Chapter Fifteen
Taking her leave from the gruesome crime scene, Lassi hurried up the path toward town. She sorely needed three things. One, to get some space from the man who kept drawing her into moral conflict, no matter how pleasurable. Two, to get some fecking food to feed her growling stomach. And, three, to seek out Liam and get a sense of what kind of head space he occupied. He and Ailis had flirted at the wake, although it had come across as snippy repartee. Maybe there was a connection to the murders to be unearthed.
To the Laughing Rat I go.
As usual, the clouds afforded no mercy from their heavy, gloomy presence. They seemed to press on her head, her body, her soul, grinding her into the earth. She tugged her coat around her, but a chill went through her bones. Will I even recognize sunshine if I see it again?
Hustling along the sidewalk, she passed the tidy homes, held captive by the dark clouds. She pictured their painted doors being ten times more vivid if only sunlight shone on them.
She kept her head down as she passed the Riordan’s, hoping Siobhan was doing all right but not wanting to see for herself. When she arrived at the pub, she tugged open the blue doors, wiped her feet, and entered the dim, depressing environment. Pubs are supposed to be lively places of sociability, not misery clubs.
The same unhappy denizens sat at their usual tables, hanging over their Guinness like vultures.
She strode toward the bar, noting no signs of Aengus.
Liam dragged his feet as he made his way from the kitchen. His face had a frown threatening to drip on the floor. He brightened ever so slightly at seeing her.
“Lassi,” he said. The brightness faded from his face as quickly as it had appeared.
“Liam,” Lassi said. She settled on a bar stool. “I’d like some fish and chips, please.”
He placed his hands on the bar top like his body weighed ten tons and it was all he could do to stay upright. “Okay. Penny’s out and about. I’ll have to do it.”
He started to turn away when Lassi quickly interjected, “No big rush. Talk to me for a moment.”
“What do you want to talk about?” His voice sounded tired, like he’d never slept in his life.
“Oh, gosh,” she said, feigning innocence. “Everything.” She swished her hand in the air. “I was wondering how you’re doing, what with the latest investigation and all. You and Ailis—weren’t you close?” She twirled a lock of hair around her finger.
His gaze darted about like dancing fireflies. “She lived in town. I live in town. It’s hard not to know people who live in the same town.”
“Uh huh,” she said. “True.” Now that’s a hedging answer. “Isn’t it weird to think that, while we were in our homes, Ailis was being murdered?”
“Yeah.” Liam picked up a white cloth and scrubbed—didn’t merely wipe—the bar top.
Lassi’s eyes narrowed. Signs of guilt? “Is there a stain?”
“What?” Liam looked at her. Looked at the cleaning cloth in his hands. “No.” He tossed the cloth behind the bar. “This whole thing has me all narky to be sure.”
“You seem more depressed than cranky.” Lassi twirled her butt back and forth on the swiveling stool.
He blew out a breath and pushed back the few hairs on his head. “This thing’s a misery. Ailis texted me last night. She asked if it was me at the door because she kept hearing someone banging and banging and banging the front door like there was a fire or something.”
His gaze grew unfocused.
“The way you did this morning.”
“What?” He reined in his attention and focused it on her.
“You whacked my door like the dead had risen.” She tried to soften her annoyed tone. “I mean, who wouldn’t be knocking down the door of someone they barely knew to tell them about a murder?”
He flinched.
Try again, girl. She plastered on a sweet smile. “It’s, uh...it’s understandable.”
She bit her tongue before any more snark sneaked out.
Liam’s eyebrows stitched together. “She said she kept going to the door but no one was there. I asked her if the wind made a noise such as that. She said, no.” He hung his head. “I could have prevented it from happening. The murder, I mean. If only I’d have given a crap about what she told me. Instead, I asked her why she thought I’d be pulling a prank such as that on her.”
“And what did she say to that? Did she have a reason to think you, a mere friend, was pissed at her?” She aimed for a more detective sounding voice.
He made that same flickering firefly movement with his eyes. “I don’t think so,” he said, his gaze trained behind the bar. “I don’t know what she meant by it.”
Lassi drummed the counter with her fingers. He sure seems to have fishy answers. Maybe he did it. Maybe he was at the rectory talking to Cillian and... Her train of thought turned a sharp right, heading toward images of sucking Cillian, and kissing him, and... Get back to the present. “I think you do know what she meant by it.”
Anger flashed across his face in sharp-edged lines. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re not from these parts.” He shook his head. “I’d best be fixing your food.”
“All I’m saying is, I could come up with a better alibi than that. I think you’re hiding something.” Well, no. I didn’t come up with a good alibi. Cillian and I undoubtedly made ourselves look shady over the past two days, but whatever.
Liam picked up a gleaming knife from behind the bar.
Lassi shrank back.
Then, he fished for something Lassi couldn’t see behind the counter.
She glanced behind her, at the door. Should I make a run for it?
He plunked a lemon on a wooden cutting board and began making clean, deft slices.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice coming out shakier than she wished.
“I’m slicing lemons, what does it look like?”
“Aren’t you going to go make my food?” She gripped the edge of the bar.
“I thought while I was out here, I’d slice lemons for your fish. What with you all chatty-like and all.” He waved the blade between them. “I’m starting to think you like to meddle in the business of others. Like when you showed up all nursey-nursey to care for poor Siobhan’s wee child.” He made circles in the air with the knife.
“It’s what I do. I’m a nurse who cares for the young ones.” She eyed his arm. Can I grasp it and stop the circles without getting stabbed? “And poor Siobhan was in no shape to care for little Paulie.”
