Dark Circles (30 page)

EPILOGUE

Wilson parked his car in the outdoor car park and walked briskly towards Departures at Belfast International Airport. He was aware that he was late but wasn’t sure whether it was by accident or design. He entered the airport terminal and saw the small group he was looking for standing at the entrance to the departure gates. Moira’s parents had travelled from Omagh and there was a group of university types congregated around Brendan Guilfoyle. Wilson slowed his walk. He wasn’t the kind of person who went for these types of events. He didn’t have any close friends, and it was hard for him to accept that Moira was no longer a colleague but a friend.

‘Glad you could make it.’ Guilfoyle left his group and moved to greet Wilson. ‘I know you’re busy.’

‘Moira has to be sent off properly,’ Wilson said shaking the young man’s hand. The official farewell party had been held at the station. The Murder Squad and the uniforms had tucked into the drinks and sandwiches while forced to listen to platitudes from Spence and himself. Moira had prepared a witty response but broke down so many times during the delivery that the impact of the humour had been lost. Two days before her departure she had asked to stay on until Rice, Baxter and Weir were arrested. Wilson had refused with as much grace as he could muster. The three men had gone to ground, and it would be months, if not years, before they would be brought to justice. He knew you had to accept some things in the pursuit of justice even though you may not want to. The bush telegraph was alive with rumours that the Murder Squad was to be incorporated into a wider Serious Crimes Unit and he was not being mentioned as the potential head. Jennings was fighting for his career, and rumour had it that Laurence Gold was going to skewer him during the Cummerford trial, due to start soon. Wilson wished Gold luck. Jennings’ farewell party was an event that he would be happy to attend.

Wilson walked towards Moira and her parents. He kissed Moira on the cheek and took the opportunity to whisper in her ear. ‘Get that look off your face, someone will think that your dog just died.’

She smiled and introduced Wilson to her parents, who looked like country mice on a visit to the city. Her father was a small stout man with freckles and wispy red hair interspersed on his head. It was easy to see where Moira’s flaming red hair had come from. Her mother was the one with the good looks. Although she was in her mid-sixties, she looked considerably younger; the only giveaway was the grey hair tied back from her forehead. She wore a blue two-piece suit, which looked like it had been bought especially for the occasion. They were, as he had expected, salt-of-the-earth people.

Moira’s father held his hand a little longer in the handshake and pulled him slightly aside. ‘I want to thank you for all you did for Moira.’

Wilson was embarrassed. ‘I was just her boss,’ Wilson said.

‘It’s a little more than that,’ the older man said. ‘Moira wasn’t in a good place after the business with her ex-husband. Now she’s got a fine young man, and she’s off on a new adventure. It didn’t just happen by accident.’

‘Sorry, folks,’ Brendan said. ‘If we don’t move now we’ll miss our flight.’

Moira kissed her parents then Brendan put his arm around her and led her through the barrier. Wilson watched them disappear and said his goodbyes to Moira’s parents. He left the terminal and walked to the car park. He looked up as a plane took off directly over his head. He wished he were on that plane heading anywhere. He never felt so utterly alone. He was an expert at losing people, his parents, his wife, his partner and now Moira. He took out his keys and opened his car. As he sat into the driver’s seat, he wondered where the hell Sammy Rice had got to.

Author’s note

I hope that you enjoyed this book. As an indie author, I very much depend on your feedback to see where my writing is going. I would be very grateful if you would take the time to pen a review on Amazon. This will not only help me but will also indicate to others your feelings, positive or negative, on the work. Writing is a lonely profession and this is especially true for indie authors who don’t have the backup of traditional publishers.

Please check out my other books on Amazon and if you have time visit my web site (derekfee.com) and sign up to receive additional materials, competitions for signed books and announcements of new book launches.

Derek Fee is a former oil company executive and EU Ambassador. He is the author of seven non-fiction books. Dark Circles is his sixth novel and the fourth in a series featuring Ian Wilson.

Derek can be contacted at derekfee.com.