Tuesday, April 20th
Rosary Police Station, 9 am
When Kolinsky came into the interrogation room, Neil was sitting with a folder on the table in front of him. He could read worry on the gangster’s face, and the arrogance he had noticed a few days before had disappeared. The lawyer hadn’t accompanied him, but a short slim man in his early thirties followed him closely, watching him with deference. The two men sat down in front of Neil, while John preferred to remain standing next to the door.
Neil noticed immediately the change in the man’s demeanor, and he decided to take advantage:
“Mr. Kolinsky, I didn’t think I would see you again in such a short time!” He said with a sarcastic smile.
The man narrowed his eyes, and he tried to read the policeman’s expression: what had the police really found out? Certainly, they had discovered something, if they had summoned Randy. He decided to wait until the Inspector had laid his cards on the table.
Neil started:
“You must have heard in the news that a man named Brian Murray was found murdered yesterday.”
Kolinsky and Randy nodded. Neil took out some photos from the folder, and he showed them to Randy. The man tried not to show any reaction, but it was clear he was nervous.
“What does this mean, Inspector? Am I not free to drive my car along a road?”
Kolinsky was craning his neck to see the pictures, but he thought the police had certainly something else, if they had called them so urgently.
Neil answered calmly, turning from Kolinsky to his sidekick:
“Obviously there is nothing wrong in driving along the road, but not far from that camera there is an apartment building. One of the apartments belonged to Murray.” The two men were shaking their heads, but Neil anticipated them saying:
“Think carefully before you answer my question. Did you know Murray had this apartment?”
He watched the two men attentively, and he could see that they were debating how much to tell him. Since they remained silent, he pressed them:
“I see that you don’t know what to tell me, so I will help you by saying that a neighbor has seen your car, Randy, several times in the last few days, and he saw your car last Sunday, more or less at the time Murray was killed.” He exchanged a quick glance with John, because the last thing he had said was not true, but he wanted to put pressure on the two men. John didn't show any surprise, and both policemen waited for the reaction of the two gangsters.
Randy looked visibly nervous, and he looked sideways at his boss, then he said:
“Wait a minute! You can’t pin his murder on me!” He really sounded alarmed, and Neil waited for him to go on, watching him impassively.
Randy waited for a few moments, he turned to Kolinsky, and they exchanged a glance.
Kolinsky made up his mind, and he said:
“Ok, Murray called me from a phone he had never used. It was Sunday morning, and he said that he would have all the money that evening. He told me to meet at that address at 9 pm. I had never heard of that apartment before, I swear.”
He looked at Randy, who went on:
“When I arrived, I found the entrance door to the building open, and also the door to his apartment was ajar. I looked inside, and I saw he was dead on the floor. I turned and I drove away, as quickly as I could.”
Neil didn't know why, but he tended to believe him, also because the time fit what had been taken on camera.
“Did you see anyone around the building while you were there?”
Randy relaxed a little, and he answered:
“No, the parking place was deserted, and I didn't meet anyone, but evidently there was someone who saw me…”
“What about the mobile phone Murray used. Have you got the number?”
Kolinsky scrolled his call log, and he showed a number to Neil. Neil took a picture of the screenshot with his phone camera. He was sure it was the second mobile phone registered to Olivia Clancy.
Neil didn't comment, and he said:
“We are waiting for the result of the autopsy. We will get in touch if we need further information.”
Kolinsky and Randy left in a hurry.
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***
Neil went back to his office on the first floor. He sat down behind his desk, and John took the other chair. Neil said suddenly, after they had remained in silence for a few minutes:
“I want to talk to Vincent Clancy. I want to ask him if he can check Olivia's bank account”
He dialed the number of Clancy's mobile phone, but the call went immediately to voicemail. He looked through his papers, and he found the home number. After a few rings, a female voice said:
“Hello! This is Clancy’s home. Can I help you?”
Neil answered:
“Hello! This is Inspector McKinley from Rosary. Can I talk to Mr. Clancy? Is he at home?”
