‘I’ve told you, I don’t. I really don’t know what this is about but I don’t use a dating site, have never used a dating site, don’t think I ever would use a dating site, don’t need to use a dating site. Does that answer your question?’
‘I guess it does. I need to ask you to be careful. Watch where you’re going, don’t go anywhere alone, don’t take any risks.’
‘I’m not a child, Inspector. Like I say, I know how to look after myself. I’ll be fine.’
*
Emily Dornan was surprised to find the police at her door. It had been two years since she’d been attacked and she’d assumed the case had been forgotten, if not closed. Somewhat bemused, she invited Narey and Wells into her house in Dennistoun.
She was in her late twenties, long blonde hair parted in the centre. Just as the profile in Ethan Garland’s notes had suggested. She told them how she’d got off a train at Alexandra Parade and realised someone was following her. She was punched and being strangled when she heard voices shouting. Her attacker let her go and ran off.
‘And you’d no idea who it might have been that attacked you? Anyone that might have threatened you or held a grudge? An ex-boyfriend, maybe?’
Emily shook her head. ‘I’m sure it was just some random. Either he’d followed me or saw me walking.’
‘And you hadn’t had any other plans that night? No date arranged, anything like that?’
Emily looked confused. ‘No. Why?’
‘It would fit into our enquiry, with what we know of the other incidents. Did you have a boyfriend at the time?’
‘No. I was single. I’m seeing someone now but not back then.’
‘And thinking back, were you happy being single or were you looking to date?’
‘Looking to date. I’ve never liked being single much.’
‘And were you maybe using a dating site? Looking online for someone?’
Emily laughed. ‘Yeah, I was. Jeez, I’m glad I don’t have to go through that anymore. That was a jungle, full of freaks and phonies. Some nice guys too but finding them among the creeps was the hard bit.’
‘What site did you use?’
Emily’s brows knotted. ‘You think that’s connected to the guy who attacked me? Really?’
‘It might be.’
The woman blanched. Stripped of the odd comfort of being attacked by a complete stranger, disturbed by the possibility of it being someone she might have known or spoken with.
‘I used a couple of sites. Igloo was one. And another called Amber. Oh God. That’s what you think?’
‘It’s a possibility. Did you date anyone from it, anyone in particular you remember? Perhaps someone you had a lot in common with.’
‘It was a long time ago. I dated one guy from Igloo, we went out twice. But the cops checked him out at the time, and he wasn’t even in the country. He was in Dublin with pals.’
‘Can you remember anyone else you chatted with? Maybe someone you turned down a date with?’
‘Not really. It probably sounds terrible, but I just wouldn’t remember. I wouldn’t go on there again, even if I was single. Just too many nutters.’
*
Narey had one more call to make before she was sure. This was one interview she had to do on her own and the one she was least looking forward to. Her husband.
*
They’d got Alanna to bed surprisingly early and easily. Just two stories and one clamber out of bed was possibly a new record.
It didn’t quite qualify as date night, as she was still on the clock, but it was just them, it was cosy and relaxed and she was just about to throw a hand grenade into the middle of it.
‘You’re still working.’
‘What?’
He repeated his assertion. ‘You’re still working a case. You’re not really here with us, your mind is somewhere else. And that’s okay, but Alanna is in bed and you don’t have to pretend with me.’
‘I want to talk to you about Irene Dow.’
He froze just before he bit into his food, slowly looking up at her with his mouth open. ‘You what?’
‘Let’s not make this any harder than it needs to be. I want to talk with you about Irene Dow and Keith Hardie. If that’s okay with you.’
‘Well, it’s certainly okay with me but I’m wondering where my wife is and who you are. You know, the one that never talks about her cases and has zero interest when I want to talk about Keith Hardie.’
‘Okay, do it the hard way if it makes you feel better,’ she sighed. ‘Yes, I want to talk about cases when it suits me, and it suits me now. If you feel the need to take the moral high ground, go ahead. But . . . I need your help. And this is serious. And it might give you some of the answers you’re looking for to help Keith Hardie’s mother.’
He held her gaze for a moment. ‘You didn’t need to throw the last bit in. I’d have talked to you about it because you need it. Whatever it was. You know that. But, yes, can’t deny I’d be interested in anything that helps prove Keith didn’t kill her.’
‘Okay then. So, let’s talk. Usual rules apply. I’ll tell you as much as I want, won’t tell you anything I don’t want to, and you’ll just have to like it or lump it. Okay?’
He shook his head ruefully. ‘Is it any wonder I love you?’
‘No. Now, I told you that I had doubts about the evidence in the Eloise Gray case. That I had doubts about the evidence implicating Harkness. I’m now looking at other cases that may be connected, where evidence may have been planted and the accused framed. This should make you happy.’
‘It does.’
‘Now, I don’t know that Irene Dow’s case is connected, but it might be. It doesn’t fit the main criteria, which I’m not telling you about for now, but it might fit another part of it. And that’s what I need to know from you.’
‘Is this the bit where you get to the point?’
‘Yes. I need to know more about Irene Dow. I need to know about her social life, her relationships, if she was dating anyone. That kind of thing.’
‘Okay . . . let’s see. She had a group of friends that she’d lunch with, go out for drinks or to a musical, that sort of thing. There were five of them and they met at least once a week on a Saturday night in a local hotel. I spoke to all of them to get an idea about Irene and who she was. Maybe to get an idea of who else might have killed her.
‘She was divorced, had been for I think ten years, maybe slightly longer. She was single, had been for four years. She’d had a bunch of dates in that time but none of them had gone anywhere. She was lonely though and was trying to find a partner.’
Narey said a silent prayer.
‘One of the friends, a woman named Carol, was particularly close to Irene. She said she was doing online dating, trying to find a guy she could settle down with. Said she’d been using it for a few months but hadn’t found anyone.’
She reached forward with both hands and grabbed Tony by the collar and hauled him to her, kissing him forcefully on the lips.
‘Okay . . . I guess you got the answer you wanted.’
‘Yes, and you’ll get a reward you’ll really like. Soon.’