Free The Careless Word (#8 - The Craig Crime Series) by Catriona King Page B

want an answer.”
    Craig signalled Davy to continue. “Fintan is at Queen’s studying P.P.E.; Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He’s just finished his s…second year. Did OK in his exams.”
    Annette interrupted. “What does he do apart from study?”
    “Like attending ‘bomb-making for beginners’, you mean?”
    Liam guffawed loudly. “Nice one, son.”
    Annette shot Davy a ‘don’t be cheeky’ look. “No, I didn’t. I meant most university students join societies and clubs. What did Delaney join?”
    Davy smiled, conceding. “You’re right. He’s in the drama s…society and chess club.”
    Craig interrupted. “Not much terrorist activity going on there. OK, Davy, dig into his politics and his family’s. Include all family members and do a wide search for gang connections and terrorist offences. You know the drill.” Craig checked the time and stood-up. “Right. There’s plenty for everyone to do and we have two more dead victims still to I.D. John’s working on that. Liam, go and see Sarah Robinson. Annette, can you visit Barry McGovern’s wife, please. Davy, can you and Liam pull any traffic cameras and CCTV around the shop for the hours before and after the blast. I’m going to the army base and then onto the lab.”
    He swung round to see Nicky sitting with her pen and notepad poised. “Nick, can you arrange for Fintan Delaney’s parents to be brought to the relatives’ room downstairs for about three p.m., or I can meet them at the hospital if they prefer.” He headed for his office to lift his jacket. “And get Major James’ office on the phone and say that I’m on my way to the base. I should be there by ten o’clock.”
    Suddenly Craig felt someone staring at him and he turned to see the small group still in place.
    “Did I forget something?”
    Annette beckoned him back and Nicky joined them. Their faces were solemn and Craig wondered what he’d done wrong.
    Annette spoke first. “Sir, we have something every important to ask you and your reply is a matter of life and death.”
    Craig’s eyes widened and for a moment he was worried, then he saw Nicky giggle and he knew what was coming next. “You want to know what to get John and Natalie as a wedding present.”
    Craig shook his head and headed for the double-doors. “I have absolutely no idea. What John likes Natalie will hate and vice versa, so the best of luck with that.”

Chapter Seven
     
    10 a.m.
     
    The British Army base was set high in the Craigantlet Hills, near the small town of Holywood, home to Tom and Mirella Craig. The setting was picturesque, overlooking countryside whose hills gave a new meaning to the word ‘rolling’. They pitched and veered unexpectedly at angles that were unfeasibly steep, only to level off suddenly to reveal a green vista that stretched for miles. It was that suddenness that made Craig love the area; he had since done he was a boy. He remembered running up and down the slopes with his gang of friends and playing hide and seek in the long, dry grass. He’d hiked the miles from home just to play there, even though there were flatter spaces closer by; but none of them held the mystery of grass that he was small enough to hide in and the chance of finding a gully that no-one had discovered before.
    But the Army hadn’t chosen the location for its beauty; it had far more practical considerations. The base was positioned far enough from Holywood’s urban build-up to bestow privacy, and high enough above it so that the only neighbours who could have spied on them were the MLAs at Stormont, and even they would have needed an astronomer’s telescope. As Craig drove up the narrow mud track to the reinforced, barbed-wire topped gate he wondered whether what happened there would bear scrutiny any better than what happened in Parliament Buildings would, although undoubtedly it involved younger, fitter men.
    After the theatre of name checking and badge flashing at the small gate-post, the