Page 29 of Death at Inishmore Castle

He glanced down at our dog. “I may have to hire you for the force if you keep finding dead bodies.”

Mr. Poe yapped like he thought that was a great idea.

I rolled my eyes.

Kieran shook his head but then bent down to pet our very wet dog. “You’re a good boy,” he said. As always, Mr. Poe soaked up the love.

The detective stood, and then opened his notebook. “Okay, take me through exactly what happened.”

I told him about Mr. Poe. “I’m sorry I messed with your crime scene, but I had to make sure she was dead before going to get help.”

“I would have done the same. The pathologist said on the phone that the pond has likely washed any DNA evidence off, but we can be hopeful. And we have yours on file so we will be able to write off any of the trace you left on the body.”

“I feel bad.”

“Well, two people have died, I think that is a normal emotional response.”

“Yes, but I meant about suspecting her of murdering Father Brennen or Carl Doyle or whoever he was.”

Kieran’s head snapped around. “How did you know his real name?”

I swallowed hard. Well, poo. “Before you arrived, I might have glanced through his pockets. Um, to make sure, you know, that he wasn’t hiding something.” I’d stuck my foot in that one.

“Mercy. You cannot tamper with evidence at a crime scene. How am I supposed to explain your fingerprints?”

“I used a tissue.” I gave him my most charming smile.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes. I swear he learned the rolling eyes from me.

“I know. I know. But I wasn’t sure when you guys might be able to get there. And I wondered if maybe I might find something that would lead to who murdered him. Like a note. Or maybe he’d stolen something. I didn’t know, so I did a preliminary search.”

The words sounded lame even to me. The truth was, I was nosy and often stuck my nose into places that it didn’t belong. Notably, Kieran’s crime scenes. “Have I mentioned, I’m sorry. I’d say I will never do it again, but you’ve met me. I tend to be impulsively curious when things like this happen.”

“You mean murders that put your life in danger?”

I cleared my throat but didn’t say anything.

“You are a crime writer, and a darn good one. But you need to leave the investigating and policing to me.”

“I do try to do that,” I said. “But, like I said, you’ve met me. I have a natural curiosity and?—”

“And you can’t help yourself, but it’s dangerous.”

I sighed. “I hear you.” I’d nearly been killed more than once when a murderer had me in their sights. But I’d also helped to solve those cases.

To keep him from yelling at me, I decided to change the subject. “You’re going to have a tough time keeping people here with two murders on the property.”

“Which is why you won’t be saying anything to anyone,” he said. “Right now, we’re the only ones who know about the nun. The O’Sullivans are aware, and you will say the same thing I told them, which is nothing. ‘I don’t know’ is the only answer I want you to give.”

“Okay. I mean, you’re here, so they are going to suspect something. Two of the guests will be missing from the various events. I’m not the only one who might be curious about that.”

“Then you give the same answer. They are indisposed. I mean it. No questioning my suspects. Got it?”

“Yes. But there have been two murders. That means there is a third suspect, right?”

“How do you know the nun was murdered?” Kieran demanded. “She could have drowned herself.”

This time I was the one who was eye-rolling. “In three feet of water? There was petechial hemorrhaging,” I said. I had glanced at her neck and seen brown and purple spots on the skin. “She was strangled and left face down in the water. That’s odd, right? That the killer has used two different methods? That isn’t usually the case.

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