We were tired when we left the embankment of the Thames, we had been tired when we counted the hours on the clock while the net tightened. I didn't dare to approach my superior just yet. Over the years we already worked together I observed that it was often if not always him who made a first step. Just in his time.
There were maybe a handful of occasions when I acted against it. The last one led to the fall and obloquy of one of the most astute and rude men I ever got to meet. It took Lestrade and me hours of talking and discussing, hours filled with hurt, accusations, distress and yet trust and understanding on both sides.
I knew something was off and it had to do with "Jane Doe of the river". I saw the expression on his face. He knew more than he was willing to admit or even share and I knew that he knew that we would have to talk about it. In the meantime I pondered over this name we came across in Alistair Knell's case.
Uirlis. "I heard it before… where…?" I wasn't aware that I had muttered to myself when I attracted the attention of one of the Constables. "Ma'am?"
I felt the instant need to harm him. "This … name or word here." But what good was there in hurting handsome young men if they didn't request it beforehand.
"That's Irish, I believe." he said and I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" He nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Me grandma was from the island and taught us a bit of it." He definitely made me curious and I felt that this was a tiny further step. "Do you happen to know what it means?" He shook his head. "Nah, sorry, Ma'am." I sighed. "It is Detective Sergeant. Thank you for your help." He blushed slightly - at least - and left me be with my new lead.
I called Garda Siochana, the Irish police.
"Sir?" I had carefully opened the door to Lestrade's office. Usually I just bursted in. His mood had affected me and I took the quieter path. "What is it, Donovan?" he asked and nodded for me to step inside.
"This name Mrs. Culver gave us… Uirlis. You remember?" He nodded and waited for me to go on. "Well, it is not actually a name. I called Garda Siochana but they don't have any records of a male by this last name but they could offer me a translation."
"So what does this Uirilything mean?" Lestrade asked and I couldn't resist to correct him and also smile slightly upon the mistake. He always struggled with names. "It is pronounced 'ear-lish', Sir, and it means 'tool'." He looked up at me, his interest immediately sparked. "Hitman?"
I sat down opposite without him telling me to do so. "Unlikely. Why would he call Knell in the office beforehand? Why the threats when his purpose was to kill the man anyway? I also don't believe that the actual gunman is the same as 'Uirlis'. I think we came upon something that goes far deeper and reaches far wider than we could estimate by now."
"You may be right, I'm afraid. Does our phantom have a name already?" I shook my head, getting that he needed something more "meaty" to consider any further steps. "Same goes to the woman from the river." I added and watched his reaction carefully. He tensed.
"The press conference will be held in about an hour."
The press was not overly interested in the case. Dead body from the river? No name? Not really front page material.
Lestrade however was nervous. He never liked press conferences but this was a new level of not being comfortable. He let me lead, as usual but stayed calmer and gave only very short answers. I guessed, the journalists didn't see a difference. I got my confirmation that something was not right. I would get evidence later.
Lestrade had just left when I received the results from forensics. On a first glance there wasn't anything too unusual about it, aside the note "Persons excluded: DI Lestrade".
As hard as we try sometime we leave traces and they must have assumed it was the case this time although Lestrade had never contaminated a crime scene in any way since I was able to recall it. He had always been a very thorough police officer. Too thorough for his own good, it crossed my mind.
"We need to talk. - SD" I texted him.
He replied with a time and his private address.
He already knew.