Page 20 of Final Betrayal

Kirby scratched his head, reminding himself to have a quick shower this evening, and wondered if the pharmacist was laying on a threat or a warning.

‘Usually people like that have a lot of enemies,’ he said.

‘You read my mind perfectly.’

‘I told you on the phone,’ Jordan Brogan said. ‘I haven’t seen her.’

‘We just want to ask a few questions.’

‘Are you deaf? Penny doesn’t live here any more. Kicked her out, so I did.’ Brogan was a small man with a big voice. Lottie had to stop herself putting her hands over her ears as she and Boyd followed him inside his rather cramped house.

‘When was that?’

‘What?’

She noticed then that he was wearing a hearing aid. ‘Can you switch on your hearing aid, Mr Brogan?’

‘I keep forgetting. Sorry.’ He fiddled with the small peanut-shaped device and put it back in his ear. ‘Ah, that’s better. Damaged my hearing while I was in the army. Dragged the bastards through the courts, and what did I get? I’ll tell you what. Six grand. Sure these yokes cost me four grand. Disgrace, that’s what it is.’ He sat at the table and indicated for Lottie and Boyd to join him. ‘Why are you asking about Penny?’

‘It’s really Amy Whyte we’re trying to locate, but we thought maybe your daughter might know where she is.’

‘That smart-arse madam got Penny fired, so she did.’

‘Where exactly is Penny living now?’ Lottie felt that if she didn’t stick to what she wanted to know, Jordan Brogan would give out about everything and anything all day long.

‘She has a flat. Number seven Columb Street. Don’t know how she’s paying for it. Must be that rent assistance shite from the social. Or maybe it’s from the council. I don’t know, because I haven’t seen her in like a month. She’s breaking her mother’s heart, so she is.’

‘And your wife, can we have a word with her?’ Lottie thought maybe Penny was in contact with her mother.

‘Breda’s at work. Works in motor tax at the council.’

Lottie stood. ‘I’ll call in and see if she’s seen your daughter. Does she work anywhere now?’

‘I told you. Motor tax.’

‘No, sorry, I mean Penny.’

‘I haven’t a clue. Whyte’s was the last place I heard. But sure I don’t hear that much,’ he tapped his hearing aid, ‘and no one tells me anything around here.’

Lottie headed for the door. ‘Thanks for your time, Mr Brogan.’

He followed her out. ‘Do you think my Penny is missing?’

‘We just need to talk to her in relation to our inquiries.’ Lottie smiled, hoping she sounded reassuring, but her stomach was tightening into a knot of disquiet. Where were Amy and Penny? Then again, they were both adults and they were entitled to their privacy. But something was niggling away in her gut. A warning of sorts, telling her to take note of everything she heard.

Jordan Brogan was shouting now. ‘That Amy is bad news. Ever since she got that lad sent down for armed robbery.’

Lottie’s heart stopped. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, it must be ten years ago now. You remember Conor Dowling. Amy Whyte and another lassie said they saw him running from Bill Thompson’s house. Poor Bill used to own the pub on Friars Street. He’s dead now. Stroke, I heard. Maybe not more than a year after the assault. He got a right beating that night. All his cash was taken too.’

‘Amy must have been fourteen or fifteen at the time.’

‘That’d be about right.’

‘Thanks, Mr Brogan. Let me know if Penny contacts you.’

As she opened the car door she said, ‘Gosh, Boyd, I hope those girls are not in any trouble.’

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