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Back The Last Drop of Blood Save as PDF
Chapters (60)
  1. Cover
  2. INTRODUCINGKATIE MAGUIRE
  3. ALSO BY GRAHAM MASTERTON
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Epigraph
  7. Contents
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. 46
  54. 47
  55. 48
  56. 49
  57. 50
  58. 51
  59. About the Author
  60. An Invitation from the Publisher

‘We couldn’t have given him any less than twelve, could we, even if he’d been more co-operative. But he murdered an innocent woman and two young children, too, and I don’t think even the softest-hearted penal reformer would say that he doesn’t deserve at least twenty-two years for that.’

‘Well, I agree. But the real murderer is still walking free, and believe me, Kieran, that’s really burning me up inside. I won’t have any rest until I see Thomas O’Flynn hauled up in front of you, too. But – Jesus – look at the time! I have to go now. My team have been texting me every two minutes and they’ll be wondering what in the name of God has happened to me.’

‘Katie – we must talk some more. When can I see you again?’

‘Let me check my roster, and I’ll ring you.’

‘You promise?’

They stood there, holding hands, and it began to rain, softly pattering on the pavement all around them. Katie didn’t answer, but Kieran said, ‘Off you go. You don’t want to get yourself wringing, now, do you?’

21

Detectives Caffrey and O’Crean were waiting for her when she returned to her office.

‘How’s the tracksuit hunt coming along?’ she asked them.

‘Dead end so far,’ said Detective O’Crean. ‘We’ve found no GAA coaches who wear grey tracksuits, nor any private gyms, nor school sports teachers. Nobody.’

Detective Caffrey said, ‘We called in at JD Sports and Cummins and Intersport Elverys but all the grey tracksuits they sell have two broad white stripes down the legs. Finn’s Corner sell a solid grey tracksuit but they’re only for the girls at St Catherine’s Secondary School in Ardpatrick. To be honest with you, ma’am, we’re running out of places to look.’

‘Your man could have bought his tracksuit anywhere,’ put in Detective O’Crean. ‘He could have bought it in the UK, like, or America, or online. I mean, we’ve given it our best shot, but I think we’re on something of a wild tracksuit chase here.’

‘All right,’ said Katie. ‘You can leave it for now. Go over to Oliver Plunkett Street and give Walsh and Cullen a hand with the Zombie Lounge stabbing. They’ve still dozens of witnesses left to interview.’

Moirin put her head around the door. ‘Coffee, ma’am?’

‘No, thanks, Moirin. I’ve only just had a double espresso. If I have any more I think I’ll be treble-jigging around the room and jumping on the furniture.’

‘Assistant Commissioner Magorian was looking for you.’

‘Is he still here?’

‘I think so. He said he’ll be off to Limerick at five.’

‘Well, I’ll go find him in a minute. Just now I need some time to sit and sort my thoughts out.’

‘Is everything okay, ma’am?’