had been killed in an explosion yet Brian Ingles was grinning happily as if she were still alive. Beresford had plenty to think about on the jog back to his house.
It was a flying visit but Ellen was delighted to see him. Marmion had returned to the house to apologise for his absence in the night and to change his clothing. He gave her very few details and she didn’t press for any. Having him back under the roof was enough for her. All she wanted to talk about was their son’s return and he found it easier to agree with everything that she suggested.
‘How was Alice when you met her yesterday?’ he asked.
‘She’s fine in herself, Harvey. Only one thing worries her.’
‘Is it that inspector who’s taken a dislike to her?’
‘I think that she can cope with that.’
‘So what is it that’s troubling her?’
‘It’s Paul,’ she replied. ‘He’s been told about Alice and Joe but he’s made no comment about it. That really hurt her. Joe is going to be his brother-in-law yet Paul couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge the fact.’
He shrugged. ‘Perhaps he didn’t even get her letter. Mail does go astray.’
‘Alice wouldn’t believe that. She thinks that Paul definitely knows.’
‘He forgot to mention it, that’s all, love. It may be at the forefront of Alice’s mind but our son is more interested in fighting the enemy. Family matters don’t strike you as so important when you’re in that situation.’
‘I’d say that they were even more important,’ she contended. ‘Look how thrilled he was to be given leave. Paul couldn’t wait to get back to us. All of his previous letters were about the things he missed here.’
He patted her back. ‘It was your cooking that he really missed, Ellen. And he did send his love to Alice in his last letter. Isn’t that enough for her?’
‘No, Harvey. She thinks that he may support
‘I’m not taking sides,’ he claimed, hands held aloft.
‘Yes you are so don’t try to pretend otherwise. You still can’t accept that Joe Keedy and our daughter are going to be married.’
‘It’s an established fact — I have to accept it.’
‘Then do so graciously.’
‘I must be off,’ he said, moving away.
She grabbed his arm. ‘It would make such a difference to Alice.’
‘Our daughter has made her choice, Ellen. I can’t change that.’
‘Then why can’t you make an effort to get used to the idea? Joe Keedy is a good man — nobody knows that better than you. He’ll make a fine husband. More to the point, he’ll make Alice very happy. Why do you have to cast such a shadow over her happiness?’
Marmion was about to reply when a car horn sounded outside the house.
‘My driver has arrived,’ he said, kissing her on the cheek. ‘Goodbye …’
After the long journey back, Joe Keedy had also wanted to change. He was far more aware of his appearance than Marmion. When he got to his flat, he stripped off, put on fresh underwear and a clean shirt then hung up his crumpled suit and reached for the other one. After straightening his tie in the mirror, he was ready to leave. The car was waiting outside to take him back to Hayes. On their way there, Marmion gave him his orders. When he was dropped off, the first place that Keedy called at was the Quinn house. Answering the door, Diane was not overjoyed to see him.
‘Maureen is very tired,’ she said. ‘She hasn’t been getting much sleep.’
‘I see.’
‘Could you come back another time, Sergeant?’
‘I don’t need to speak to your daughter, Mrs Quinn,’ he told her. ‘I only came to have a word with you.’
She was taken aback. ‘Oh — why is that?’
‘If you let me in, I’ll be able to tell you.’
Reluctant to do so, she nevertheless allowed Keedy into the living room. It would mean some harsh words from her husband when he found out but that was unavoidable. They sat down. Hat in his hand, Keedy tried to calm her with a smile.
‘Something has come to our attention,’ he said, quietly. ‘It appears that your husband has a nephew by the name of Niall Quinn.’
Diane started. ‘How ever did you find that out?’
‘It doesn’t matter. It’s true, isn’t it?’
‘Well, yes, but we never see anything of Niall. He lives in Ireland.’
‘I think you know that that’s not the case, Mrs Quinn. He was arrested a year ago for activities relating to a campaign run by Sinn Fein. He’s been imprisoned in a camp in Wales.’
‘I did hear some vague rumour about that,’ she admitted.
‘Your memory is letting you down, I’m afraid. He was caught in this very house with incriminating material in his possession.’ Biting her lip, she lowered her head. ‘There’s no point in denying it, Mrs Quinn.’
‘I didn’t want him here, Sergeant. He’s no relation of mine.’
‘How long was he in the house?’
‘He just popped in to see us for that one afternoon.’
‘So he didn’t stay here at all?’
‘No,’ she said, raising her head.
‘I’m sure you know the penalty for harbouring a fugitive.’
Diane was roused. ‘We did nothing wrong. When a member of the family knocks on your door, you don’t turn him away. Besides, we’d no idea that Niall was involved in … the things that got him sent to prison. It’s unfair of you to make me feel guilty. Anyway,’ she added, ‘it was a long time ago. I’ve tried to forget it.’
‘Did you know that Niall escaped recently?’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘He hasn’t been in touch, then?’
‘I swear that he hasn’t,’ she said, vehemently. ‘If you’ve come to accuse us of helping him to escape, you might as well leave now. Neither I nor Eamonn had the slightest idea that he’d got out of prison.’
‘It’s an internment camp called Frongoch. I think you knew that.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘But your husband paid a visit there.’
She was bemused. ‘When?’
‘It was not long after his nephew had been moved there.’
‘He never mentioned it to me.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I don’t even believe that it’s true.’
‘Oh, there’s no question about that, Mrs Quinn,’ said Keedy. ‘Inspector Marmion and I drove all the way to the camp last night to interview the governor.’ She recoiled from the information. ‘He told us about your husband’s visit. We also discovered what a very nasty young man Niall Quinn was.’ Diane was confused and hurt. He could see her flitting between bafflement and discomfort. ‘Why didn’t your husband tell you that he was going to Wales?’
‘I don’t know,’ she confessed.
‘Is he in the habit of keeping things from you?’
‘No,’ she said, resenting the implication. ‘Most of the time I know where Eamonn is. But he does go off with friends from time to time. They have outings. I don’t mind that. My husband has a tiring job. He deserves a treat.’
Keedy wanted to ask her why she wasn’t allowed an occasional treat herself but he felt that it would be too cruel. Diane clearly knew little about Niall Quinn’s movements and had been embarrassed to have him in her house. Evidently, she had no idea why her visitor was even asking about him.
‘Is your husband interested in politics?’ he asked.
‘He never discusses anything like that with me, Sergeant.’
‘That wasn’t what I asked. Does he go to meetings of any kind?’
