Chapter 74
McKeown had a contact in Templemore who told him that Chloe Parker had gone home for the weekend. He knew she was driving her grandmother’s car, and he found the registration number and the car description. Then he had to check the ANPR. It was a hard slog.
‘Find anything?’ Kirby asked.
‘Huh?’
‘The footage from around the Canal Bar area where Martina was stabbed and from the street where Clarice lives?’
‘Oh. No. Not yet. There’s hours of stuff to go through. I have Lei working with me.’
‘Good. Keep you out of trouble for a while.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ McKeown felt a harsh flush creep up his cheeks and settle on his skull.
‘You’ve been missing a lot this week. This will keep you glued to the chair.’
‘None of your business where I’ve been or what I’ve been doing. Arsehole.’
‘Whatever it was it hasn’t softened your bite. Arsehole,’ Kirby mimicked.
‘Lads,’ Lottie said, ‘we have too much work to do to be arguing among ourselves.’
McKeown hoped she wouldn’t do an about-turn and look over his shoulder. He sighed with relief when she went into her office and closed the door. Turning back to his screen, he blocked out Kirby’s idle chatter with Lei and concentrated on the images playing out before him.
‘I think it’s time we finished up for the night,’ Lottie said, coming out with her coat over her arm. ‘I better head. Chloe is coming home for some party.’
‘Where’s it on?’ Kirby asked.
‘Cafferty’s, I think.’
‘Isn’t it well for the young.’
‘Jesus, look at the time,’ Boyd said. ‘I better pick up Sergio. Amy will kill me.’
Kirby laughed. ‘You know she loves him. She’d keep him all night if she could.’
‘All the same, I’m off.’ Boyd grabbed his jacket and ran out the door.
‘You going too?’ Lottie asked Kirby.
‘In a while. Someone has to supervise the gobshites.’ He indicated McKeown with a nod.
‘Fuck off, Kirby,’ McKeown said.
‘Enough.’ Lottie put her arms into the sleeves of her coat, picked up her bag and left them to it.