She stared back at him. What was he up to? She sat opposite him.
‘I’m afraid I drew a blank on that dead girl’s photograph. She’s not from here. I’m sorry I’m no help to you.’
His statement didn’t surprise her, but his change in character did. He was actually being apologetic!
‘And the other girl we mentioned. Mimoza. Does anyone know her?’ she asked.
‘Nothing to report there either, I’m sorry.’
Lottie tried again. ‘What about this girl. Do you recognise her?’ She placed the photo of Maeve Phillips on his desk. A long shot, but worth a try.
He glanced at it. ‘No. Should I? Is she dead also?’
‘I hope not.’ She hadn’t detected any flicker of recognition from him.
Thinking of the background check they’d conducted, she decided to come straight out with it.
‘You left the army in 2010. I would’ve thought that having risen to the rank of commandant, you would have pursued the higher echelons of the force. Why did you leave?’
He stood up, walked around to the front of the desk and sat on the edge of it. His knees were inches from hers. She didn’t budge.
Leaning towards her, he said, ‘What difference is it to you? It’s my business.’ He was so close she could smell his minty mouthwash.
‘Just thought it odd.’
‘Checking out my CV?’
‘I’m just curious.’ She held his gaze, not a bit unnerved by his tense, staring eyes. ‘So why did you leave?’
‘I’d enough of the army life. I wanted new adventures. So I set up my company, Woodlake Facilities Management, and landed this job.’
‘You didn’t do any more overseas tours after Kosovo. Why not?’
‘Why is that of interest to you?’
‘Just wondering.’
‘Speaking of Kosovo, your name, Parker, it rings a bell.’
‘My late husband served there in the late nineties. You may have met him.’ Suddenly Lottie was anxious to hear about Adam, despite her misgivings over Russell.
‘I met a lot of army personnel in my travels.’
He stood up and walked to the wall of photos, moving from one to another. She knew he wasn’t really looking at them. He was making up his mind just how much he wanted to tell her. The bastard.
He turned and stood with his feet planted wide. ‘I’m a while out of the army. But now I come to think of it, I do remember him. Tall, well built. A good soldier.’
‘He was a brilliant soldier,’ Lottie said.
‘Oh yes, I could tell you a thing or two about him. Perhaps we could have a chat over a coffee? Dinner maybe?’
‘You’re joking!’ Lottie said in surprise
‘On the contrary, I’m quite serious. I think you should have dinner with me.’
She thought his statement sounded like a threat.
‘I don’t eat very much.’ Where had that come from?
‘Am I making you uncomfortable?’ Russell asked. He moved back to his desk and sat down.
‘Not at all.’ But you’re playing silly-bugger games with me, she thought. ‘Why won’t you answer my questions and tell me about Adam?’
‘I’ve no problem answering your questions.’ He smiled. ‘I’ve told you, I don’t know the dead girl and I don’t know any Mimoza. Now, while I’m disappointed that you’ve declined my invitation to dinner, I must get on with my work. Was there something else you wanted?’
‘Actually there was. Do you have an interpreter working here?’
‘Yes, we do. George O’Hara. Very talented young man.’
‘Is he attached to Athlone Institute?’
‘No, he’s freelance.’
‘Really?’ Shit. She had wanted an opportunity to speak to someone not in Russell’s employment.
‘It works out much cheaper.’
‘I’d like to meet him.’
‘Why would you want to do that?’
‘I might have some work for him. I’ve time now if he’s around.’
Russell steepled his fingers and looked at her. ‘Ah. Unfortunately he won’t be in until Friday.’
‘I’ll call back then.’ It might be worth meeting this George O’Hara. Maybe she’d get more sense out of him than she’d got from Russell.
Russell was chewing on the inside of his lip and looking furtive. Shifty. That was how she’d describe him if asked. Or maybe she was imagining it. Must be the heat.
Opening the door, she said, ‘If there’s something illegal going on here, I intend to find out.’
Russell laughed, and Lottie noted how this reaction might strike fear into an unsuspecting person. Not her, though; it merely strengthened her determination to get to the bottom of whatever scam he was involved in. Because she was bloody sure he was up to something.
Once outside again, she knew what it was that had nagged her when she first arrived. The place was empty. No children running around or women watching over them. Silence.
Walking resolutely out through the gate, she headed back towards the station. At the canal bridge she glanced down and quelled a ridiculous urge to walk barefoot through the cherry-blossom petals sheeting the pathway in a pink carpet. She felt like she wanted to strip off the uneasy feeling she’d experienced in the barracks. Had Russell been implying there was something she should know about Adam?
The man drew into the shadows as Lottie left the block housing Dan Russell’s office. He hunkered down and patted the dog’s head to keep the mutt quiet.
The detective was going to be a problem. But not for him if he could help it.
He just needed to speed up his work.
He would be okay. But she would have to be watched.
Twenty-Six
Three years ago, her stilettos clipping out the front door, long black hair swishing behind her with purpose, Jackie Boyd had exited DS Mark Boyd’s life.
Now he watched open-mouthed as she dashed into Books and Things. She had never read a book in her life; hadn’t done much of anything except complain about everything that crossed her line of vision. She was beautiful, not in an understated sort of way, but extravagantly gorgeous. And he’d been such an eejit, he hadn’t been able to hold on to her.