But Rocky was there, hurrying out to greet her with something like enthusiasm.
“We’ve found places where the dust has definitely been disturbed. Someone has been down here with some kind of a device. Also, it looks like they were dragging something heavy, or something with a train of fabric. But, it all disappears into the crypt and we can’t figure out if they were perhaps coming and going through the pub—or what?”
Will Chan came walking out behind Rocky.
“Hey, newlywed,” he teased, coming forward to greet her with a hug.
“Hey, thanks for coming,” she told him.
“Not a problem,” he told her. “Here’s the thing so far. I believe—as Rocky suggested—that the sound that filled the castle came from here. You could create an amazing wail that reverberated through the stone with a simple amplifier. As far as actually appearing in the master’s chambers, easy enough as well. The dumbwaiter rises and falls from just above. Someone has definitely been on the stairs. The problem we’re having is determining where the someone is coming from or going to, as they must have had a way out of here for them and all that they used.”
“They might have just walked out of the great hall,” Devin said.
“But, at that time of night? Do they lock the great hall itself?”
“They do. When the pub closes, everything is supposedly locked,” Devin said.
“Would that suggest a pub employee?” Will asked.
“Maybe. But, why? No pub employee stands to gain if the Karney family goes down,” Devin said.
“Maybe they’re full of information anyway,” Will said.
“Are you suggesting a late lunch?” Rocky asked him.
“Not a bad idea.”
“What about Aidan Karney?” Devin asked.
“Aidan,” Rocky said. He glanced at Will and asked her, “Why?”
“He came into the vault,” Devin said.
Rocky stared at her hard. “I stopped again on my way back from the hospital.”
“You shouldn’t be doing that alone,” Rocky said firmly.
“You really shouldn’t be,” Will agreed.
“Aidan never saw me,” she said.
“What did he do there?” Rocky asked.
“Turned on a flashlight, made a noise, and left. Why?” she asked.
“Because he’s a liar,” Rocky told her. “He claimed he hadn’t been here in ages before he came for Collum’s funeral. He used his charge card in the village the day before Collum died.”
“So, we have a real suspect,” Will said. “What we need to do is keep a sharp eye on him.”
“Watch,” Rocky agreed. “Pretend we know even less than we do—and watch. If the killer is going by that prophecy thing, he’s going to be in a hurry. We may well catch him in the act.”
Rocky’s phone rang. He tried to answer it; the signal couldn’t penetrate the depth of the castle and the call went dead.
“We’ll head up,” he said.
The great hall was still empty when they emerged.
The call had come from Kat.
Rocky quickly called her back. Will and Devin watched him as he spoke. He hung up and told them, “No time for lunch. Whoever it is that Adam Harrison knows in Ireland wields some real power. Will, if you don’t mind, I’ll have you go to the hospital and keep watch over Brendan. Devin, you and I need to head to the graveyard; the sheriff and graveyard employees will meet us there along with county officials. Kat can start on her autopsy tonight. Collum Karney is about to leave the vault.”
Chapter 12
It was sad to be at a funeral; to watch a coffin lowered into the ground or set into a shelf in a mausoleum or vault.
Sad to see flowers cast upon a coffin.
Somehow, it was just as sad to see the proceedings when Collum’s coffin was removed.
The sound of the marble being split from the shelf seemed grating. Watching the men heave the coffin out and onto the stretcher was just as disturbing. Devin realized that she was associated with the family and that made it worse.
It was very solemn.
Father Flannery was there, saying prayers. Other than his words, the whole day seemed silent.
Many of those who would have been celebrating the day before St. Patrick’s Day had gathered at a distance to watch as well. Whispers and rumors were running rampant, Devin was certain.
In the midst of it, Dr. Kirkland arrived, striding across the graveyard, avoiding Celtic crosses and stepping heedlessly on gravestones.
“What is the meaning of this? Why wasn’t I consulted?” he demanded.
Sheriff Murphy stepped forward. “Sorry, Kirkland. Orders came down from the county; an autopsy is happening.”
“What? You’re going to find proof that a banshee killed the man?” Kirkland demanded. He saw Rocky and Devin standing near and turned his wrath on them. “Who do you think you are? How dare you come here assuming your methods and means are superior and that we’re all a pack of superstitious idiots? This will not be the last of this, not by a long shot, no indeed!”
He stormed off. Rocky and Devin looked at one another.
“Another suspect?” Rocky asked softly.