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He looked up from beneath his eyebrows. Eyes dark as his soul. ‘Why do you think I went to the cottage that night? It was her I wanted. Didn’t even know who the other bitch was until sheblurted out how she knew me and that she and others were going to destroy me. That was when I knew I had to get rid of them all.’

‘Let me get this straight,’ Mooney said. ‘You were still on a high that Sunday night, thinking you’d got away with killing Edie by dumping her body in a Ragmullin river to keep her murder from being traced back to you. But you still didn’t know what information Imelda Conroy had amassed for her documentary. So that same night you decided to go after Imelda, whom you suspected might cause you the most damage.’

Wilson chewed his lip. Said nothing.

Mooney was satisfied he had enough with the forensics and the interview. But one thing puzzled him.

‘Why not kill Robert Hayes while you were at it?’

‘Bastard disappeared. He even called to Edie in the hair salon on Friday evening to warn her not to talk to Imelda. If I’d found him, I’d have forced him to do the deeds. And I’d have kept my hands clean. Robert could never say no to me.’ Wilson made to flick his cravat, only to find he was wearing a garda-issue grey tracksuit. His lips curled in disgust. ‘I should not be here. It’s all his fault.’

‘I’m getting tired of hearing you blame everyone else. I think it’s time you answered for your sins,MrWilson.’

Mooney looked over at Norah and caught the curve of a smile on the edge of her lips.

91

CONNEMARA

SUNDAY

The day dawned, and Lottie felt the pain of loss deep within her body. Every inch of her flesh blared with aches, and she wanted to turn over and bury her head under the pillow. But no, that wasn’t her true self. She had never shied away before and was not about to do so today. Grace and Bryan’s wedding day. She would stand strong and resolute.

She showered and found the lemon-coloured chiffon dress that Katie had told her to buy online. She hadn’t even tried it on, and it would be her luck if it didn’t fit. But it did. Neat and snug to her body on top and floating away from her hips reaching her ankles. She tied up her hair and plastered on eyeshadow, mascara and a swipe of lipstick. She couldn’t see that it made any difference, but her girls would be incensed if she turned up with a naked face. After slipping on a pair of silver gladiator type sandals with heels, belonging to Chloe, she did a twirl in front of the hotel bedroom mirror.

‘You’ll have to do.’

She practised a smile to use throughout the day. Hopefully she could keep it in place and her feet in the sandals. Whichwould she abandon first? With weariness and an ever-increasing void in her heart, she set off for the little stone chapel that was no longer consecrated but was used for civil ceremonies.

It was going to be a long day.

Chloe jumped from the car outside the chapel and ran to her mother. Lottie smiled. She’d missed her family.

‘You won’t believe it, Mam.’ She hugged Lottie tightly, squeezing the breath from her. ‘The best thing ever has happened. I bet you won’t believe it.’

‘Try me, Chloe.’ Lottie extricated herself and held her daughter at arm’s length. ‘I can believe just about anything at this moment in time.’

‘It’s great news, honestly it is.’

A skein of apprehension wended its way through Lottie’s veins. She hated being kept in the dark and she knew Chloe was a dab hand at subterfuge. ‘What’s your news?

‘I got accepted. Can you believe it? I’m over the moon. Totally. It’s just amazeballs.’

‘Accepted? For what? Where?’

For the first time she noticed a flutter of doubt pass over her daughter’s face.

‘I didn’t want to tell you before now, not until it was official, because I knew you’d stop me, and don’t say you wouldn’t have because I know you, but anyway, I start in August.’

‘Start where? Chloe, I know I got a bang on the head yesterday, but I don’t think it impaired me that much. I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.’

‘I got accepted into Templemore Garda College. Mam, I’m going to be a guard. Just like you.’

Words deserted her, and she let her hands drop away from her daughter. Chloe was right, she would have stopped her. One guard in the family was enough for anyone.

‘Aren’t you going to congratulate me?’ The girl looked crestfallen.

‘Well done, pet,’ Lottie said flatly, her head filled with a myriad of scenarios. None of them good. Chloe had blindsided her. A guard? God, no. To turn out like her? Please, no. Especially as she was still reeling from Boyd’s damning words about her priorities. ‘How did you…? When did you apply?’