“Yes, he is at home, but tonight he didn't feel well. The doctor has just left, and now Mr. Clancy is resting.”
“I am sorry to hear that. How is he?”
“The doctor said it is just the stress of the past few days, the concern for Rachel… He told him to rest and to try to take things easy for a few days.”
“Can you tell him that I called and that I need to talk to him, please? I would appreciate it if he could call me back.”
“Of course, Inspector!”
He turned to John, and he commented:
“Mr. Clancy is visibly under a lot of stress, but I think he is more worried about Olivia than Rachel.”
John nodded musingly.
Steve called them to the large open space.
“Neil, John, the results of the autopsy have just arrived.”
Neil went to stand behind Steve, and he watched the screen of the laptop, where a document had just appeared. Steve scrolled slowly, so that his two colleagues could read it through.
Neil said:
“The most important thing is the time. Here it says that he was killed between six and seven pm. Randy was caught on camera in his car around nine, wasn't he?”
John answered:
“Yes, he passed at a few minutes before nine going from St. John to Rosary, and at 9:20 in the opposite direction.”
“So he is not our murderer.”
Steve turned to look at him, and he asked:
“But who killed Murray? Daisy and Louise are with Anna all the time, and I don’t think either of them would be capable of killing someone. Rachel is in the hospital… Olivia? Are you thinking of Olivia, Neil?”
Neil stroked his chin and nodded slowly.
“She is too nervous, and I have checked Gatti’s report, but, in the time he followed Murray, he didn't see any other person, not a lover or a friend who was close to him… But we must be careful, because we need evidence, otherwise no judge will ever give me an arrest warrant!”
John looked at Neil, and he asked:
“Why are you in such a hurry to arrest her? Do you think she would hurt someone else?”
Neil answered cautiously:
“I don't like her attitude towards Daisy. She is trying to blame her husband’s behavior on someone else, as if she still wanted to justify him. And she has said more than once that she thinks Daisy and her mother knew about the other family, even if we have told her that it is not true.”
John nodded, and he said:
“I think you are right, but …. Would she come to that? And do you think her hatred made her kill her husband, if she is trying to justify him?”
“Yes, I know that it seems far-fetched, but … the more I look for other explanations, the more I go back to this one, also considering Olivia’s slippery and hostile behavior.”
Neil thought for a few moments, then he took out his mobile phone, and he dialed a number. He put the phone on speaker on Steve’s desk.
After a few rings a nervous voice answered:
“Hello”
“Hello, Mrs. Clancy. How is your daughter?”
“She is much better, thanks. The doctor has just told me that they will do some tests tomorrow, and, if everything is ok, she will be able to go back home.”
“That’s fantastic news, Madam. Can I ask you a few questions?”
“I imagined you would never call me just to ask me about my daughter.” The sarcasm was evident in her voice, and John and Neil exchanged a glance. Olivia was definitely nervous. Neil decided to go straight to the point:
“We have discovered that your husband used your second mobile phone last Sunday, Mrs. Clancy. And, ” he couldn't avoid adding, “we are working to find your husband’s killer, Madam, so I certainly call if I need answers from you.”
John reflected that Neil was really good at using his most authoritative tone at the right time, and that he was a kind gentle man, but it was better not to cross him.
At the other end of the line there was silence for a few moments, and Neil pressed the woman:
“You told us that you had probably lost that phone, but now we learn that your husband had it in his possession last Sunday. Can you tell me what happened to your phone?”
“I don’t know what this has to do with Brian’s death, but… I forgot to tell you that my husband sometimes used it when he didn't want to use his mobile phone. Maybe he took it. That’s why I couldn't find it. In the last few days I have had too many things on my mind, and am I to blame if I didn't recall immediately that Brian used that phone number?” Olivia sounded irritated, but Neil could detect apprehension in her voice.
