Murder in Ballyhasset by Noreen Mayer Read Free Book Online

thought.
    He sighed heavily. 'No, I didn't pay extra, and I lost my boarding pass. The police are on about this too. I can't bear all this crap right now.'
    'May I see Kathleen's bedroom?' she asked.
    He shrugged. 'You can if you want. When you go upstairs, it's the big room to the left. My bedroom is next door. You can't miss it.'
    Libby climbed the stairs. She was expecting to find a Spartan place, in keeping with Kathleen's apparently rigid personality. Instead, she stared in surprise at the king-size bed, which dominated the room. The walls were pale-pink. A decorative bright-pink wardrobe stood on one side of the bed. A big bedside locker stood on the other. A fancy chest of drawers, which held a large ornate mirror, lay against a third wall, facing the window. On top of the white bedspread sat a teddy bear.
    Wow, so Kathleen had a feminine side after all, she thought. Wouldn't be my taste, though, too girly, too much pink. She realised that Mick and Kathleen used separate bedrooms, which was mighty odd for a young couple.

Chapter 8
    Libby went for a stroll with her dog along Seapoint Beach in the evening. The sea was calm and grey; the tide was out. A few fishing boats stood far out in the deep waters, barely visible from the shore. Seaweed lined the wet sand near the water's edge and seagulls screeched overhead. A chill rose from the water, and she shivered in her light cotton summer dress.
    Buddy skipped around, he wet his feet but would go no further into the water. Instead, he charged up and down at the water's edge, his stumpy tail wagging furiously. A Jack Russell Terrier ran towards them. He chased Buddy and caught up with him. The pup stopped and rolled over on his belly, and the Jack Russell sniffed him curiously.
     A small girl came up to the dogs and said, 'Here, Rex. Come here, boy.' The dog ignored her completely. Buddy began circling madly around the Jack Russell. 'Rex, come here now,' the girl repeated. Buddy ran up to the small girl and jumped at her legs. He then raced back to the other dog.
    Libby ran over to her dog and clipped his lead onto his collar. She approached the thin fair-haired child, who seemed about ten years old. The little girl wore pink Wellington boots and a blue tracksuit and looked rather forlorn.
    'Buddy is just a pup, he won't harm you.' Libby smiled.
    The child's face brightened, she gazed at Libby with interest. 'I know, I love dogs.'
    'What's your dog's name?'
    'Rex,' replied the girl, 'he's very bold. He won't come back to me.'
    'Here Rex,' Libby called. She held out a dog treat. The dog did not react, just stared at her blankly. 'He's not answering to his name,' Libby said, looking puzzled. She watched the dog as he raced around, ignoring everyone. 'Here Bob,' she said, on impulse.
    Sure enough, the dog bounded up to her, taking the treat from her hand in an instant. She remembered the photo of Bob, and the black patch. This dog belonged to a certain frail old lady, Libby knew.
    'Where did you get this dog?' she asked the girl.
    'I found him on the beach. He was all alone so I took him home.'
    'When was that?' Libby asked.
    'A few days ago.' The little girl's face held a defiant expression.
    'I know who his owner is,' said Libby. 'She's a little old lady, and she's been searching everywhere for Bob.'
    'I want to keep Rex, Bob - I mean,' said the girl, pouting.
    Libby said softly, 'He'd be happier with his real owner, she misses him very much.'
    'I like Bob, he's furry and soft like a teddy, and he plays with me. I want to keep him.' She bent down to pat Bob, who merely ignored her. The dog sniffed at Libby's shoes.
    'Surely your mammy will get you your own dog, just like Bob.'
    'Maybe.' The girl thought for a few minutes. Libby waited in silence, hoping the child would change her mind. 'Okay then. You can take him back to the old lady.' She handed Libby the dog's lead. 'My mammy doesn't like Bob, anyway.' Her eyes danced as she spoke. 'Ma says Bob humps her.'
    'You're a good