No Way to Say Goodbye - Anna McPartlin [106]
“Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
After that Sam was summoned into Mary’s home to answer the charge that he had witnessed Penny’s car parked outside.
“What time?” Garda Sheehan asked.
Sam pretended to think for a minute. “Six or seven.”
“Mary, you said you rang Penny around six, didn’t you?” Garda Sheehan said, referring to his notes.
“It must have been seven, then.” Sam smiled.
“Right,” he said, scribbling. His phone rang and he excused himself to take the call, leaving Mary and Sam alone.
“Do you think he believes us?” Mary whispered.
Sam shrugged. He didn’t want to panic Mary but guilt was written all over her face.
Garda Sheehan returned. “Did I mention that the car’s been found? It was reported as crashed on the mountain.”
“No, you didn’t. Is it damaged?” Sam said.
“Any casualties?” Mary chimed in.
“A red deer,” Garda Sheehan said, “and, yes, the car is a write-off.”
“Right,” Sam said.
“Well,” Garda Sheehan pocketed his notebook, “it looks like we’re all done here.”
“OK, then,” Mary said, smiling.
Garda Sheehan made his way to the front door. “One last thing.”
“Yes?” Mary said.
“It would appear that Penny didn’t make it to Dublin last night,” he said, reminding her of Columbo just before he revealed a poisonous plot.
“No?” she said, her heart racing.
“No. It appears she only got as far as the Regional Hospital in Cork.”
“Right,” Mary said, nodding in a way that suggested she knew the game was up.
“She could have killed someone.”
“I know.”
“She was drunk?”
Mary nodded again.
“I should arrest you for aiding and abetting. Not to mention attempting to take me for a fool.”
“Sorry.”
“Is she going to get help?”
“Yes.”
“You see that she does,” he said.
“I will,” she said. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me, Mary. I don’t know what I’m going to do about this yet,” he warned her.
“OK.” She opened the front door.
“And, Mary?”
“Yes?”
“You really are a pathetic liar.”
“I know that too.”
He left.
She sat on the sofa, where Sam joined her. “I’m not sure what happened there,” he said. “Did we get away with it or not?”
“Yes and no.”
“It’s been a hell of a week.”
Sam was tired. He hadn’t slept well in the hotel and he was weary of drama. He made his way to the door.
“Sam!”
“Yeah?” he replied.
“Will you come with me tomorrow?”
“I doubt Penny would be happy about that.”
“I know what she did to you but she didn’t mean it. She’s not like that when she’s well.”
“I’m sure you’re right but I don’t belong there.”
“It’s an intervention. Isn’t that the correct term?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, who better to intervene than someone who knows what they’re talking about?”
He was silent for a moment or two. His head hurt. He really needed to sleep. “I’ll do it.”
He was gone before she could thank him.
24. Clean up, clean out
Sam, Mary and Ivan were waiting in Adam’s hotel room when Adam opened the door to usher in a bandaged Penny. She surveyed those in front of her and knew there could be only one reason for the meeting. Feeling weak, she sat on a chair against the wall, facing the jury of her peers.
Adam gave her two painkillers and a glass of water.
“D Day,” she said. Her friends remained silent.
“We’re going to get you some help,” Adam said, but she chose to ignore him in favour of concentrating on Sam.
“Is this how rehab happened for you, Sam? Oh, no, I forgot. You were brought in on a stretcher.”
“Penny,” Mary growled.
“It’s OK,” he said to Mary. “You’re right. I went in on my back and, if memory serves, I was also strapped down. You want to go in like that, I’m sure it can be arranged.”
“Fuck you!” she spat. Her hands had been trembling all morning. She felt sick and badly needed a drink.
“Do you know why you don’t like me, Penny?” he asked.
“Enlighten me.”
“You look at me and see yourself.”
“Bullshit!” she said, touching the bandage on her forehead.
“I’m an addict and you are too.” He leaned towards her so that she was forced to look at him. “I know how hard it is. I know the agony of saying no. I know that if you don’t you’ll die.” He pitied her with every ounce of