Chapter 9 If At First You Don’t Succeed…

Chapter 9 If At First You Don’t Succeed…

In which Dermot and Gráinne learn of Aoibheann’s fate and seek to protect Cúan.


Detective Chief Superintendent Breslin punched a particular button on his desk phone and spoke waited for it to be answered. When it was he didn't hesitate. “Inspector Callan, can you locate detective sergeant Cullen immediately and bring him to my office. I want to speak to both of you as soon as possible. Something significant has come up.”


Within minutes Dermot and his immediate superior Inspector Carl Callan were ushered into Breslin’s wood panelled executive office at the heart of Dublin Castle.

Inspector Callan was a Meathman who was known for being sound, steady and methodical. He was a great source of knowledge and he had made his reputation in building complex cases concerning racketeering, money laundering and enforcement through his attention to detail and following the most elusive paper and money trails.


Superintendent Breslin was a very different type of Garda. He had come from the leafy suburbs of South County Dublin going to the right rugby playing schools and following his father into the upper echelons of the force. He was suspected of golf links, that is, links through the right golf clubs and financial circles to the right sort of people. These people usually were heavy investors in the political parties and rubbed shoulders with Barristers and Justices on a regular basis. None of this arrested Breslin’s rapid promotion in the force.


He was very tall and distinguished looking and always had his dark hair immaculately groomed in case he was called upon to give an interview in the course of his duties. He cultivated a pencil thin moustache which he felt gave him a more severe and distinctive appearance to the more rounded rural faces at the top table. He was dressed in uniform but his jacket was draped over the back of his plush leather orthopaedic supportive manager’s chair. Dermot’s file was already open on the desk and Chief Superintendent Breslin was fingering the paperwork as if he feared it would leave a stain on his fingers. His expression was sour. Dermot and Callan stood to attention.


‘At ease. I’m afraid that I have the unpleasant duty to break some bad news to you Detective Sergeant. How well do you remember Philly O’Leary? Dermot looked down at his file. He remembered the success of the arrest and the subsequent evidence he gave during the trial that resulted in the guilty verdict. The sentence was a life sentence twenty five years. Surely this was a closed case?

“I remember him very well Sir.He was a vindictive and violent criminal working as a contract killer for criminal gangs based around the country. His M.O. Of working alone made it hard to track his movements or to uncover evidence against him. He was experienced in evasion, using cash purchases, giving false names and using stolen vehicles for his activities. He controlled a number of lockup garages in the docklands and on the edges of the airport. His preference for the disposal of his victim’s bodies was dee in the Wicklow woods and in remote areas of the mountains to avoid forensics. In three of the cases we weren't even aware that his victims were missing ,let alone that they had been killed. They were rival criminals and it was just assumed they had skipped the jurisdiction to live abroad.” Dermot paused and for the first time looked puzzled. “Surely this is all just history Sir as Philly is doing a twenty five year stretch in Mountjoy?”


“You would like to think so, wouldn’t you Cullen? However, it appears that our famous Irish Prison Services have managed to let your friend Philly O’Leary to slip between their fingers and now cannot find him anywhere. In short he has effected an escape and it appears he had an accomplice. Were you aware that he had a son?” queried the Chief Superintendent almost mildly.


Dermot frowned and thought hard. Surely the son was too young to have a part in this? At the time of trial the boy had only been a thirteen year old. But wait. If that was five years ago then, he would be a young man by now. He would be seventeen,or possibly eighteen by now, an adult in the eyes of the law.


“He had a son Sir,” was all that he could think to say.

“Yes,” drawled the Chief Superintendent, opening a second file bearing Philly O’Leary’s name on the cover. “And sons grow up don’t they. Philly’s son turned eighteen last March and as of earlier today appears to be the last person to visit Philly and speak to Philly in Mountjoy just before his disappearance. Tell me Detective,” the last word being said with a sarcastic emphasis on Dermot’s title,” Are you aware that this son of Philly’s ...an Alex O’Leary...is recorded here as attending school in St.Daniel’s … Oh my, isn’t that the school where your own son started last September. St.Daniel’s on the North Circular Road hmm?” The Chief Superintendent looked up at Dermot with a hint of suspicion in his gaze.

