Page 191 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“I have no idea, Chief. Keenan was a popular student. Everyone liked him and admired him. He was the leader of this class. Not because he wanted to be, but because his personality and bearing made him a natural in that role.”
“Did he have a girlfriend or boyfriend?”
“Not as far as I know. I never saw Keenan show preference to a specific classmate, and he never mentioned anyone special, at least not to me.”
“Would any of his classmates have been jealous of his leadership or stature?”
“I never heard anyone say anything unkind about Keenan. Everyone wanted to be his friend.”
“I read the note from the constable who spoke with one of his fellow students the night before we found Keenan’s body. There was mention of a discovery. Do you know what he might have been talking about?”
Ailbe coughed and stood for water from the tray on the table near his desk. The Chief Superintendent smiled. He was getting close. Too close for Ailbe’s comfort.
Ailbe poured a glass and drank the entire contents. “My apologies for the interruption,” Ailbe placed the glass back on the tray. “Now, what was your question again?”
“The discovery,” O’Brien repeated.
“Oh yes. I assigned each student a research project as part of their program of study. Those projects intentionally overlap, but I leave it to the students to discover that overlap. If a student discovers it, I give them extra credit.”
“I suppose Moynihan had discovered that…what did you call it…overlap?” The chief was writing in his notebook.
“He had indeed,” Ailbe said.
“Did Mr. Moynihan visit with you about his discovery?” The chief closely watched Ailbe’s reaction as he asked the question. A flash of uncertainty flicked through Ailbe’s eyes.
“I don’t recall that he did, chief.” Ailbe avoided Chief O’Brien’s gaze.
“I see,” O’Brien noted the uneasiness MacGowan showed. Something was fishy. “I think that is all the questions I have for now, Dr. MacGowan.” He closed the notebook and placed it, along with the pencil, in his jacket pocket. “I thank you for your time. May I call on you again if I have any more questions?”
“Certainly. I am glad to help in any way I can.” Ailbe rose to see the Chief out.
The Chief rose from the chair, shook Ailbe’s proffered hand, and left the office.
* * *
As O’Brien walked into the station, he reflected on the conversation with MacGowan.He’s lying about visiting with Moynihan, and I’m betting he knows something else he’s not telling me.
He stopped at Healy’s desk. “Healy, I need records of Keenan Moynihan’s email for the past month. I need to see who he corresponded with and what they said. I also need his cell phone records, calls, and texts.”
“Yes, sir,” Healy nodded.
The Chief Superintendent still had nothing to tie MacGowan or Knowlan to the crime, but he had a gut feeling.
In half an hour, Healy delivered the requested information. O’Brien pored over the cell phone and email records for Keenan Moynihan, chewing on his unlit cigar as he read. He needed anything that could give him a clue as to why someone murdered Moynihan.
“Get me a list of the students in MacGowan’s class,” O’Brien yelled to Healy. “I need as much information about those students as possible.”
“Right away, sir.” Healy called the University and asked them to fax a list of students in MacGowan’s class, including demographic and contact information for each student. Five minutes later, he handed the list to O’Brien.
“You do good work, Healy,” O’Brien said, the wet unlit cigar stub clenched between his teeth. “I don’t care what the boys at the pub say,” he chuckled and winked at Healy. The two men had a good working relationship. O’Brien’s sense of humor helped.
“So you go to the gay pub, sir?” Healy chuckled as he left O’Brien’s office.
O’Brien compared Moynihan’s email list with the student list. He found several names that matched. He looked at the cell phone list of calls and texts, but only had numbers.
“I need the names that go with the numbers on this cell phone list of Moynihan’s,” O’Brien yelled at Healy.
“Right away, sir.” Healy placed a call to the cell phone company. He gave them the numbers and asked them to fax him a list of names that matched those numbers. The cell phone company asked for verification that this was a Gardaí investigation.