He answered calmly:
“What is useful for our investigation is not something I have to discuss with you, Mrs. Clancy. Thanks for sharing with me what you remember now. I will call you if I need something else. Have a nice day.”
He closed the phone call abruptly, and he stared in front of him for a few moments, absorbed in his thoughts.
Steve asked him jokingly, in order to ease the tension:
“I think Olivia Murray is not your type, Neil? She gets on your nerves…”
Neil smiled at Steve’s joke.
“Oh, she is too defensive for my taste, especially if she has nothing to hide. I want to let her see that I don't like her behavior, in order to dissuade her from whatever she intends to do…”
He was going back to the office, when he turned to Steve and asked:
“You have already checked the camera videos in case Olivia Murray's car was caught, haven't you?”
“Yes, I checked the footage covering all afternoon, both for her car and for the car of her father.”
“Is there any other road that leads to the apartment building?”
Steve opened Google Maps, and enlarged the area. After a few moments he said:
“There is a street that comes from the nearby town, St. Stephen. It ends in a little park just behind the building.”
“Are there cameras in that area?”
“I will check immediately.”
“Please, Steve, can you check the camera footage for the morning of last Sunday?”
“Yes, of course. The gas station has given me the video for the entire day. I will do it now…”
“Thanks, Steve… I forgot to ask you: are your mum and Gloria ok?”
“Yes, Neil, they are seriously considering coming here in a few months, when Gloria’s vacation starts. I will go to talk to the director of Rosary high school.”
“I am glad to hear that.”
***
Anna’s Trattoria, 2:30 pm
Olivia arrived in front of Anna’s Trattoria just in time to see Louise and Daisy come out of the glass door, and walk along the street together. She was tempted to stop them, but she thought better. After what she had told them the previous day, she doubted they would want to talk to her.
She had parked her car in front of their home a few times during the last days but it was obvious that they were not there. Then she had seen them by chance that morning getting out of the car of a woman in front of the supermarket. After some time they had gone back to the car with shopping bags, and they had driven to this little restaurant. Now she knew where they stayed at the moment.
She debated what to do, then she got out of the car, and she went to the frosted glass door of the Trattoria. It was locked, but she knocked tentatively. The same woman she had seen in the morning came to open. She smiled kindly, and she asked:
“What can I do for you? The Trattoria is closed, I am sorry.”
Olivia tried to keep her nervousness in check, and she asked, as politely as she could:
“My name is Olivia Murray. Can I talk to Daisy Brown?” She stopped because she realized it was really difficult to talk about her relationship to Daisy and her grandmother. “I don’t know how to explain, I am Daisy’s father’s wife, so to speak…”
The woman in front of her smiled immediately and invited her to go into the dining room of the restaurant. She said kindly:
“Come in, please! I am sorry for your husband's death. How is your daughter? Did you want to talk to Daisy? I am sorry, but they had an appointment, and they left a few minutes ago…”
“Oh… I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night. They came to see my daughter in hospital, and I had an impolite reaction. My father and my daughter made me reflect, and I realized that the stress of the last days had taken over…”
The other woman looked at her with sympathy, which was a thing that irritated Olivia immensely. She didn't need sympathy, she didn't need people who told her how sorry they were. How could they know how she felt? How could they understand the sense of disillusionment, of failure she felt? How could their solidarity help her? She had lost the love of her life, and she had realized at the same time that she had not been the love of HIS life, that he had cheated her all the time… The thing she desired most at that moment was to go to a place where nobody knew what had happened to her and looked at her with those compassionate eyes…
“My name is Anna, Madam. I am sure Daisy and her grandmother understand what you are going through, also because they are experiencing the same disillusionment and bewilderment.”
She wanted to reply that she, only SHE had the right to be disillusioned and to feel betrayed, but she stopped in time, and instead she said:
“Do you know how I can reach Daisy? Rachel would like to meet her, and I want to apologize personally. Do you have her mobile number?”
Anna looked at her for a few moments.
