Page 78 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Tell me what you know about Shannon Kenny?’

‘Shannon?’ Plunkett’s eyes widened and his hands faffed about in the air, seemingly flustered. ‘Why are you asking about her?’

‘It’s my job to ask the questions.’

‘All right, I know of Shannon. So what?’

‘How do you know her?’

‘She’s one of my girls.’ Plunkett’s face reddened. ‘I mean, she’s registered with my agency.’

‘When did you last see her?’

‘Ages ago. We only speak on the phone. Message online. Work stuff.’

‘And when did you last speak with her?’

He seemed to relax, planting his hands on the steering wheel. ‘Yesterday. Mid morning, I think it was. I wanted to see if she was interested in meeting someone new. She’d been with a guy earlier in the week who didn’t treat her well, so I believe. Because you lot had been talking to me, I decided to speak to her first before putting someone else her way.’

‘I’ll need that person’s name.’

‘First tell me what’s going on.’

‘In a minute. That bad experience she had the other night, what happened?’

‘Nothing much really.’ Plunkett blew out his cheeks as if deciding what he should say. ‘She’s a bit of a drama queen. Said the guy promised her dinner but they only had drinks and he was flirting with everyone. She’s a beautiful young woman and should be making something of herself.’

Kirby figured Plunkett knew nothing of Shannon’s troubled past. He kept quiet about it. ‘I’ll need that guy’s details. Did Shannon agree to the date last night?’

‘She agreed that I could forward her contact details. With you lot snooping around my website, I felt it was better not to have contact made through it.’

‘Did this date go ahead?’

‘I’ve no idea. I sent her number to the guy and heard nothing back.’

‘Don’t you check in to make sure the girls are okay after these dates?’

‘They’re adults. They don’t need hand-holding.’

‘After all that’s happened, maybe they do. You could be putting these young women in harm’s way.’

‘What do you mean? Has something happened to Shannon?’

‘She’s been reported missing, and Laura Nolan is dead. Two of yourgirls, as you call them. It might be no harm if you paused your business for the time being. At least until we can guarantee the safety of the young women.’

‘Shit. Shannon is missing? How? I spoke to her yesterday. She can’t be missing.’

‘We need your full client list, with the names of those Shannon had most recent contact with. We’re in the process of getting a warrant signed, but it’d be a great help if you could supply them without one.’

‘Sure. But Cathy is off and she knows it better than me. She can send it tomorrow.’

‘I’m certain you can do it today.’

‘I’ll go back in now and see what I can do.’

‘Appreciate it.’ Kirby handed over his card. He lumbered out of the car and leaned on the roof while Plunkett got out and zapped the car locked.

‘I have nothing to do with what’s going on,’ he said. ‘You have to believe me.’

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