or later you would give yourself away. Keiron was a bright lad, but he wasn’t clever enough to pull it off. There was no reason for Keiron to lie, he had nothing to gain, and he had nothing to hide. But someone did. Someone there in the bar a few minutes ago.

But who?

* * *