Chapter 12

TWELVE

Whyte’s Pharmacy was one of the few old-fashioned family-owned enterprises to survive in Ragmullin. When he arrived at the shop, Kirby was brought into a back room, where he sat himself down on the chair offered by the pharmacist, who introduced herself as Megan Price. The room was small and shelved from floor to ceiling, packed with medicines and drugs. Kirby kept his hands firmly clasped on his lap and was glad the boss wasn’t here. He knew about Lottie’s struggle with prescription medication, though he thought she was now over that addiction.

‘Ms Price,’ he said. ‘I’m making enquiries on behalf of Amy Whyte’s father. Do you have any notion of where Amy might be?’

‘No. Not a clue. Richard, Mr Whyte, arrived this morning all concerned.’ The pharmacist appeared to be in her mid thirties, with deep furrows grooved into her forehead. She rubbed a hand along her chin and eyed Kirby. ‘That’s not entirely true. He was more angry than concerned. Couldn’t believe she hadn’t turned up yesterday either.’

‘You hadn’t informed Mr Whyte that Amy was absent yesterday?’

‘I didn’t see the need to land the girl in any trouble.’

‘What kind of trouble?’ Kirby fumbled with one hand in his pocket for his notebook. Damn, he’d left it at the office, along with his phone. He’d have to remember the salient points of the conversation.

‘I shouldn’t have said that.’ The pharmacist was furiously back-pedalling. ‘I just don’t like telling stories out of school, if you catch my drift.’

‘And what stories might those be?’

A loud sigh was followed by a strained cough before Price spoke again. ‘Amy’s a good girl. She has her heart in the right place. Her father thinks she’s a saint.’

‘But you know different?’

‘You could say that. More often than not, she doesn’t appear on Sundays. Likes to party with that friend of hers who used to work here. Penny something … Let me think. Brogan. That’s it. Used to work here too. Richard had to let her go.’

‘When was that?’

‘About a month ago.’

‘Why did he let her go?’

‘She was lazy. Wouldn’t lift a hand to do a good turn for anyone. And in this type of job, you have to be prepared to help out. Some of our customers are ill, or caring for someone who’s ill, so they need to be treated with care and attention.’

‘And Penny wasn’t like that?’

‘No. Quite the opposite. I’d often find her trying out the lipsticks, testing nail polish or spraying expensive perfumes. Not good for business.’

‘Amy recommended her for the job, did she?’ Kirby wasn’t sure this had any relevance to where Amy might be, but just as well to let the pharmacist have her say.

‘She did. But I think Penny’s behaviour got too much even for her.’

‘Did they fall out?’

Price paused and rubbed her chin nervously. ‘Not that I know of. I think they’re still friends. They go clubbing together after all.’

‘Can you think of anyone else Amy was friendly with?’

‘She has a lot of friends. Not that I could name any of them. Amy’s a vivacious girl. Always smiling. She has a good word for everyone.’

‘Boyfriend?’

‘Never heard her speak of one. That’s not to say she doesn’t have one.’ Megan Price twisted one hand around the other.

‘Can I have a word with the other staff? They might know of someone she was close to.’

‘You don’t know where she is then?’

‘We’re looking for her.’

Price said, ‘Richard’s a very influential man. He has a lot of friends in high places. I’d pull out all the stops if I were you.’

Kirby scratched his head, reminding himself to have a quick shower this evening, and wondered if the pharmacist was laying on a threat or a warning.

‘Usually people like that have a lot of enemies,’ he said.

‘You read my mind perfectly.’

‘I told you on the phone,’ Jordan Brogan said. ‘I haven’t seen her.’

‘We just want to ask a few questions.’

‘Are you deaf? Penny doesn’t live here any more. Kicked her out, so I did.’ Brogan was a small man with a big voice. Lottie had to stop herself putting her hands over her ears as she and Boyd followed him inside his rather cramped house.

‘When was that?’

‘What?’

She noticed then that he was wearing a hearing aid. ‘Can you switch on your hearing aid, Mr Brogan?’

‘I keep forgetting. Sorry.’ He fiddled with the small peanut-shaped device and put it back in his ear. ‘Ah, that’s better. Damaged my hearing while I was in the army. Dragged the bastards through the courts, and what did I get? I’ll tell you what. Six grand. Sure these yokes cost me four grand. Disgrace, that’s what it is.’ He sat at the table and indicated for Lottie and Boyd to join him. ‘Why are you asking about Penny?’

‘It’s really Amy Whyte we’re trying to locate, but we thought maybe your daughter might know where she is.’

‘That smart-arse madam got Penny fired, so she did.’

‘Where exactly is Penny living now?’ Lottie felt that if she didn’t stick to what she wanted to know, Jordan Brogan would give out about everything and anything all day long.

‘She has a flat. Number seven Columb Street. Don’t know how she’s paying for it. Must be that rent assistance shite from the social. Or maybe it’s from the council. I don’t know, because I haven’t seen her in like a month. She’s breaking her mother’s heart, so she is.’

‘And your wife, can we have a word with her?’ Lottie thought maybe Penny was in contact with her mother.

‘Breda’s at work. Works in motor tax at the council.’

Lottie stood. ‘I’ll call in and see if she’s seen your daughter. Does she work anywhere now?’

‘I told you. Motor tax.’

‘No, sorry, I mean Penny.’

‘I haven’t a clue. Whyte’s was the last place I heard. But sure I don’t hear that much,’ he tapped his hearing aid, ‘and no one tells me anything around here.’

Lottie headed for the door. ‘Thanks for your time, Mr Brogan.’

He followed her out. ‘Do you think my Penny is missing?’

‘We just need to talk to her in relation to our inquiries.’ Lottie smiled, hoping she sounded reassuring, but her stomach was tightening into a knot of disquiet. Where were Amy and Penny? Then again, they were both adults and they were entitled to their privacy. But something was niggling away in her gut. A warning of sorts, telling her to take note of everything she heard.

Jordan Brogan was shouting now. ‘That Amy is bad news. Ever since she got that lad sent down for armed robbery.’

Lottie’s heart stopped. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, it must be ten years ago now. You remember Conor Dowling. Amy Whyte and another lassie said they saw him running from Bill Thompson’s house. Poor Bill used to own the pub on Friars Street. He’s dead now. Stroke, I heard. Maybe not more than a year after the assault. He got a right beating that night. All his cash was taken too.’

‘Amy must have been fourteen or fifteen at the time.’

‘That’d be about right.’

‘Thanks, Mr Brogan. Let me know if Penny contacts you.’

As she opened the car door she said, ‘Gosh, Boyd, I hope those girls are not in any trouble.’

‘As you said earlier, they’re probably sleeping off a massive hangover somewhere.’

‘I hope to God that’s all that’s wrong.’