Private Dublin

Chapter 56

My mind reeled at the idea Sam Farrell had tried to get a job at Private. That couldn’t have been a coincidence. Had he been planning this far ahead to get close enough to kill me? Or was there some other play in progress here? And why hadn’t he succeeded in his job application?

“Let me call you back,” I said to Mo.

“Sure,” she replied.

I ended the call and found Emily Knighton’s number in Andi’s phonebook.

“What is it?” she asked as I dialed.

“One second,” I replied. The call went through.

“Andi,” Emily said when she answered.

“No, it’s Jack,” I responded. “Did a guy called Sam Farrell interview with you for a job a few months ago?”

“Sam Farrell?” Emily repeated, and I saw Andi’s eyes widen as she registered the significance of what I was asking. She looked at me in disbelief.

“Yes, I remember him. Garda officer, wanted to move to London,” Emily said. “Why?”

“He’s the guy who shot Justine,” I said.

“No!” Emily responded. “I have a good memory for faces and names, I should have—”

I cut her off. “Don’t beat yourself up. It was a short meeting six months ago. Why would you have remembered? Could have happened to anyone.”

“But we’re not supposed to be just anyone,” Emily countered, sounding glum. “I should have done better.”

“I’m serious,” I said. “There’s no point. You can’t undo the past. If you want to help, send Mo-bot everything you can remember about the guy. Every detail of your interactions with him and the interview, no matter how small.”

“I record all my interviews,” she said. “I’ll have the footage stored somewhere on the system. I’ll send that too.”

“Thanks,” I replied. “And I want you to run a background check on everyone hired in the London office in the past two years.”

“What?” Emily asked. “Why?”

“Sam Farrell didn’t come to us by accident. I think Propaganda Tre was trying to get someone on the inside of Private.”

“Damn,” Emily remarked.

“Yep,” I concurred.

“I was hired within the last two years,” Andi remarked. “Does that mean I’m under suspicion?”

“Of course not,” I replied, when in truth I couldn’t be certain of anyone now. Not beyond my core team of legacy hires. “We’re merely checking everyone as a formality.”

“Doesn’t feel like a formality when you’re the one being checked,” Andi said.

“I’ll get right on it,” Emily cut in.

“Thanks,” I said before hanging up.

“You really think Propaganda Tre tried to get someone inside Private?” Andi asked. “No offence, but it’s a detective agency. Hardly MI6.”

“Why not? Someone felt enough hatred for me to kill five innocent people and put many more in hospital when they came after Justine and me. They could have been trying to find out about us earlier or else looking at our case files to see what we know about Propaganda Tre.”

Andi nodded and took a sip of her cider. “Good point.”

“We need to get back to the city,” I said. “I want to take a look at the case notes through the lens of Farrell having a longer history with us.”

“I’m going to settle up,” Andi responded. “Finish your drink and I’ll meet you at the car.”

“I don’t suppose there’s any point in me arguing over the check,” I said.

“None whatsoever,” she replied quickly. “I’m going to expense it, so you’re picking up the tab either way.”

She broke into a broad smile as she stood up and walked inside. I shook my head at her impish humor, but part of me couldn’t help but wonder whether I could truly trust her.