“No I was not aware of that Sir.” Answered Dermot looking straight ahead but his mind was racing and his heart began pounding in his chest.


With Philly on the loose and his son Alex involved he could see obvious dangers not only for himself but for Cúan directly as well. If Cúan were directly known to Alex and through him to his father the threat level to Cúan become huge. Dermot did not like that thought one little bit.


The Chief Superintendent pulled up a new folder containing a single sheet of paper and spoke again. “I have here a recent crime report, as recent as two hours ago taken in Griffith Avenue Station, my old station by the way,concerning the abduction of two schoolgirls , with violence… mind you in the vicinity of and wearing the uniforms of St. Catherine’s School. The witness describes a plain white unmarked van of indeterminate make or model and of course failed to get anything of the license plate except the letter D. She describes two men one young and the other much older matching the descriptions of one Philly O’Leary and his child sorry now of course, a young man Alex O’Leary. Detective, you have a daughter do you not? May one ask if she attends St.Catherine’s School? And should she so do can one ask if you have heard from her in the last two hours hmm? You may now wish to consult your personal mobile.” concluded the Chief Superintendent drily and sat back to observe Dermot’s reaction.


Dermot’s heart was hammering and he could feel Inspector Carl Cullen’s eyes drilling into him from behind as he brought out his phone and opened up the messenger apps to see if he had heard from Aoibheann. There was nothing there. Then he rang Aoibheann’s phone. The phone gave the reply “the number you are calling is unavailable. Try again later.” Dermot shut down the app and said in a dull voice, “there’s no answer. “


“So, there you have it,” responded the Chief Superintendent in a crisp tone, “ As of this moment there is credible evidence that your daughter has been abducted with another girl by a dangerous criminal recently at large. This criminal has had a personal history with you and it appears now he holds a powerful leverage over you personally. I am calling on you, Inspector Callan, as witness. Detective Sergeant Dermot Cullen, I am relieving you of all duties with immediate effect and placing you on operational suspension until further notice. You will relinquish your weapon and your warrant card here and now. Furthermore I am ordering you to abandon any thought of pursuing these felons with the intent to investigate or arrest them. If and when there is any attempt by them to communicate with you or with anyone in your family I expect to be kept personally informed. The law must be allowed to take its course whatever happens without fear or favour.”


Dermot stared at his commanding officer with disbelief. Then slowly and reluctantly as if in a daze he withdrew his service pistol from its holster. As he did so Inspector Callan rapidly came around and stood between him and the uniformed Chief with his hand out.” Ah now, Dermot,” he said understandingly “You know we have to do this.”

Then he held out both hands with his palms up beseechingly. Dermot placed his pistol in one of Carl’s hands and his warrant card identification in the other. “Go home now Dermot” whispered Inspector Callan kindly, “You still have Gráinne and Cúan to be taking care of. Do you want me to come with you to explain things to Gráinne?”


“ No,” replied Dermot suddenly looking like a beaten man, “I’d better do it. It’ll be no better as news coming from me I’ll manage it because it is my responsibility.”

“Of course I sympathise with you for your troubles Detective” said the Chief “and you had better take some steps for increased security for I have no doubt that it is for you yourself that Philly is angling for. You are dismissed. Carl,could you remain behind for a bit. I’d like you to pick up on this case personally and there is a witness to be reinterviewed… She is rather young and it may be delicate.”