“I am sorry, but I don’t have Daisy's phone number, because I am a friend of her grandmother, and we usually call each other from our home phones. I will ask her when she comes back. You can call the Trattoria and ask to talk to her during lunch time, because she is working here at the moment…”
Olivia didn't believe that Anna didn't have Daisy’s mobile phone, but she decided not to insist.
“I am sorry if I have disturbed you. I will come back when the Trattoria is open, so that I can talk to Daisy.”
“That’s a good idea. Why don’t you have lunch here one day? I would be happy to have you and your daughter as my guests.”
“That’s very kind of you. I will let you know…”
She left, thinking of a way to intercept Daisy, but she had to talk to her when she was alone, and Olivia thought that this would be difficult.
***
Rosary Police Station, 3 pm
Neil looked at the caller ID, and he answered immediately:
“Hi, Anna. How are you?” Anna couldn't explain how the warm calm voice of the Inspector made her feel immediately at ease. She missed so much calling her son when she was in a moment of doubt, but Neil was always so kind, he never told her he didn't have time.
“Hi, Neil. I am fine, and you?”
“I am ok, Anna. Do you need anything?”
“No, thanks, but I wanted to tell you that a few minutes ago I received the visit of Daisy’s father’s wife, Olivia.”
Neil was immediately alert. He asked:
“Why did she come to you?”
“She wanted to ask me if I had Daisy's mobile phone number, because she said she wanted to apologize for her behavior yesterday.”
“Did you give it to her?”
“Of course not, Neil, also because I wondered why she came here. How did she know Daisy and Louise are staying at my home?”
“We haven't told her, that's for sure.”
“And yesterday night Louise and Daisy were upset, because, when they went to the hospital, Rachel and her grandfather were kind to them, but then Olivia arrived, and she practically threw them out, and she was very rude. So they certainly didn't have time to talk about the Trattoria.”
“I don't like that woman's behavior, Anna. I understand her disillusionment but … she is nervous, and she resents talking to us. You did the right thing by not giving her the number, and thanks for calling me. Are Daisy and Louise with you?”
“They had an appointment with the notary to discuss the situation, and they haven't come back yet. What shall I tell them?”
“Tell Daisy exactly what happened. Warn her to be careful, because I don't know what Olivia intends to do, but she is certainly up to something, and I don't believe she really wants to apologize.”
“Daisy tried to justify Olivia yesterday night, saying that it must be a terrible moment for her, and you know that Daisy tends to blame herself for everything. I am worried, Neil.”
“I am worried, too. Try to convince her not to talk to Olivia, and not to talk to her when they are alone.”
“I will do that…” She hesitated a moment, and then she said: “It was so pleasant last Sunday, and Mario and Giulia were really impressed by Billy’s story.”
“Billy has been able to become a good policeman and a trustworthy man, and I am proud of him, because seven years with a father like his could have left him angry and aggressive. You can trust him as much as you trust me, believe me.”
“Oh, I do. And you have gained a lot of prayers from my grandchildren, who reserve a special one for you every night.”
“I like that, and we always need assistance from above. We had a good time, too. Take care, Anna…”
“I hope to see you soon, Neil. Be careful.”
***
Rosary Police Station 5 pm
Neil was coming back from the training center with Billy and Bob, when Steve summoned him upstairs with a text message. He went to the first floor, and Steve said:
“I have done what you asked me. In the park behind Murray's block of flats there are no cameras.” Neil’s disappointment was visible on his face, but Steve went on:
“I watched the video footage from the cameras of the gas station from the beginning, and there is something I would like you to see.”
Neil approached the large screen at the far end of the room, where the agents could project the images from their computer. Bob and Billy were coming into the room at that moment, and they came nearer. The video was not of good quality, but they could see a car that stopped, a woman who got out of the vehicle and turned to look at the camera. The woman was clearly recognizable as Olivia Clancy, and the car was hers. Then she took a few steps, leaving the car door open, and she looked around, as if to inspect the place. Finally she took another look at the camera, she got into the car and she drove away.
