Private Dublin

Chapter 34

“Jack,” Andi said, the relief in her voice palpable.

She pushed past Finch and then hesitated. I thought she was debating whether to give me a hug. In the end, she handed me my suit jacket, which she must have recovered from the tack room.

“Andi Harris, this is Lawrence Finch,” I said, brushing off the worst of the dust. “The shooter is a man called Sam Farrell. He’s former Garda and works for Mr. Finch.”

“Used to,” Finch said as he offered Andi his hand. “I think this is grounds for termination. Of employment, of course,” he added.

“Garda?” Andi responded quizzically as she took Finch’s hand. “A cop turned killer?”

“I’ve encountered them before,” I said.

“Mr. Finch, I know you from the papers,” Andi remarked.

“The stories aren’t always true. Believe only half of them,” he responded.

“Which half?” she asked.

“Whichever half makes me look the best,” he replied with a grin, which quickly faded. “I’m shocked by Mr. Morgan’s revelation and was just saying I want to help however I can.”

“You could hire Private to find your man,” Andi said without skipping a beat.

I paused midway through slipping my arm into the sleeve of my jacket.

“This is a personal—” I began, but he cut me off.

“Of course,” he said. “If it would help to have more resources at your disposal...”

“It would,” Andi replied.

I couldn’t argue without making her look foolish, and she had a point. Running this as a billable investigation would enable me to direct Private’s resources without any guilt whatsoever.

“Then it’s settled,” said Finch. “Come by my place tomorrow. You can do a client induction or whatever it is you do, and I can arrange for you to see Sam’s quarters.”

“He lived with you?” I asked.

“On the estate,” Finch replied. “All our staff have quarters on the property.”

Andi’s eyes widened as she caught my gaze. I could tell she was impressed by such wealth.

“Until tomorrow,” Finch said. “I’ll make sure there’s no nonsense with the Garda after this incident.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “I’ll have to report everything I know to them and to LAPD. This man is wanted there. I hope it won’t cause you any embarrassment when I let them know where he worked.”

“Why would it? The Garda hired him before I did. He was a police officer for fifteen years. This is their embarrassment not mine,” Finch replied. “See you tomorrow.”

He gave Andi and me a polite nod and left.

“That was bold,” I said when I was certain he was out of earshot.

“Ah, he can afford it,” she replied. “I think he’s Ireland’s fourth-richest man. Or maybe the third. And I bet his companies have ongoing requirements for specialist investigators.”

“Always be closing.” I smiled. “It gets us inside his circle at the very least.”

“You think he’s involved?” Andi seemed surprised.

“The shooter works for him,” I replied.

“And the Garda before that. Like he said,” Andi countered. “Even the best of us can make mistakes.”

“True,” I conceded. “And that’s why I want to check out Finch thoroughly. See if this was a mistake or collusion.”

“Paranoia is never wrong when you’ve been at the hot end of a gun,” she said.

“Exactly. Justine is in hospital because we weren’t paranoid enough,” I replied. “Let’s get out of here, before they change their minds about handing me over to the cops.”

She smiled, nodded, and I followed her out.