Free First Death In Dublin City (Thomas Bishop Book 1) by Colm-Christopher Collins Page A

the case?’ Asked Gary.
    ‘May we sit down?’ Asked Tommy.
    ‘Oh, yeah sure. I’m sleeping in the sitting room, so we can’t talk there. Does the kitchen table work?’ Gary gestured towards the general direction of the kitchen.
    ‘The kitchen table will be fine. Is Claire still asleep?’ Asked Tommy.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Well, can you get her?’ Said Tommy, moving into the kitchen and standing by the counter.
    Gary smiled an awkward smile.
    ‘Claire has been using Xanax, she can’t sleep properly without it since Amy’s gone missing.’ He said.
    ‘And she took one recently?’ Asked Tommy.
    ‘Exactly, she won’t be awake for at least three hours.’ Said Gary.
    Tommy sighed. ‘Can you sit down Gary?’
    He sat, only now beginning to worry, while Tommy leaned against the counter and Anne against the kitchen doorframe.
    ‘What is it?’ Gary asked.
    ‘Gary, a body was found in Palmerstown this morning. We believe it’s Amy’s.’ Tommy said, in what he hoped was a sympathetic voice.
    Gary looked at him, stared for several seconds, before he laughed; an awkward laugh that punctured the silent kitchen and painfully echoed against the walls.
    ‘My petal, she’s dead.’ He said, and then it all collapsed. His eyes rolled, his shoulders slumped and his face was awash with tears. His body shook, and soon came sobs. He wailed and wailed and soon began to bang his fists upon the table. Anne made a step towards the father to comfort him, but Tommy shook his head, so she stopped.
    ‘Mr Clancy, Gary.’ Tommy said.
    ‘Huh?’ He said through a choked up voice.
    Tommy was quite uneasy. Of course he had seen reactions like this before when Spreading the Devil’s Gospel, but, truth be told, not from a man. Usually, they would clam up, quiet from the shock. Tommy supposed it was healthy, as a lot of the males who clammed up upon hearing the bad news never opened up again after, at least Gary was already on his way towards some kind of health. Though, from experience, Tommy knew it not to be that pleasant a road at all, grief, and he didn’t envy Gary a thing.
    ‘Do you want us to wait until Claire wakes up and we can tell her ourselves?’ Asked Tommy.
    Gary thought for a minute.
    ‘No, you go. I’ve to call the family over.’ He said.
    ‘We’ll be back in a few hours to go back over the finer details.’ Said Tommy, and taking Anne’s arm steered her and himself out of the house.
    Behind them, like a violent symphony, they heard Gary tear through his kitchen, as pots, plates and presses were flung about the room.
     
    ##
     
     
     
    They hopped into the car, but before Tommy turned on the car, his frustration overcame him. Next thing he knew he was punching the steering wheel, his anger overcoming him, his knuckles stinging.
    ‘Tommy! Tommy!’ Said Anne.
    ‘Fuck this poxy situation.’ Tommy said.
    ‘Look, cool it-’
    ‘Shut up.’ Tommy said.
    ‘Alright so, just drive.’ Anne said.
    The rage within Tommy was poisonous, the anger waiting at his tongue to barb the air.
    ‘I’ve a source I need to check with; might know some witnesses. The body won’t be in the morgue yet, so I say we check in with them first.’
    ‘Whatever.’ Anne said, so Tommy pulled out from the kerb.
    He drove them to the Liffey, the car completely silent. Swinging left, Tommy waited till he reached Heuston Station before crossing to the Northside. At the Courts then he turned right, so as to reach O’Devaney Gardens.
    ‘Stay in the car.’ Tommy said.
    ‘But -’ Anne said.
    ‘Stay, I’ll be out in a few.’ Tommy said.
    O’Devaney Gardens represented a scene replicable in capitals all over Europe. Gangs of kids roamed the grey concrete street with nothing to do until school came around, while their older comrades dreamed of the day they could drop out of school without hassle from the NEWB and become full time drug dealers. Bleak and hopeless, there was nothing of cheer and beauty within O’Devaney Gardens. Where once,