Free The Doll's House by Louise Phillips Page B

biggest gobshite going.
    ‘All items of value belonging to the victim were intact from what we can see – cash, credit cards, an expensive watch. Everything was left on the victim, with the exception of his wedding ring, a plain gold band. According to Morrison, the indentation on his finger meant it was worn on a consistent basis.’ O’Connor sat down, but continued talking: ‘We’re getting an image of the ring from the insurers. We’vealso picked up a hotel receipt. The receipt is eight months old. Higgins and Clarke are driving to the hotel now. The receipt belonged to a couple signing in under the name of Salmon. The car-registration details given were false, so the name could be as well. The account was paid in cash, unusual enough in this day and age.’ He cleared his throat. ‘All the CCTV footage is currently being compiled. By the next briefing we’ll have most of what’s out there on Jenkins’s last movements.’
    Matthews looked around the room for Harry Robinson. ‘Harry, what have you in on witness statements?’
    ‘We’ve statements from a couple of a dozen people at Gogan’s pub, and a number from the Caldine on Kildare Street. Nothing major coming out of the Gogan’s statements, but the hotel manager in Kildare Street, a Mr Devoy, seems to have a lot of information on the late Keith Jenkins. I’ve filled DI O’Connor in, but I’ll get a typed copy of everything to you within the hour.’
    O’Connor turned to Matthews. ‘I’ll be talking to Mr Devoy. If he likes to talk, I’ll help him by listening. If what the grapevine says about Jenkins’s extra-marital affairs is true, my guess is Mr Devoy will know who the latest models are. The hotel receipt might belong to anyone, but whoever got close to Keith Jenkins in the romance department might give us more information than the family.’
    ‘When are you talking to the family?’ Butler’s tone carried a hint of warning.
    ‘French has been with them from early this morning. He’s covered the preliminaries, but there’s nothing jumping out as yet. It’s still early days.’
    Butler sounded rattled: ‘Keep it nice and easy with them. They have connections everywhere.’
    O’Connor continued, ‘That’s about it for now, except for you, Lynch.’
    The young detective looked up at his superior.
    ‘I’ll need you to fill Kate Pearson in on what we have from here. The rest of you, get out there and get some answers. This unit has a reputation. The word “élite” isn’t simply a label, it’s bloody hard earned.’
    If nothing else, Butler allowed O’Connor to have the last word.

Clodagh
    I tell the taxi driver to let me out at the end of the street. I have no idea what to expect from Gerard Hayden and, walking towards his house, neither do I know what the house of a hypnotist should look like.
    The road itself is narrow, with barely enough space for cars to park on either side. There are small red-brick cottages on both sides, with equally small front gardens. Some look well kept, others are the way I feel: in need of repair. I know the number of the house without having to look at the piece of paper, but I take it out of my bag all the same.
    I hesitate at the low garden gate before entering, standing close enough to read his qualifications on the brass plaque to the side of the panelled black door. It confirms his registration as a hypnotist in Ireland, whatever kind of guarantee that gives me.
    I’m early. If I was still driving I could have sat in the car. Now I regret coming so close to his house: it makes the possibility of changing my mind more difficult. Not wanting to look a complete fool standing there, I reach down to open the gate. It’s not too late. I could still turn and walk away, but the same hand that opened the gate is now pressing the brass bell button.
    I hear carpeted footsteps, the creaking of floorboards, before the door opens and I see Gerard Hayden for the first time.
    Like the house, he is small, and