As Dermot left Breslin’s office he tried not to feel as if his world was collapsing around him. Aoibheann abducted! He was devastated. Worse than that Breslin had suspended him which meant he was powerless to do anything and sent him home to do to Gráinne and Cúan exactly what had been done to him. He set his jaw and headed out. “At least”, he thought ‘I will be able to get some information on how the case is proceeding quietly through Carl Callan. He’s a good man and I know he’ll keep me in the loop.’


As he left the station he failed to notice the pretty blonde teenager in the waiting area in a pink designer tracksuit. She certainly noticed him and took his photograph while smiling sweetly and appearing to take a selfie.


Gráinne Cullen climbed out of the small black Fiat 500. Dermot saw her glance in wonder at his black Range Rover parked across the street before she smiled in an amused smile, reached into the passenger seat and retrieved her handbag and some schoolbooks. She had just finished her day out on the travellers halting site as a teacher to the travellers, a job she loved. ‘She was probably looking forward to an evening at home with her family’ thought Dermot guiltily then he looked over at Cúan sitting in an armchair all pale and upset, almost as if, as if somehow Cúan felt he was to blame. Stupid really but it showed when the worst happened that her really loved his sister after all.


Gráinne came in the door, placed her bags on the hall table with her keys and took one look at Dermot’s face and asked “is it Manus?” “No Love,” said Dermot taking her hand in his, “It’s Aoibheann. We think she may have been taken...abducted.”

Gráinne placed her other hand on the stair bannister to steady herself. Dermot led her over to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair for her to sit on. As Gráinne sat down he said, “you’re in shock. You’ld bette let me explain.

Cúan came across and sat at the table also beside his grieving mother. She reached out instinctively and hugged him deeply in her arms which only made him feel more guilty.


“Aoibheann.” was all she could whisper. He squeezed her as hard as he could without hurting her. Dermot went on explaining. “Do you remember me talking about Philly O’Leary?” It was all Gráinne could do to nod. “Well his son Alex visited him in prison earlier today and now the prison guards can’t find him anywhere and Alex is missing too. Two men matching their descriptions have been reported as kidnapping two St. Catherine’s students this afternoon. Now Aoibheann hasn’t come home and I can’t seem to raise her by phone. I think the O’Learys have got her. Demot stopped and looked at Gráinne and gauging her response. Gráinne looked up out of wet eyes in which tears were starting . He saw her familiar fire sparking up in her eyes she locked him with her stare. “You will fix this Dermot,” she said in a voice trembling full of emotion.


“I’ve been suspended until further notice Gráinne, there’s nothing I can do.” Dermot faltered at her glare. “Now you just listen to me Dermot Cullen. I don’t care a damn what the Gardai say to you , I do not suspend you as a husband and as a father. You will not stop nor rest. You will leave no stone unturned until you get our daughter back. I don’t care what you have to do or how you do it but I expect you to do what you were trained to do, detect! You are suspended, so what if you can’t provide you can protect. Now get out there and find your little girl!” This last was said with Gráinne pointing at the door.


Dermot grabbed his keys. It had all fallen into place for him. Administrative leave or not no one could order him not to be a father. “Cúan” he said whirling around at the door “pack a bag. You’re off to stay with your grandad Manus in Kildare.”


Cúan stood up. “Why Dad? I want to stay here.” “ Because,” Dermot answered adopting a stance with his hand on his hip.” Philly has a son too...a son you may know from school, one Alex O’Leary. Now if Alex O’Leary knows you from school then you aren’t safe here. Dermot looked over at Grainne. “But Dad!” began Cúan.


Gráinne stood up and walked directly over to Cúan and hugged him very hard. Then she held him out at arms length and simply said “Go.” Then she turned around and walked out into the back garden to cry by herself. Whatever argument Cúanfelt he could or should give just left him with the despair of her sobbing. How could he add to her misery by defying her? He trudged upstairs and began to throw a few things into an old sports bag. That was when he realised that he would be willing to give up all of his technology just to have Aoibheann back. “What’s going to happen to us Gaebolg?” he asked but the hurl just looked up at him and said nothing.