Deadly Intent by Anna Sweeney Page B

interview. ‘But certainly in business matters, he wasn’t afraid to antagonise people, if he felt he needed to.’
    â€˜A few of the guests at Cnoc Meala told us they sensed some tension between you and your father.’ This was Redmond’s first attempt at a question. ‘If so, what was the cause of that tension?’
    â€˜I’m not sure … That is, I couldn’t say there was anything like that, except maybe …’
    â€˜Except what?’
    â€˜I don’t mean anything big, just that …’ As Redmond watched Fergus, he hoped he hadn’t interjected his supplementary question too quickly. It was important to allow witnesses enough time to add to their initial response, without leading them on. Redmond was very conscious of the inspector listening to him.
    â€˜I’m sure you understand,’ Fergus continued with more assurance, ‘that it’s not always easy to talk to your parent when you’re grown up. That’s all I meant.’
    â€˜Well, perhaps that was the reason you needed to escape from your father’s company on occasions? Fellow guests have also said you went out for a solitary walk on a few of the evenings at Cnoc Meala, is that so?’
    â€˜Yes, but … I didn’t go out that much, and anyway I wasn’t trying to escape, as you put it. I just like to be on my own now and then, that’s all.’
    â€˜Did you meet up with anyone else while you were out on these walks? Another guest from the house, for example?’
    â€˜I’m sure I talked to whoever I met on my way, but …’ Fergus started fidgeting again, picking at the cuffs of his shirtsleeves. ‘I can’t remember exactly … I met a few people when I went out, but I’d no arrangement to meet anyone, if that’s what you mean.’
    â€˜And suppose it’s true that Oscar was attracted to a woman he met on holiday here?’ Redmond tried hard to hold onto Fergus’s eyes. It was difficult to listen fully to his answers while thinking of the most productive follow-up questions. ‘I wonder did you feel obliged to stay out of his way for that reason?’
    â€˜What do you mean, obliged …?’
    â€˜Did your father make it clear that he wanted some private space too?’
    â€˜No, that wouldn’t be … My father and I didn’t really talk about things like that.’
    â€˜I think it’s fair to say that he had a certain reputation, all the same? A reputation for attracting women, that is to say? It’s been reported over the years that he had a series of relationships since his separation from your mother?’
    Fergus looked out the window and Redmond tried not to step into the silence as he had earlier. This must be the art of questioning, he thought, to recognize when to make a reluctant witness sweat, or to give him just enough breathing space to utter the unsayable sentences.
    After a long moment, he decided to add to the pressure on Fergus. ‘We’ve heard from colleagues of Oscar’s that at least two of his women employees left their jobs without notice, following rumours of a sexual relationship in each case. So anything you can tell us about his patterns of behaviour, or about particular relationships, could be crucial to the investigation.’
    â€˜We understand this is difficult for you,’ said O’Kelleher after another pause. ‘But we need to know who had cause to be angry with Oscar, or jealous of him, or to have some other motive to kill him.’
    Fergus looked from one to the other. ‘I know all that and I’m trying to think of what I can tell you. Really, it’s just that … I never asked him about, you know, other women in his life. I preferred not to know the details, can’t you understand that?’
    Redmond tried not to feel impatient. However difficult it was for Fergus, at least he had not insisted on the presence of a