Murder in Ballyhasset (16 page)

The next day, Libby contacted Mick Doody. After driving to his office to give him the news, she marched past his secretary. He was sitting at his desk pouring over a pile of files when she walked into his room. He looked up in surprise.

Noticing his shirt was creased and his bloodshot eyes, she announced that the police had arrested his wife's killer.

Mick jerked his head in surprise. 'What's this madman's name?'

'Brendan Sullivan. His wife was a patient of Kathleen's. She died during labour.'

Mick stared at her in confusion. 'Why on earth did he kill Kathleen?' He stopped and scratched his chin. 'Wait a minute, did this fella blame Kathleen?'

Libby sighed. 'That's right, he blamed her for not operating soon enough.'

Mick sank back in the chair. 'Oh, I see. Kathleen never told me anything about this man's wife, or that she died.' He paused. 'I knew there was some reason why she changed jobs, why she stopped delivering babies. She liked that work better than the gynaecology work, I know.'

Libby nodded. 'Kathleen's boss said they refused to renew her contract in the Bons Secours, after Brendan's wife died.'

He leaned forward in the chair. 'I see. And did Kathleen make a mistake?'

'Well, she could have operated sooner,' said Libby quietly, 'so Doctor Henry says. He was Kathleen's boss; he's one of the senior obstetricians at the Bon Secours. However, Brendan's wife probably would have died anyway, the poor woman had a clotting disorder.'

Mick's eyes narrowed. 'Kathleen worked so hard. It's ironic she lost her life over her job. Why didn't she confide in me? I would have watched that madman Brendan.'

Libby felt sorry for him. 'Don't blame yourself. No one could ever have predicted Brendan would do that.'

'I hope that evil bastard gets what's coming to him.'

Libby added, 'He will; he's locked up in jail now. He killed Pamela, the young doctor who worked with Kathleen as well, you know.'

Mick startled. 'I thought she drowned herself.'

Libby hesitated as she remembered Brendan's gruesome confession. 'No, he drugged Pamela, and held her under the water till she died.'

He twisted his face. 'What on earth for?'

'She knew about Kathleen treating his wife, she guessed Brendan had killed Kathleen.'

He sighed and stood up, he went over to the window and looked out, with his back to Libby, for a moment. Then he turned to face her again. 'Thanks for telling me all this, the police haven't told me anything yet.'

She felt it was time to leave. 'Will you be alright?'

Mick Doody gave her a faint smile. 'Yes, I'm fine Libby, just a bit dazed. At least I know everything now.'

***

Libby met Conor in the Green Lemon later that day. Conor ordered two pints of beer for himself and Libby. She decided not to beat around the bush, and told him straight out that Brendan Sullivan had killed Pamela.

Conor looked at her in confusion. 'What do you mean? I thought...' He stopped and frowned. 'I thought Pamela drowned herself.'

Libby said, 'No, she was murdered.'

Conor's face grew pale. 'You're saying my friend Brendan killed Pamela. Why?'

'Pamela knew he killed Kathleen,' she replied.

Conor nearly fell off the chair. 'Kathleen, her boss? So Brendan killed her as well?'

'Yes, it was him all along. He smothered poor Kathleen after his wife died in labour.'

Conor said slowly, 'I know Brendan's wife died. He never told me Dr Lynch was his wife's doctor. So that's why he killed her.' Conor stopped, and stared at Libby. 'He blamed Kathleen for his wife's death. But what did that have to do with Pamela?' He frowned. 'I'm not following this.'

Libby replied, 'Pamela tackled Brendan about it and he killed her to stop her telling on him. He confessed this to me.'

Conor said slowly, 'Pamela could have told me all this. I knew she was worrying about something. She probably thought no one would believe her. Poor Pamela.' He sighed, and tears welled in his eyes. 'And the baby, was Pamela ever even pregnant?'

'She was,' said Libby, 'she told you that before she died. It was just early on, but the pathologist spotted it. Don't you remember her telling you all this?'

'Oh yes, I'm not thinking straight. The shock of it all. Brendan was my best friend.' He paused. 'Brendan killed Pamela, and he killed Dr Lynch.' Conor's hands were trembling. He took out his cigarettes and lit one. 'I can't get my head around this.' He stopped, and Libby waited for him to continue. 'Where is Brendan now?'

'In jail,' she answered. 'The police arrested him two days ago. He confessed when he was at the station, so he was charged with the two murders.'

'I don't know why he did this to me, his best friend,' Conor said. 'Why kill Pamela? He even liked her.' Conor was silent again. Libby knew he was trying to digest the facts, trying to make sense of what Brendan did. He said suddenly, 'Brendan must have written the suicide note.'

She nodded.

