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‘I don’t know.’ She lowered her voice. It was laced with desperation. ‘Please. Leave me alone.’

‘I can’t, I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Where is Imelda Conroy?’

She slumped onto a chair and brought her hands to her face. ‘I dropped her off in the city.’ Her voice was just a whisper. ‘She must have taken my phone.’

‘Where in the city?’

‘Eyre Square. I don’t know where she is now. That’s the truth. Please leave me alone.’

‘You will have to explain it to me.’

‘I did nothing wrong.’

‘You aided a fugitive.’

She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. ‘That’s not true. She accosted me at my shop. She got in my car and made me drive her all the way to Clifden and back.’

‘What did you talk about?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Ann, I’ve had a long, exhausting few days, and I’m afraid you may have committed a crime.’

‘Please leave me alone. Denis will kill me.’

‘Why would he?’

‘I don’t mean it that way, but if you think I committed a crime and arrest me, it will be a bad image for his public relations machine.’

Mooney smiled, and Ann did too. He pulled out a chair and sat with her.

‘His public relations?’

‘He reckons the general election will be called soon.’

‘I get the feeling you know something that can help my investigation, and it’s nothing to do with an election. Tell me everything.’

‘Not here. I’m serious. If he believes I’m mixed up in this, he’ll go berserk.’

‘Do you think that’s what happened at O’Shaughnessy’s? He went berserk?’

‘Probably. But I can’t talk now.’

‘Okay. When can you speak to me?’

‘Tomorrow. In the morning. Give me your number and I’ll phone you.’

‘You don’t have your phone.’

‘I’ll call to the station then. Where are you based?’

‘Garda HQ. Renmore.’

‘I’ll be there by nine.’

‘Are you sure you don’t know where I can find Imelda Conroy tonight?’

‘I left her in the city. She could be anywhere.’