Unti Lucy Black Novel #3 by Brian McGilloway Read Free Book Online Page A

father taking her on the old diesel railcar that had shuffled back and forth along the track when the museum first opened. It had long since stopped. Two original locomotives remained, one inside the building and a second, rusting model, positioned outside.
    The drunk girl picked her way across to the low wall outside the museum and, swinging her leg, managed to step over it. They watched as she meandered past the building, then turned in left behind it, to where the platform was.
    â€œWe’ll try here first,” Fleming said.
    Lucy pulled in and parked outside the museum, which was already closed for the day. She and Fleming got out and followed the girl’s path, around to the platform.
    There were about a dozen ­people gathered there, most of whom were female. One old man sat in their midst, a bottle of White Lightning cider in his hands. The others were sharing cans of lager. The warm breeze, carrying down the Foyle Valley, seemed to strengthen here, as if the structure of the platform roofing created a wind tunnel of sorts. A second man sat with his T-­shirt removed and tied around his head to protect his scalp from the sun, his trunk milky white against the livid red burns on his arms and face. He glanced up at Lucy as they rounded the corner and made to struggle to his feet.
    â€œIt’s okay, Sammy,” Fleming said. “Don’t stand up.”
    â€œInspector Fleming,” Sammy said, exposing his gums in a toothless smile. “Come on and sit,” he added grandly, patting the concrete ground on which they sat with the flat of his hand.
    â€œHow are you keeping, Sammy? You’ve taken a scalding.”
    â€œI’m watching my head,” Sammy said. “Don’t want to get sunburn on me ears.”
    â€œNiall Toner is looking for you. He says you need to call in and get your shots.”
    Sammy winked broadly at Fleming. “I’ll call round later,” he said. “He’s an awful worrier.”
    â€œSomeone needs to worry about you, Sammy.”
    Lucy glanced at the others gathered there who were following the exchange. She recognized a few of them, though not by name. She was struck by the number of women there. Many of them were relatively young. One appeared to be still in her teens. She wore skinny jeans and red sneakers. She had her hair scraped back in a ponytail.
    â€œShould you be here?” Lucy ventured.
    â€œWhere else should I be?” the girl asked, sharply.
    â€œLeave her,” Sammy said, though Lucy could not tell whether he was addressing her or the girl. “She’s crabbed.”
    â€œPiss off,” the girl said, kicking out with her foot, missing Sammy and striking the older woman who sat next to him.
    â€œI’ll slap your arse,” the woman said, with such conviction, the young girl’s reply died on her lips.
    â€œWe’re looking for someone,” Fleming said to Sammy. “Kamil Krawiec.”
    Sam shook his head. “Never heard of him.”
    Fleming handed him the picture that Toner had given them. Sammy took it, studying the picture. After a moment, his face lit with recognition.
    â€œCrackers? Why didn’t you say?”
    â€œCrackers?”
    â€œAye. Crackers. Who the fu—­” He glanced again at Lucy. “Who can say that, whatever it is?” He pointed at the man’s name on the license with a thin grimy finger. “Camel?”
    â€œKam-­eel, ” Fleming pronounced. “Have you seen him?”
    Sam shook his head. “Not in a while. What’s he done?”
    â€œNothing,” Fleming said. “We just wanted to find him.”
    â€œIs this about the bin?” a woman to Lucy’s left asked.
    Lucy glanced down. The woman looked to be in her forties, though Lucy knew that meant little if she’d been living rough. She had thin pinched features and auburn hair with a single patch of gray above her left ear. “What