A phone call at night. At home. A dinner interrupted. A number recognised.
“Maura
“Hi.”
“What’s up?”
“Nothing. Bored. Just went through my contacts in my phone and thought I’d call.”
“Sure, sounds reasonable. I do it all the time.”
“Stop it. I do it all the time when I’m bored. Sometimes I see a name I haven’t spoken to in ages so I call them.”
“We only spoke the other day.”
“Jesus you’re tough going. Ask me how my day was or something.”
“How was your day Maura
“Alright usual grief you know.”
“Maura I don’t even know what you do for a living, usual what?”
“Ah yeah, forgot we just talked about your mental state. Get ready, I’m a lawyer.”
“You’re joking. I was right.”
“Shut up, not a criminal lawyer a copyright lawyer. Different stuff, branching out into music rights and that. Get to be there when these young artists sign their lives away to corporate media giants and I get my cut of the pound of flesh.”
“I…but…look I’ll be honest. I haven’t a clue how to deal with this conversation.”
“I know, you’re brutal, that’s why I’m winding you up. Ok then I’ll let you by me that drink.”
“I can’t. And before you ask you know why.”
“The family again. So what? I’m bored and I fancy having a chat. I haven’t seen you for nearly fifteen years. We’ve got all the my uncle was a psychotic criminal mastermind out the way, now how about the sum total of the other fifteen years? I can come round, get a taxi like.”
“Maura is this wise? I mean what did we know of each other those few times I came round the house? Nothing other than me getting a greater knowledge of where your cousins kept their porno stash.”
“We’ll figure that out when I get round.”
“The place is a kip.”
“Tough. I’m outside.”
These things are tough. I mean eventually the conversation was grand, it flowed and I was even witty…sometimes. But what else do you do? Have music on as you sit and talk? If so what music do you put on? Try picking something with no notice whatsoever, with no discussion on what she actually might like. Just straightforward pick an album at random that isn’t intrusive, doesn’t contain any romantic overtures and can fill the gaps in conversation without any real awkwardness. So I just left the telly on low.
Gaps in lives filled, fifteen years worth of what she’s been up to and my life summarised in bullet points:
#Moved from garda to detective
#Stayed detective
#Stayed detective
#Still detective
But after all, it’s company. It’s how I should be. Not necessarily always with female company, just social. Occasionally.
“So he’s psychic?”
Too much wine in me. I’m spilling out too much information just to keep the conversation going. Just so it’s not only her doing the talking. Maura is sat on the armchair that’s next to the couch I’m on. She’s sitting with her legs curled up and she actually looks both comfortable and like she’s interested.
“Not even remotely.”
“Ha Ha. I like it. Remote viewing…get it?”
“Yeah but it isn’t even funny.”
“Oh shut up. Carry on.”
“Which?”
“What?”
“Shut up or carry on?”
“Just do it.”
“No I don’t think he is psychic. But then I don’t know what else is going on. I like the kid and but there may be others to like for the crimes.”
“It's an explanation at least. How do you explain it?”
“I don’t and that’s the best position. I’ve never come across a situation yet where it isn’t the case that it’s better to have no explanation than a bad explanation.”
“So it’s him.”
“Yeah. I’ll arrest him tomorrow.”
“See that you do.”
“Speaking of which, it’s past two.”
“Yeah I know, It’s Friday tonight, no school tomorrow remember.”
“For normal people that aren’t involved in a murder investigation. I’ve got to be up in about few hours.”
“Yeah that’s unfortunate.”
We called a taxi, she left. On my way to bed I did wonder, but decided I wouldn’t even bother wondering. One as I was knackered and just needed sleep and two it wouldn’t get me anywhere.
It’s night. I’m deep into my circadian rhythm and the phone rings.
“I know it’s late Mr Byrne, but now seems a good time to talk.”
“Jesus Christ, who the fuck is this?”
“Danny.”
“Danny? Who the fuck is Danny?”
“Danny Dent, Mr Byrne. Thomas’ boy.”
“Danny I'm hanging up, we are not having a conversation.”
“Mr Byrne. If we know Maura's not long after leaving your place, who else do you think knows?”
“It’s four in the morning and you want you’re asking me a question for a table quiz? I’ve sworn enough for this hour of the morning. So I’ll spare the unpleasantries and just hang up if you don’t get to the point.”
“What we know is Cunningham and his new pals. What we don’t know is what he wants with you. And that's making us nervous. Now you're having Maura over for romantic dinners. Should we be worried Mr Byrne?"
Is it just me or this whole thing making no sense. I mean, sure I’m tired. It’s my zombie zone, torturers, policeman and telephone marketers know this is the perfect period of sleep to wake you and get what they want out of you.
“Dent. One last chance. What is it you want.”
“We don’t know what Cunningham is going to do next. That’s what worries us. We should know. He should be planning, getting people ready. We’d know, we could plan ourselves.”
“But?”
“But, seeing as we don’t know it means it’s a problem.”
“What? Couldn’t it just mean that he’s not planning anything?”
“Then we’d hear that. We’d hear that he was sitting on it. We’re not hearing anything and that means this is being taken out of Cunningham’s hands. Mr Byrne, I think you’re in trouble.”
“Only because my heart’s about to pack in after being woken up. What has my safety got to do with you?”
“More than you know.”
“Shut up and listen. I have nothing to do with your family. Thomas is dead and all due respect to you Danny, but good bloody riddance I say. One less psychopathic bastard off the streets. But guess what? Files are still open. The Dent’s are still on my books. This call does not help that situation one bit.”
“Mr Byrne. If we know stuff about Cunningham, he sure as hell knows most of what’s going on with us. Therefore, if I know Maura was just at your place you can bloody well bet he does too. Now do you understand?”
“Aye.”
“You never know Mr Byrne, he actually might be that stupid that he will come after you. Unfortunately I have to give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn’t that stupid and credit him with some sense.”
“If you were him would you go for Maura?”
“Off the record. Yes.”
“Then help Maura and leave me alone.”
“Maura won’t take any help off us Mr Byrne.”
“Then she won’t listen to me either. Get to the point.”
“Let us help you. We’ll take care of Cunningham for you.”
“No can do Danny. This is never going to be on the cards. You and your brother sit down and think of something else to do.”
“And Maura.”
“You tell her. You tell her what company you keep and what you’ve got her into.”
“You know, it doesn’t look good for either of us you seeing Maura.”
“Two drinks is catching up, not seeing someone. You sort it out. You don’t come near me again, unless it’s to give yourselves in. I do not want to hear from you again.”