Page 75 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Probably nothing, but I was out with Shannon Friday night. That’s the last time I saw her, though we did speak on the phone last night.’

‘Okay, first tell me about when you last saw her. Anything unusual that you can remember.’ He opened a notebook, apparently ready to jot down points. This made her even more nervous.

‘There was this guy at the bar in Fallon’s. I thought he was cute with a beard and all, but he gave Shannon the willies.’

‘The willies?’ The detective smiled. ‘I know what you mean, Jess. Continue.’

‘We had a few drinks in Fallon’s before heading to Danny’s.’

‘This guy at the bar, what’s the story there?’

‘He sent drinks down to our table and asked if he could join us.’

‘Did you know him?’

‘Never saw him before in my life. He kind of freaked Shannon out.’

‘Do you think she knew him?’

‘No, it was just that she had a bad feeling about him. Well, I think that’s all it was. Shannon can be secretive. I rarely know what’s going on in her head.’

‘Go on.’

‘That’s all really. We left him there at Fallon’s and went to Danny’s Bar. Afterwards, we were going in different directions, so I got a taxi and she walked home.’

‘Okay. You said you spoke to her on the phone yesterday.’

‘I texted her a few times yesterday morning. To tell her about the murder at the building site. I was to meet her in the park, but she messaged to say she had to head off. And then she rang me last night saying she was out again for a date but he hadn’tturned up and she was at a loose end. She asked me to meet her for a few drinks. I was bushed and broke. We’d had two nights in a row and no way could I do another. Anyhow, I was already in bed when she rang.’

‘Where was she?’

‘I think she was outside Danny’s.’

‘Did she mention the guy from Fallon’s again?’

‘Not a word.’

‘Did you think he was suspicious?’

‘He was just being nice.’

‘You mentioned she told you on the phone she’d been stood up. Do you know who she was meeting?’

‘No, but it was probably some guy from the agency.’

‘Agency?’ The detective sat up a bit straighter.

‘Oh shit. Don’t write that down. Her brother knows nothing about it.’

‘About what?’ He leaned in closer.

She could smell his woody deodorant and figured he used it to mask the sour odour of cigars. Knitting her fingers together, she took a deep breath. George would kill Shannon if he found out, but feck it, he was the one who’d dragged her here. ‘Shannon was registered with an escort agency.’

The detective sat with his pen poised over the notebook. ‘What agency?’

‘Is it important?’

‘It might be.’

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