Behind him he heard Malone open Kenny’s door.
“Yes?” he heard from within. None too pleased, Minogue detected.
“No,” he heard Malone reply.
“And it’ll be, em…?”
Kenny sat forward, his hands out on the seat to either side. Malone started the Nissan.
“It will not be damaged, Mr. Kenny,” Minogue repeated.
Even with the windows open, Kenny’s stale breath came to the Inspector again.
Malone’s good eye slid around toward the Inspector. Kenny sat back.
“We’ll be passing Over the Top, Mr. Kenny. Just beyond the lights. And there’s Tout des Loups. A grand spot too, I believe. I have a colleague who’s more into the club scene. Young fella, of course. What do you think of the Tout des Loups place?”
Kenny blinked and squinted at the doorways. If he’s sitting in an air-conditioned office all day, maybe he’s entitled to sweat, thought Minogue. Give him a fair trial, then hang him.
“It’s all right. Is that where…?”
“You heard about the case then?”
“Well, I’m just assuming that you’re pointing it out for a reason,” said Kenny. “You told me you’re investigating the death of a woman called Mary Mullen. Right?”
A woman called Mary Mullen. Kenny might give him a headache yet.
“We believe that Mary frequented that place in the past, the recent past. I have a photo of Mary here now. Take a look at it, why don’t you.”
Malone slipped it out of the folder, turned in the seat and handed it to Kenny. Minogue watched Kenny’s face carefully in the mirror.
“You know Mary, Mr. Kenny. Right?”
Kenny drew in a breath and let it swell his cheeks. Like he’s assessing a prospect, thought Minogue, a balance sheet, maybe. Malone jerked the wheel to avoid a parked van. Keep your eyes on the road, not on Kenny. He glanced at him again as the traffic drew away ahead. He hoped that Kenny would lie outright. Kenny let out his breath.
“Well, I mean I wouldn’t want to say now, I mean, what if I were to tell you something here and you well… You get the idea?”
“Not really.”
Kenny tossed a long swath of hair back up off his forehead. Something he saw in Malone’s face caused him to drop the ironic expression.
“Am I under arrest now, is it?”
“God, no, Mr. Kenny. Why would we arrest you? Have you done something?”
Kenny let go a brief smile.
“You’ve agreed to be interviewed,” said Minogue. “To help us with our enquiries. Which we appreciate.”
“And my car?”
“And a fine car it is too. Like I say, it will be returned in tiptop shape.”
“Was it seized?”
“Borrowed. A routine check.” Kenny flicked back his hair again.
“How many other cars have you applied this routine check to? In this case, I mean.”
“You have the honour of being the second.”
“A forensic study is hardly routine now, is it?”
Minogue looked at Kenny’s tie. Silk? It had little planes on it. To judge by his build, Kenny was no layabout. Tennis, Minogue guessed- no, wait a minute-squash.
“The favourite Irish pastime there, Mr. Kenny.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Jumping to conclusions. Who says your car will be subject to a forensic examination?”
“I read or I heard somewhere about this thing. That’s what forensic is for, isn’t it?”
“For what?” He gave Kenny a dull stare.
“Murder,” said Kenny.
“Amongst other things, yes.”
He watched Kenny’s eyes narrow a little before they turned back to the window.
“I think I’m beginning to detect a certain tone here, Serg-”
“Inspector.”
“A certain tone which suggests, I’m not sure. Pressure? Suspicion? Intimidation? I don’t know. That’s not what I believed, or was led to believe, back at the office when I agreed to help. It seems the closer we get to your, em, headquarters or whatever, the less, well, positive the atmosphere.”
Minogue scratched at his scalp.
“Ah, Mr. Kenny. I’m sure you’re not taken in by the charm here now.”
The breeze had draped Kenny’s glossy mane back down over his eyes. He flicked it back up less often than he could, thought the Inspector. A ladies’ man. Malone slowed for the entrance to Harcourt Square, gave a half- hearted wave to the Guard by the kiosk and started up again. Minogue was out first after Malone parked. Kenny climbed out slowly and looked across the roof at Minogue.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said. Well, that’s sure to mean trouble, Minogue almost said.
“And I want to phone my solicitor.”
The Inspector nodded, turned around and rolled his eyes. It had started.
“Certainly, Mr. Kenny. As is your right.”
He strolled around to Kenny’s side.
“But why the rush into the arms of the legal confraternity? You’re not under arrest. Save your money, I say.”
A confused look registered around Kenny’s eyes. Minogue summoned his most avuncular manner.
“I should tell you again how grateful we are that you have offered your help. Of course, I imagine anyone would be a little apprehensive, wouldn’t they? Especially a man like yourself, Mr. Kenny, a man who’s never been in trouble with the law, being in a building-no, a complex-full of policemen.”
Kenny searched the Inspector’s face for a giveaway smile.
“I’m the same myself, Mr. Kenny. I actually can’t stand coming here at all. It’s like a fortress or something. I’d sooner be out on the streets.”
Kenny tried to smile.
“If you only told me exactly why you’ve picked on me,” he said.
“Picked on you?”
“I mean, why you want to talk to me specifically.”
So you can prep your?500-a-day pain-in-the-arse solicitor for when he can come storming in here to hand out migraines, Mr. Kenny.
“All in good time, Mr. Kenny. Will you go a bit of the road with us here? Tea, maybe?”
NINETEEN
M alone kept pulling at the ends of his Elastoplasts. Kenny looked over at him often. “You’re taping our conversation, aren’t you,” he said to Minogue. The Inspector nodded.
“Is that allowed?”
Minogue nodded again. Kenny’s eyes had a dull shine on them now. They weren’t five minutes into the interview. Kenny coughed.
“It could hardly be just the Mercedes now, could it?”
“A bit more, Mr. Kenny. You frequented a night-club that Mary also patronized. Now, we located a person who saw you in conversation with her. Several times, over time.”