Conor's eyes flashed, and he banged the table with his fist. Libby could see he had finally understood the extent of Brendan's evil. 'The sneaky rat. He must have planned to kill Pamela, all along. It wasn't just the heat of the moment, a split-second decision. He's a cold-blooded murderer. Wait till I get him...'

She replied, 'Did you not hear me? He's in jail.'

Conor said quietly, 'Oh yes.' He added, 'At the end of the day that's not much comfort to me. It won't bring Pamela back.'

Finbar Meenan called Libby into his office the next morning and then softly closed the door. She stood in front of him, wondering what he was going to say.

'I've got some bad news, I'm afraid,' he said and sat at his desk. 'Or good news, depending on how you want to look at it. You'd better sit down.' She took a seat. Libby noticed he seemed low in spirits.

'Brendan Sullivan managed to poison himself last night in his police cell,' Finbar said. 'He used a cyanide pill.' Libby's eyes opened wide. She sank into the chair. She felt shocked, then relieved, but she felt no pity for him. Brendan was a tormented soul, he's better off dead, she thought.

'Sergeant Sean Maguire rang me this morning. The Garda on duty last night found Brendan dead when he did a routine check around nine pm.'

'Brendan never got over the tragedy of his wife's death,' Libby said quietly. 'And he made innocent people like Pamela suffer. He deserved to die.' She paused. 'I felt sorry for him at first about his wife dying, but when I heard he killed three people, I lost all sympathy for him.'

Finbar nodded. 'He was a dangerous killer, he killed that nursing home owner before his wife ever died.'

'And he was a terrible sneak,' added Libby. 'He helped in the church. He read out the prayers at Pamela's funeral. He pretended to be a good friend to Conor. He had everyone fooled.'

'There will be an internal police investigation into that of course,' Finbar added.

'Into what?' asked Libby.

He answered her impatiently, 'Into how Brendan managed to get his hands on cyanide while he was locked up.'

Libby sighed. 'He must have hidden the poison on himself the time he was arrested. It's lucky for us all he managed to kill himself, anyway.'

'Yeah,' Finbar said, 'the officers searched him thoroughly before he went into the cell. They found nothing, Sean told me.'

The two of them remained silent for a while. 'Well, we'll be getting Mr Doody's cheque soon,' said Libby. 'That should keep you happy.'

'Good to hear.' Finbar smiled.

.

***

Later that day, the two female investigators went for a stroll along the east pier of Ballyhasset Harbour.

They stood still for a while, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

In the distance, a trawler stood. Seagulls flew overhead, clamouring for pieces of dead fish.

Conor caught up with them. 'Hi ladies, I want to thank you for all your help.'

That's very kind of you.' Libby was silent for a moment and then added quietly, 'Brendan's dead now, anyway. He killed himself in his cell last night.'

Conor stared at her, his mouth wide open. 'Oh, wow.' He stood immobile for a while. His face turned pale.

Libby waited for him to speak, feeling sorry for him.

He said finally, 'I'm not sorry for Brendan, even though he was a good friend. I can't be, not after what he did to Pamela.'

'I completely understand,' replied Libby.

'I must go,' he said. His eyes had a haunted look. 'I'm in a rush. Things to do...'

The two women gazed at Conor's narrow frame slipping away, his shoulders hunched. His fine blond hair was flying in the wind.

They walked along in silence. 'How's your son getting on?' Dawn asked. 'Still thinking of becoming a doctor?'

'Yes, but he's torn between it and becoming a vet. Raman brought him around the hospital a few times. On the last visit, he showed Andrew the mortuary.' Libby grinned. 'I think the dead bodies put him off the career for good.'

'I'm going back to work as a nurse,' said Dawn. 'There's a vacancy for a theatre nurse in St Gabriel's Hospital, I'm going to apply for that.'

Libby said, 'Did all that travelling around the hospital bring back fond memories for you?'

Dawn nodded. 'I miss working in the theatre. And the crowd at St Gabriel's are really nice. I like Raman, Shane and Gina. I'd love to work with them.'

'So you're not going to become a private detective, after all. I'll be sorry to lose you.'

'Finbar won't be sorry.' Dawn laughed. 'No, I think nursing suits me better. Gina is staying on at St Gabriel's. She's promised to help me get back into the swing of things.'

'The council has decided not to alter Seapoint Promenade,' Libby said, as they passed by a couple of bright-green fishing boats moored in the water below them. 'Mick Doody rang me earlier today.'

'The whole harbour is fine the way it is,' Dawn replied.

'I love it here, living so near the sea,' added Libby. 'You can't beat this fresh air.' She looked towards the calm blue waters, wishing she could spend all day here on the pier. The seagulls flew nearer to her, calling to each other. Then she and Dawn turned and walked slowly back towards their office.

Murder in Ballyhasset

Copyright © 2012 by Noreen Mayer

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