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‘Really? I’d have thought you’d know everything that went on here.’

‘You’re being smart with me now.’

‘I’m not being smart. I really think you were the eyes and ears of this place. I believe you can help me.’

‘You’re working with that Mooney detective, aren’t you?’

‘I’m helping him, when he lets me.’

He put down the plunger and the container, picked up a long stick and began shifting whatever was burning in the barrel. ‘You should talk to that woman who was a nun back then. She was young enough and did a bit of nursing in the convent too. Assumpta, her name was. Never knew her full name. I imagine the girls had a nastier one for her.’ He chuckled, but Lottie didn’t find anything funny in his words.

‘She wasn’t a nice person then?’

‘She was good as a nurse, far as I knew, but she didn’t do anything to help. If you get my meaning.’

Lottie wasn’t sure what he meant, but she banked the information and ploughed on. ‘I heard the girls were abused.’ She wanted to say more, but held back. Hadn’t Fox called them sinners and said they deserved what they got? She had to tread carefully, knowing Mooney would skin her alive for intruding on his investigation.

She waited.

Mickey was quiet, stirring the ashes. What was he burning? She moved closer to the old oil drum. He didn’t seem to notice.

‘There were a lot of rumours back then,’ he said. ‘No truth in most of them.’

‘But the ones that did have some truth, can you tell me about them?’

‘What is your role in all this?’ He wasn’t as dumb as he made out to be.

‘I’m a detective, but not from round here. And I’m curious as to why there’s been a murder. I suspect it could be related to what went on here years ago.’

‘Have you proof of any wrongdoing?’

‘Not yet.’

He continued to stir. A few sparks flew into the air, spluttered and died. He remained silent.

‘What are you burning?’ Lottie asked.

‘Branches and sticks.’

‘If you’re doing it to keep warm, it’s not that cold.’

‘Who said why I was doing it?’

She hesitated. ‘Are you burning evidence?’

‘And what evidence would that be?’

Time to fudge the truth. ‘Things went missing from the cottage where the woman was murdered. A lot of research on the convent.’

He stopped his stirring and the sparks died down. ‘I had nothing to do with that. I am a law-abiding citizen.’

‘That’s what they all say.’

‘Who?’

‘Those with something to hide. What haveyouto hide, Mickey?’

He said nothing, resumed stoking the dying fire.