“That is I”
Charles noted it down in his notepad.
“Good, how long have you lived at 7 Shipyard Court?”
“Well let’s see, about 12 to 18 month, see I moved in about 2 weeks after our Delaine got her lodgings there.”
“I see.”, Charles studied the man, he was not fidgeting or sat in a defensive pose, he would have expected to see.
“So Delaine found the place online ? Moved in and you joined her from….. Blarney.”
“Yeah , well to sure I not know how she found the place. But after she had done , she contacted me and I came to join her. ‘nd look for work.”
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Charles looked at the door, “YES” the door opened it was Owens carrying a folder, he strode into the room and handed the folder across. Nodded and turned on his left foot and marched out of the room again. “Thanks DS” as the door closed.
He scanned the contents of the folder he had just been handed. Questions running through his head, he noticed over the file Donnal start to fidget .
“Something wrong Mr. Ryan?”
“oh no Sir, it’s just I could really do with having a piss ?”
“Well in that case we best get this over and done with then .. So you have lived at the house for 12 -18 months and you have be growing this ” he placed a large photograph taken from the hydroponic room in the house. It show about 1000 marijuana plants growing.
“They not mine!”
“Really Ryan you expect me to believe there not yours !! You seemed mightily angry with me entering the room you were in and the baseball bat gave some additional emphasis.” Charles place a second photo down showing the mark of the baseball bat in the wall he had managed to avoid.
“well erm.”
“We have you one growing banned plants and attempt assault on a Police officer”
Donnal remained silent.
Ah thought, Charles The old silence game!!. He smiled to himself, he knew he shouldn’t but he always loved to watch these “Rogues” play hardball right up until they realize they are well and truly screwed and this chap will be about to start chirping like a canary in 1, 2, 3…..
“well yes am growing the weed but it for my own use.”
“OK good so you admit to that, now what was the girl in the basement for?”
Donnal stared at Charles, he blinked and opened his mouth and shut it again.
“Well??” pushing the criminal a bit.
“What girl in the basement??”
“Don’t get smart with me, this girl…” He through the photographs of the girl and the ones of the cage in the basement”
“Holy Mary mother of God”, Donnal said, he stared at the photographs.
“Where in hell were those taken?”
“Under your God damn house. ”
“I have never seen that before Gods honest truth”
“You are telling me you never went into the basement through the kitchen door?? I don’t fucking believe you, you lying sod” Charles’ anger was getting the best of him now.
“Nah mate, He had no care what me and Delaine got up to as long as we did not attempt to enter the basement.”
“Who?”
“The Owner of the house?”
“WHO?”
“The Monk. He made it clear that under no circumstances we should open the door”
“The Monk? He owns the house? And you didn’t even attempt to open the kitchen door? You don’t strike me as bloke to be told what to do by a frail old man!”
Donnal looked at Charles squarely in face and put his foot on the interview table. He began to remove his trainer and then his sock.
Charles saw a mangled foot with no toes and crude stitching nodules where the man’s toes would be.
“That’s why . You are right, I did attempt to get into the basement. But he caught me and knocked me out. When I woke up I was in the kitchen tied to a chair. He then proceed to teach me the errors of my ways with a hammer and chisel. I managed to sound convincing before he got to my big toe.”
“Put it away. I have not finished with you yet..”, Charles stood cleared up the photos back into the folder and walked to the interview door opened it and left.
Closing the door he looked at the two other doors where behind each door was either Delaine or the Monk.
Hmm, where next?
Then from out of the door came;
“Tenebris -go stipant et corde currere
Iustum et impium fraude facta hora accepit
Cor mundum crea in tempore veniant populi
I won’t let you take my light away, no.
Ain’t gonna let you take my light away.
So run away, run away.”
Charles’ neck hairs started to bristle as he turn to the other door, and opened it.
