Gardener laughed. “All my days are about falling moral standards.” He finished his soup and sipped some more wine. The Carpenters were singing a cover version of an old Beatles song he recognized. His father was a huge fan. As he reflected on his day, he wondered how much he should tell her.
“I have two murders on my hands. The same killer, same style. No clues. I have disappearing children, another of them dead. It’s been one problem after another, with no answers.”
“David Vickers,” Jacqueline reflected. “It must have been awful for him. I keep wondering what he must have gone through. Was he tortured? Locked away by himself, calling out for a mother who was unable to protect him in his hour of need?”
Gardener’s stomach tightened as he noticed Jacqueline’s eyes reddening. The subject was obviously a raw nerve. For both of them.
She reached for her napkin, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry. I find any crime connected with children emotionally distressing. I don’t think people who hurt children should be allowed to get away with it.”
“You don’t have to apologize for being upset.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. He was out of practice when it came to dating. “I feel as strongly as you do, particularly with having Chris around. He’s growing up fast. I’ll probably lose him to a college in the next five years. God forbid I should lose him sooner to some pervert who can’t control himself. Worse still, a maniac I should have put behind bars.”
Jacqueline poured them each another glass of wine before clearing the dishes. “Do you think there’s a connection between the murders and the disappearing children? Particularly with the Father Christmas angle?”
Gardener paused mid-sip, a tingling sensation creeping up his spine.
“How do you know about Father Christmas?”
She hesitated before sitting back down. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m afraid ministers are no different from ordinary citizens. We gossip as much as everyone else. I saw Father O’Hanlon today. He was upset by the body on the grounds of his church. I’m sorry.”
Gardener finished the glass. “It’s okay. It’ll be common knowledge soon enough, especially now the press is involved. But, to answer your question, I’m not sure. With what little evidence I’ve unearthed so far, I sincerely hope not.”
Gardener paused. Talking about work was the last thing he wanted. He wasn’t there to become tangled up in the logistics of murder with his date. “Let’s try and forget all that. This kind of evening doesn’t happen often for me. We should try to enjoy ourselves. It’s nearly Christmas. I’m enjoying the meal and the company. One of the reasons I accepted tonight’s invitation was because...” Gardener stopped talking, unsure if he should even say anything.
“Because what?” Jacqueline was smiling.
“Because I’d like to know more about you.”
“I’m pleased you said that. I’ll bring the main course through and we can go from there.”
Chapter Thirty-four
“A meal fit for a king, so it was.”
“Such a pity to waste it on the court jester,” retorted Laura.
Reilly chuckled. They were sprawled out across the sofa in the living room, listening to a Clannad CD.
Laura jumped up and cleared away the takeaway cartons before returning with two beers. She cuddled up next to Reilly.
“How’s Stewart? It must be hard for him. Christmas, the anniversary of Sarah’s death.”
“Something’s bothering him. I wouldn’t put it all down to Sarah’s death.”
Laura straightened up. “Why do you say that?”
“Little things. You know how professional he is. Nothing escapes him. The harder the case, the more he thrives on it. He doesn’t seem himself at the moment, though. His temper is a little shorter. He’s distracted. He’s not thinking as quick as usual.” Reilly sighed. He didn’t like to see his friend so preoccupied.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Take today. There was an incident on the grounds of a church. We met up with an old vagrant…”
“That would have been enough to distract him.”
“I could tell he didn’t want to be near him. In fact, the vagrant was no threat at all. Didn’t even attempt to come near us. But there was a genuine fear in Stewart’s eyes. The man clearly had something to tell us, but the boss man hung back.”
“Did you ask him why?”
“No. The only reason I persuaded him to listen was because the vagrant reminded me of old Seamus.”
“Old Seamus. I miss him.”
Seamus was Laura’s grandfather. When Sean Reilly was seven years old, he and his family had moved to the beautiful golden coastline known as Giant’s Causeway, in a town called Portballintrae. Sean struck up a friendship with the old man, a wise old bird who taught him valuable lessons about life.
“Anything else?”
Reilly took a long swig of his beer. “Nothing you can put your finger on. He’s just distracted in general.”
“I can think of something that’s capable of causing such a distraction.”
“Oh, you can, can you? And what would that be?”
“Sounds to me like he may have met someone.”
Reilly nearly choked on his beer. “Would you listen to yourself? This is Stewart Gardener we’re talking about. There’s only been one woman for him, always will be.”
“You listen to yourself, Sean Reilly! He’s only human. He’s been without close companionship for a year now. Maybe he feels it’s time, and he’s found someone. Which is why he’s distracted.”
“I think you’ve been drinking with the faeries back home. I’m telling you there’s no woman in the boss man’s life. He doesn’t have the time. Dear God, he’s not so much as looked at another woman since Sarah.”
“Have it your way, but you’ll see I’m right, so you will!”
Chapter Thirty-five
With the meal long
