Aftermath by Casey Hill Page B

enough reason to check Richard O’Donnell out.

26
     
     
    “ N ice lead ," said Kennedy, as he and Chris made their way to the address listed on Richard O’Donnell’s probation information. “The guy fits the breaking and entering theory at least.”
    “Wonder if he fits Annabel’s description too,” Chris said, deliberately caustic, as they both knew that description was about as generic as you could get. ‘Normal height and weight, dark clothes, and a hoodie,’ could be used to describe the majority of the Dublin male youth population.
    “Well if O’Donnell is our guy, chances are he's already taken off by now,” Kennedy continued. "And if he hasn't, at least we have enough to bring him in for questioning. How many reasons would a guy like that have for smoking in the Morrisons’ garden?"
    In front of the house - a small former corporation three-bed evidently converted into flats, was an older woman out watering flowers. She looked to be in her early sixties, but with good posture and a wry look about her.
    "You the landlady here?" asked Kennedy.
    "Who wants to know?”
    The detectives showed her their badges.
    "Who is it this time?" she said sighing.
    "Richard O'Donnell, we just need to ask him a few questions."
    "That's the new boy, but I haven't seen him."
    “Seen him for a while, or all?”
    “At all. His rent is up to date though and that’s all I care about."
    "Do you mind if we try the buzzer?"
    “If you like, but as I’m sure you know, I can't let you into the flat without a warrant."
    "Of course," Chris said, ever courteous. "Thank you.”

     
    A s expected there was no reply at O’Donnell’s flat.
    "So can you tell us anything more about your tenant?” Chris asked the woman. “How long has Richard O’Donnell been a tenant here?”
    “About a month now I’d say. He signed the lease and everything, but most of that is done through Mountjoy."
    "Do you typically work with the prison services then?"
    She nodded. "Yes, it's me bread and butter. Everyone here has a past. I let them stay for as long as they want, and then they get themselves right and move on. Or they don't. Either way, I get paid. Not by them of course, but by the Social. Better than having to worry about squatters or troublemakers. I don’t see much of them either way.”
    “You don’t live at the house yourself then.”
    “God no, this place is just my pension. I live on the Northside. The house was my sister’s and she left it to me.”
    “So you said you don’t have all that much communication with your tenants?” Chris continued.
    “Suits me down to the ground. These fellas, they just want to hide away in their holes like they're used to. Don't seem to see much daylight. Most of them work small jobs, night shifts and all that. I let them mind their own business. I mind my own too."
    “OK Ms …”
    “Mullins. And it’s Mrs actually.
    “Mrs Mullins. Thanks very much for your time. Here’s my card. If you do happen to see Mr O’Donnell, I’d appreciate it if you could give me a call.”

27
     
     
    " L ook , I'm very sorry for the Morrison thing, I mean really I am, but come on, this is starting to become a circus.”
    "Are you saying that..."
    "No listen, I mean come on. Every radio show. Every news broadcast. How can they possibly satisfy the media's bloodlust?”
    "No, I can't..."
    "You come on here..."
    "Don't interrupt, I'm in the middle of..."
    "It's what people want to know!"
    "Since when do we provide news based upon what people want to know? We're journalists!"
    "A man is attacked in his own home..."
    “In a rich suburb like Killiney Hill. Come on! This is not a public threat! The only reason we're all so interested in this is because his wife has a nice arse!"
    "That is completely unacceptable.”
    "Is it? He's rich, his wife's a babe. That's why they care. It's an episode of Beverly Hills 90210. It's reality television. And the media is feeding it."
    "The media is reporting on a heinous