Page 194 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“It sounds like things are moving along more quickly than you expected.”
“Yes, sir. We didn’t expect them to meet MacGowan or Knowlan until this week's lectures. Meeting them on neutral territory worked out well. We couldn’t have planned it any better.”
“Pearson, I’m glad to hear we’re off to a smooth start. Maintain personal contact with the Sterlings and keep me informed of any unusual developments. We’re still pursuing the murder investigation here. I’ll contact you if we uncover anything of concern.”
“Thanks, Chief.”
“Aye,” O’Brien disconnected. He grabbed the notebook from his pocket and noted the chance meeting between MacGowan and the Sterlings. He needed to remember the time & date for his report to the Commissioner. “What’s today?”
“Tuesday,” Healy said.
“No, what’s the date?” O’Brien grumbled.
“The twelfth.”
“Thanks.” O’Brien finished making his notes. “You got that list finished yet?” He stuffed the notebook and pencil back into his pocket.
“Almost, sir,” Healy called out from his office. “I’ll have it for you in five minutes.”
O’Brien studied the list of calls made by Keenan Moynihan. His last call was relatively short, only about three minutes. The rest of the calls were more extended. Much longer. He cross-referenced the number and found the call went to fellow student Fergus Rafferty.
“Healy!” O’Brien shouted. “Did we have a Fergus Rafferty in here for questioning?”
It took Healy a minute to retrieve the list and check to see who had come in for questioning. “No, sir. We did not question anyone by that name.”
“Feck. Get Rafferty in here pronto. If he doesn’t answer, send the boys after him. I want to talk with him this morning!”
“Right, Chief.”
A few minutes later, Healy dropped the list of office calls between MacGowan and Knowlan on O’Brien’s desk. A regular pattern of afternoon calls showed daily at around two o’clock, except for one call from MacGowan to Knowlan midmorning the day before the discovery of Moynihan’s body in the River Corrib.
Well, bugger me, O’Brien thought.I caught the fekker in an inconsistency, and that’s always a clue.He pulled out his notebook and noted the inconsistency, including the call’s date and time.
“Chief, Rafferty didn’t answer his phone, so I sent two officers to pay him a visit.” Healy walked into O’Brien’s office. “Did the list contain anything interesting?”
“Feck, yes!” O’Brien practically shouted. “There is an inconsistency in the usual pattern of calls between MacGowan and Knowlan. Something was happening that prompted MacGowan to make a call midmorning. Their routine daily call occurs midafternoon. I don’t know what prompted that break in routine, but you can bet I’ll find out!”
* * *
A loud pounding at the door woke Fergus Rafferty from a sound sleep. It was nine o’clock in the morning. Fergus had joined his friends at a late-night party, so he slept it off instead of attending class. He struggled out of bed and stumbled to the front door of his tiny one-room flat. He opened the door a crack, leaving the security chain on.
“What the feck do you want?” he said groggily as he looked at the two men standing at his door.
“Mr. Rafferty? Mr. Fergus Rafferty?” One man asked.
“Aye,” Fergus yawned.
“Gardaí. We need you to come with us.”
“You arresting me?” Fergus became more alert as he realized the law was standing at his door, and his neighbors probably heard the racket of them pounding on his door.
“No, sir,” the Garda responded. “The Chief Superintendent would like to ask you a few questions.”
“What about?”
“We don’t have any information regarding the questioning, Mr. Rafferty. Now, if you’ll please dress and come with us.”
Fergus unlatched the door and invited the two officers in.
