First Death In Dublin City (Thomas Bishop Book 1) by Colm-Christopher Collins Page A

Street.’ Said Anne.
    ‘I know, I’m going to Donneybrook Station.’ Said Tommy.
    ‘Really? What the hell for?’ Asked Anne.
    ‘Cross Hugh off our list.’ Said Tommy.
    ##
    It took them just fifteen minutes before they reached the station. One of the largest in the city, it sure got a lot of work for a station in what was meant to be one of Dublin’s most exclusive postcode.
    A man sitting behind the desk writing barely looked up at them as he nodded them into the back of the station. Tommy climbed two sets of stairs and reached a heavy wooden door. Knocking and opening, Tommy came upon a grey haired man sitting behind a cluttered desk.
    ‘Well, if it isn’t Tommy Bishop.’ Said the man, getting up to shake Tommy’s hand.
    ‘This is Sergeant O’Mahony.’ Said Tommy, and Louis, the man behind the desk, and Anne shook hands.
    ‘Busy as ever?’ Asked Tommy, looking at the giant piles of folders Tommy recognised as a referral.
    ‘Well, you know, kids never stop getting JLO’s.’ Said Louis. Louis was the Juvenile Liaison Officer in Donneybrook, and the only one in an area that was famous for its teenage discos. Tough gig.
    ‘I need you to tell me about someone.’ Said Tommy.
    ‘Couldn’t find them on PULSE?’ Said Louis. Tommy assumed it was JLO humour; minors weren’t placed on the PULSE system.
    ‘Ok, gimme a name.’ Said Louis when he saw Tommy’s face.
    ‘Hugh Trimble.’ Said Tommy.
    ‘Rathmines resident?’ Asked Louis.
    ‘Know him?’ Asked Tommy.
    Louis breathed out slowly. ‘Quite a fucking character.’
    ‘Oh yeah?’ Said Tommy, in an attempt to get Louis to elaborate.
    ‘Diagnosed with Conduct Disorder, at eleven? That’s just odd.’ Said Louis.
    ‘Sorry, Conduct Disorder?’ Asked Tommy.
    ‘Yes, the precursor to Anti-Social Personality Disorder. The kid is a wreck, a wild light. I’ve seen him four times already and he’s only eleven.’ Said Louis.
    ‘We’re looking at him as a suspect for a crime.’ Said Tommy.
    ‘What crime’s that? Is it arson?’ Asked Louis.
    ‘No, Amy Clancy going missing actually.’ Said Tommy.
    ‘Jesus.’ Said Louis.
    ‘Any way you can rule him out?’ Asked Tommy.
    ‘Well, the only thing that ever rules anybody out is an alibi. Got one of those?’ Asked Louis.
    ‘He has one, yes, but Anne here said the old man who gave it to him was a little shaky on the memory front.’ Said Tommy.
    ‘Oh, his neighbour, yeah. I had to take an inventory of his day. That kid spends an inordinate amount of time with his neighbour. Helping out and the like. His one redeeming characteristic I suppose.’ Said Louis.
    ‘So you’d trust the neighbour’s alibi?’ Asked Tommy.
    ‘Yeah, I ran him, a stand-up guy. He’s been a mentor within the community for years.’ Said Louis.
    ‘Right.’ Said Tommy.
    ‘No, Id trust him if he was giving the alibi.’ Said Louis.
    Tommy turned to Anne and shrugged.
    ‘Looks like Hugh’s off the hook.’ He said.
    ##
     
    Again, the seminar room was empty, when a dishevelled John Ryan was taken in. Tommy noticed how he wasn’t given cuffs, unlike most of the other prisoners Tommy had dealings with. He was being kept in the Training Centre, generally an easier place to be than most in the Joy and obviously no one saw him as any kind of physical threat.
    ‘Detective, never thought I’d see you again.’ Said John, considerably calmer than he’d been before.
    ‘Well, you weren’t making much in the way of sense.’ Tommy said.
    ‘So you believe me?’ Asked John.
    Tommy just stared at him.
    ‘You, you believe me right? That’s what you’re here for? Right?’ John asked, becoming worried now.
    Tommy continued to stare.
    ‘Look, why would you come if it wasn’t to tell me you think I’m innocent.’ John said.
    Now Tommy leaned forward.
    ‘How the fuck could I know if you were innocent? There’s a shitload of evidence pointing right your way buddy. So, what, your wife wasn’t using her real name in all her