Liam stabbed the cutting board with the tip of the blade, leaving it to wobble and shake in the wood, like a trembling tree. “What do you know about Siobhan? Nothing.”
His eyes filled with tears. He swept the lemons into a small, plastic container.
He’s sure acting all twitchy and weird. It looks like guilt to me. Maybe he wants Siobhan, now, too. Or, it could be some underlying, undiagnosed mental illness shite. Villages are rife with this stuff because no one wants to be known as the crazy person in a place where your business concerns every-fecking-body. Gears began clicking and whirling in Lassi’s mind. A thought struck her right between the eyes. He killed Dylan and Ailis because they were in the way of him getting busy with Siobhan. Her revelation shook her through and through. She put her leg out to keep from falling off the bar stool.
“What’s the matter with you?” He pointed to her leg.
“Leg cramp. They happen from time to time.” Sweat dripped along her temples.
Liam glowered. “Leg cramps in someone such as yourself?”
“What does that mean?”
He seized the knife, tugged it free from the wood, and pointed it at her. “It means you look healthy and fit.”
“Uh, thank you.” Her skin iced with fear. If Ailis and Dylan were in the way, then Penny is certainly in the way. Fecking hell. Someone needs to warn Penny. She bolted to her feet. “I’ll be back later for my food.” She fished in her pocket and threw some bills on the counter. “I remembered something I forgot.” She turned and dashed toward the door.
“You’ve got change coming,” he called out to her.
She lifted her hand over her head. “Keep it. It’s a tip.” I’ve got to find Penny. Maybe she’s with Siobhan.
She threw open the door and nearly collided with Penny.
“Good heavens,” Penny said, clutching her bosom.
“Penny! You’re precisely who I was going out to find.” She made a side-eyed glance.
Liam stood at the bar, glaring in her direction.
She ushered Penny out the door, letting it close behind her.
“Can’t it wait to go inside? It’s cold out here.” Penny’s attention drifted overhead, toward the clouds. She wrapped her roomy yellow raincoat around herself.
“That’s just it. I figured you’d be tired and all from caring for little Paul.” Lassi’s words tumbled out like rushing water. “You’ve been doing so much for everyone, I thought you’d want to sit down with a cup of tea. I know I could sure use one.”
“Why, that’s a great idea.” Penny smiled.
Lassi’s mouth, which had been set to overdrive, slammed shut. Her lips stayed glued for a few seconds, before she said, “It is?”
“Why, yes. I accept. Shall we step into the pub?”
“No! Somewhere else. Somewhere private where we can have girl talk.” She’s going to think I’m an idiot. She took Penny’s elbow and began guiding her away from the pub.
“I’m sure we can find just the place,” Penny said. “There’s a nice tea shop around the corner.”
“Is there?”
“Yes. It’s got nice ambiance. Then again, I always enjoyed tea at Roberta’s.”
“You did? I thought no one liked her.”
“Oh, she had her prickles,” Penny said. “But who doesn’t? Let’s head to the cottage.”
“All right, then.” Lassi relaxed and turned the corner, still guiding Penny. She nearly bumped into Inspector Conway. “Oh!” Her hands flew in front of her to stop the collision.
“In a hurry?” he asked. Brown stood at his side.
“No, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“I see.” His ferret-like eyes glared at her.
Lassi’s stomach did a few twists.
Brown added to the discomfort with a scowl of her own. “We’d like to ask you a question.”
“Again? I’ve had enough of the questions, if you don’t mind.” She wanted to throw back her head and howl.
“It’s about the pub. Is the food decent? We’re famished and are looking for a good place to get lunch.”
“Oh.” Heat crawled up her neck. “The pub. It’s fine.” She side-eyed Penny. “It’s tasty, actually. Penny, here, is the cook.”
“Are you now?” Brown asked.
“Yes. Except for this moment. You’ll have Liam’s cooking if you go now.”
“I see.” Brown glanced at Conway.
He nodded imperceptibly.
“Are you thinking Liam’s a suspect?” Lassi blurted, wishing she could call the words back to her mouth. Again, she let her gaze slid toward Penny. “Not that he...”
Penny interrupted her. “The Garda have to do their job, Miss Finn.”
What does she mean? Does she think he’s a suspect, too? Is she fearful for her life? She directed her attention back to the Inspectors. “So, you suspect him of murder but you trust him to make your lunch?” she said, trying to make a joke. “Aren’t you afraid he’s going to poison you if he thinks you think he’s guilty?”
She let out a chuckle that sounded more like a squeak.
Brown, Conway, and Penny stared at her as if she’d lost her mind.
Then, Conway laughed. The laugh sounded like a donkey’s bray with a creepy edge. “I’m not worried. Spree killers rarely change tactics mid-rampage.”
“Thanks for your help,” Brown added, smiling smugly.
“With?” Lassi stood dumbfounded, trying to process what Conway said.
“Lunch. You said it’s all right. The food. At the Laughing Rat.”
“Oh, right. The food. Fish and chips are tasty.” She gave a thumbs-up.
As they pair strode away, Penny said, “Shall we?”
She smiled at Lassi.
“Shall we what?” Lassi said, her mind churning.
“Tea. You said you wanted tea.”
“Oh yes, of course. Lead the way.”
Penny lumbered down the street.
Lassi’s feet grew roots. She rubbed her palms vigorously up and down her arms. He said mid-rampage. That means he is expecting more murders. She set her jaw and tromped after Penny. Not if I can help it. I’m going to find a way to end this rampage once and for all.