choice but to conduct their investigation without his input. The only witness arrived after the attack had taken place."
"Annabel Morrison.”
“Yes, and from what I’m aware was only able to provide a very limited physical description of the perpetrator."
“So if this crime against Josh is random--and it certainly appears that way, what chance do the investigators have in finding a suspect for the courts to prosecute?"
"These cases are never easy to muddle through. There are entirely too many variables. Random cases rarely see resolution and certainly if the investigation goes too far into the next week or so, chances are any viable, yet undiscovered physical evidence will be lost."
"Thank you Elaine, for that interesting insider scoop on the legal aspects of the Morrison case. Are you available to stick around and take questions from our listeners?"
"Of course."
"Great, well stay tuned and we'll take your calls. You know the show, you know the number! Be back right after this."
24
T he following morning , while the team continued combing through the evidence from the Morrison attack, Reilly was still thinking about the timeline.
They had the 999 dispatch time, but nothing from the other end of the spectrum. The taxi firm the TV station used hadn’t yet come back to Rory with details of the car or driver that had dropped Annabel home after her night out in Ballsbridge.
Reilly reckoned more precise information was needed about what time Annabel had left the pub. ‘About two am’ wasn't good enough as far as she was concerned.
Getting a handle on when the wife actually arrived back at the house would go a long way towards understanding when the attack on her husband had happened.
And more importantly, if there was something off about her story, the timeframe would reveal it.
T he Gate House pub wasn't open at when she arrived at 10.30 am, so she waited in the car and thumbed through her emails.
After about half an hour, Reilly saw a fifty-something heavy-set man opening up, so she got out.
“Hey there," she said, showing her credentials. "I'm with the GFU, are you a manager here?"
“I’m the owner, Paddy Barrett,” he said extending his hand. “Is this about the Morrison thing? I already told those detectives everything.”
“I know that and thank you. But I'm from the GFU, and I just need to ask one or two questions. Hope you don't mind?"
"Forensics? My place isn't a crime scene is it?"
“Of course not, we just need to ascertain a firm timeline in the investigation. Do you have security cameras here?”
“Yep. Gave ‘em to the detectives.”
Good. Seemed the guys were following up on Annabel’s story then.
“Well, do you happen to keep your till receipts? For accounting purposes. I’m looking for Friday night in particular.”
He shrugged. "I might have them--if they're credit card transactions. Cash ones get input each night. Why, what do you need those for?"
“They might be no use at all, but like I said, I just need to follow up."
"Come in," he said, leading her through to the bar. "I was working that night. The TV crowd come in most Fridays, actually. Nothing unusual to report. Same rowdy bunch, blowing off steam after a hard week. You would be too, if you had a job like theirs."
"I'm sure," she said raising an eyebrow. Yep, her job was a picnic compared to the trials of make-up, hair and pieces-to-camera.
He went to the back office behind the bar and rifled through some folders, "Yeah, I have Friday’s receipts. Here it is, they usually set up tab."
Reilly looked it over. Hefty bill--over four hundred quid. Nice tip. Then she snapped her gaze up to the owner. "This receipt was processed just after 1.15 am.”
“Yeah, we don’t have a late license. I know it’s a little bit on the late side, but … well they’re good customers. I usually let them out the back on the quiet. You won’t say anything will you?”
Reilly knew that Irish pub owners routinely
"Annabel Morrison.”
“Yes, and from what I’m aware was only able to provide a very limited physical description of the perpetrator."
“So if this crime against Josh is random--and it certainly appears that way, what chance do the investigators have in finding a suspect for the courts to prosecute?"
"These cases are never easy to muddle through. There are entirely too many variables. Random cases rarely see resolution and certainly if the investigation goes too far into the next week or so, chances are any viable, yet undiscovered physical evidence will be lost."
"Thank you Elaine, for that interesting insider scoop on the legal aspects of the Morrison case. Are you available to stick around and take questions from our listeners?"
"Of course."
"Great, well stay tuned and we'll take your calls. You know the show, you know the number! Be back right after this."
24
T he following morning , while the team continued combing through the evidence from the Morrison attack, Reilly was still thinking about the timeline.
They had the 999 dispatch time, but nothing from the other end of the spectrum. The taxi firm the TV station used hadn’t yet come back to Rory with details of the car or driver that had dropped Annabel home after her night out in Ballsbridge.
Reilly reckoned more precise information was needed about what time Annabel had left the pub. ‘About two am’ wasn't good enough as far as she was concerned.
Getting a handle on when the wife actually arrived back at the house would go a long way towards understanding when the attack on her husband had happened.
And more importantly, if there was something off about her story, the timeframe would reveal it.
T he Gate House pub wasn't open at when she arrived at 10.30 am, so she waited in the car and thumbed through her emails.
After about half an hour, Reilly saw a fifty-something heavy-set man opening up, so she got out.
“Hey there," she said, showing her credentials. "I'm with the GFU, are you a manager here?"
“I’m the owner, Paddy Barrett,” he said extending his hand. “Is this about the Morrison thing? I already told those detectives everything.”
“I know that and thank you. But I'm from the GFU, and I just need to ask one or two questions. Hope you don't mind?"
"Forensics? My place isn't a crime scene is it?"
“Of course not, we just need to ascertain a firm timeline in the investigation. Do you have security cameras here?”
“Yep. Gave ‘em to the detectives.”
Good. Seemed the guys were following up on Annabel’s story then.
“Well, do you happen to keep your till receipts? For accounting purposes. I’m looking for Friday night in particular.”
He shrugged. "I might have them--if they're credit card transactions. Cash ones get input each night. Why, what do you need those for?"
“They might be no use at all, but like I said, I just need to follow up."
"Come in," he said, leading her through to the bar. "I was working that night. The TV crowd come in most Fridays, actually. Nothing unusual to report. Same rowdy bunch, blowing off steam after a hard week. You would be too, if you had a job like theirs."
"I'm sure," she said raising an eyebrow. Yep, her job was a picnic compared to the trials of make-up, hair and pieces-to-camera.
He went to the back office behind the bar and rifled through some folders, "Yeah, I have Friday’s receipts. Here it is, they usually set up tab."
Reilly looked it over. Hefty bill--over four hundred quid. Nice tip. Then she snapped her gaze up to the owner. "This receipt was processed just after 1.15 am.”
“Yeah, we don’t have a late license. I know it’s a little bit on the late side, but … well they’re good customers. I usually let them out the back on the quiet. You won’t say anything will you?”
Reilly knew that Irish pub owners routinely
Similar Books
