Broken Harbour

On his way to work, Scorcher is intercepted by Quigley, a colleague who dislikes him. Quigley describes Dina coming into the building and making a racket asking for Scorcher. Quigley informed her that he could place her under arrest for holding stolen police property. He then shows Scorcher an evidence bag that contains a woman’s fingernail—“it had been ripped off at the quick. Caught in a crack was a wisp of rose-pink wool” (433). Scorcher recognizes the handwriting as Richie’s and remembers the young detective’s strange expression at Conor’s apartment.

Scorcher and Richie go to an interview room to talk. Richie explains that Dina showed up at his apartment the night before, after she left Scorcher’s flat. Scorcher asks why he didn’t call, and Richie says he tried, but Dina begged him not to and made him leave his phone with her, even when he went to the bathroom. Dina was worried about Scorcher, saying that the case would tear him apart. Scorcher asks Richie if they had sex, and he hesitates, which Scorcher takes as a “yes.” Richie tells him the evidence bag had been on his bedside table, and when he woke up, it was gone.

Scorcher asks why Richie didn’t show it to him, and Richie explains that he wasn’t sure arresting Jenny would be the right thing to do, even if she was responsible for the murders.