Neil watched intently, then he looked at the time that was written on the right bottom corner: 10:30 am.
Steve said:
“I watched the video in the other direction, but she didn't come back from the same road, so maybe she found the other way.”
“What was she doing at that time?” Billy wondered. “She can’t have waited the whole day…”
Neil reflected for a few moments, then he said:
“Maybe she was inspecting the place, and she was looking for the best way to reach the building. The only hope is that someone near that small park behind Murray's apartment has seen her or her car.”
Bob asked:
“Are you convinced she killed her husband, Neil?”
Neil nodded without speaking, then he told Bob and Billy:
“Please, can you two go to that park and ask around if anyone has seen Olivia? Take a photo with you… Maybe we are lucky, because for the time being, we can’t pin the murder on her, and, if we can’t call her in to interrogate her, we can’t stop her from doing whatever she intends to do, because I am sure she has a plan.”
Bob and Billy took their jackets, and they were leaving, when Neil’s mobile phone rang. He signaled to them to wait, and he answered. The agents could hear both sides of the conversation.
“Hello, Mr. Clancy, how are you? Your maid told me that you didn't feel well this morning.”
The voice at the other end of the line betrayed stress, concern, but also weariness and sadness. The noises in the background revealed that he was in the hospital.
“Hello, inspector. Yes, last night I didn’t feel well, and this morning I had a strong headache, but now I am fine. Did you want to ask me something?”
“Yes, sir. I am sorry, because this will not sound reassuring, but I would like to know if your daughter has withdrawn a large amount of money from her bank account in the last few days.” Neil was afraid of the man’s reaction to his question, because it was obvious that the police suspected his daughter of something, but the old man surprised him by answering:
“I will check her account, Inspector…” He stopped for a few moments, then the four policemen heard a deep sigh, and Clancy resumed:
“I would have called you, Inspector, because one of the reasons I couldn't sleep tonight was that I lied to you yesterday.” Neil exchanged a glance with his colleagues, and he waited without urging the man to go on, because he understood that Mr. Clancy was trying to tell them something that was painful and difficult for him.
“I told you that my daughter was at the hospital all day last Sunday. It was not true, Inspector, I am sorry. She left the hospital in the morning, saying that she wanted to go to church, which is strange, because she is not a religious person. Then at about four in the afternoon she went away without saying a word, and she came back after seven…” Another painful pause.
“I am sorry, Inspector. When she came back she wasn't agitated, and she said she needed to take a walk to relax and to think. I believed her, also because the last weeks have been a nightmare. I see that even Rachel is worried, and yesterday evening the other daughter of my son-in-law came with her grandmother to visit Rachel. They were kind, and we were talking peacefully, when Olivia came into the room and treated them so badly and so rudely. What is happening to my daughter, Inspector? How can I help her?”
Neil’s heart went to that poor old man, who was watching his small family ruined by the selfishness of a man he had trusted.
He answered, choosing his words carefully:
“Mr. Clancy, your daughter is having difficulties accepting what your son-in-law has done to her. What is worrying us is that she is trying to blame Daisy, Murray's second daughter, for everything.”
Clancy interrupted him:
“Rachel and I talked to her about it yesterday night, after she had told those poor women to leave. She said she understood that she was behaving irrationally. Rachel implored her to calm down, to focus her attention on her and on me, and she promised to do so, but then my granddaughter has just told me that she has scarcely seen her today, we can't reach her on the phone most of the time… I am really scared, Inspector.”
Bob and Billy left, and Neil told Clancy:
“Try to talk to her. Is she with you now?”
“Yes, she is in Rachel’s room.”
“Try to keep her with you at all times. If she leaves, offer to go with her. She mustn't be left alone, because she is suffering, and I am afraid she can't control her emotions. Look into her account and let me know, please.”
“Ok, Inspector, thanks…”
Neil looked out of the window for a few moments absorbed in his thoughts. Steve asked him:
“Can we arrest her, now that her father has admitted she was not at the hospital at the time of the murder?”
Neil turned to his colleague, and he shook his head:
“We need more evidence, I am afraid: a witness, a withdrawal of money from the bank. That could be a sufficient reason to call her in for questioning, but, for the time being, we have to hope she will be able to keep her emotions in check.”
***
Rosary, Bob’s diner, 7 pm
Lisa and Denise had been able to convince Daisy to go out with them for a few hours. They were sitting in a booth of the diner on the sea promenade, not far from Anna's Trattoria. The diner was the favorite place of many young people in town, because the food was good and cheap, and Bob, the owner, sometimes organized live music evenings or events to attract his customers.
“Daisy, how is your experience at the Trattoria?” Lisa asked. They had promised not to talk about Daisy’s father, at least for one night.
“Oh, I like working with Anna and Bruno. Bruno is so funny, and he knows a lot of recipes…” She looked out of the window, and Lisa and Denise exchanged a glance , because they could see that it was difficult to distract their friend from her worries and her sadness.
Denise put a hand on Daisy’s arm, and she said softly:
“Daisy, don't worry. One way or the other, you will be able to go on with your studies…”
Daisy was shaking her head, and she murmured:
“No, I can’t ask my grandmother to support me.”
“But you can work at Anna's Trattoria on the weekends and study during the week.” Lisa said with force. “Come on, Daisy. You can’t stop dreaming of becoming a chef. We are going to help you, and I am sure that Billy, Bob and Neil will find a way, maybe they know of scholarships…”
Lisa saw that Daisy’s eyes widened, and she fixed her gaze on someone who had just walked through the door. She turned and saw a beautiful woman in her forties who looked around for a few moments, and then walked towards them. She exchanged a worried glance with Denise, because Daisy seemed on the verge of feeling sick.
The woman stopped at their booth, and she turned to Daisy.
“Hello. I think your name is Daisy.”
Daisy nodded shyly, and the woman went on:
“I am here to have something to eat, but I saw you and … I hope I don’t disturb you.”
Lisa reflected that what the woman had just said was not true, because she had evidently entered the diner to look for someone, not to find an empty booth and have dinner.
Daisy simply waited for the woman to go on.
“I know that yesterday I treated you and your grandmother impolitely, and I wanted to apologize.”
Now Denise and Lisa knew who the woman was, because Daisy had told them about the visit to the hospital.
“Don’t worry, Madam.” Daisy said kindly, “I can understand what you are going through.”
“My daughter Rachel would like to meet you… Maybe if you gave me your phone number, I could give it to her, so she can get in contact with you.”
Lisa didn't know why, but something about the woman in front of her didn't seem right. But, she reflected, giving her phone number couldn't hurt Daisy…
Daisy seemed to hesitate, and the woman insisted:
“My daughter will be released from the hospital tomorrow or the following day, and she would like to invite you to our home. I think it would be a good idea if you got to know each other better …”
Daisy took out her mobile phone and showed the woman her number, without saying a word. When Olivia had copied the number on her mobile phone, Daisy said:
“Say hello to your daughter for me… I hope she will be fine soon.”
“Of course. Have a pleasant evening.”
And she went out of the diner.
Denise asked sarcastically:
“Didn't she want to eat something?” she turned to her friend and asked worriedly:
“Are you sure you did the right thing, giving her your mobile number?”
Daisy answered musingly:
“I would like to meet Rachel. She is my stepsister, after all. And I don’t think she can hurt me by calling me on the phone. If she says something rude, I will disconnect the call immediately. Anna told me that that woman,” she pointed to the door, “went to the Trattoria this afternoon. She wanted to apologise, and she asked for my phone number. Anna didn't give it to her, and she tried to warn me, but … I don't see the problem in talking to the other family of my father…”
Lisa and Denise exchanged a glance, and Lisa couldn't help feeling worried. Has her friend done the right thing, if even Anna had tried to warn her? She prayed that Daisy would be cautious…
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