Page 59 of Hidden Daughters (Detective Lottie Parker #15)

CONNEMARA

Brigid Kelly was slow getting to the door. She figured the nice detective woman had forgotten something, though she couldn’t see any coat or bag lying around the kitchen.

The bell clanged again.

‘Give me a minute. I’m coming.’ She made her way painfully down the tiled hallway, cursing the lifetime of hardship that had made her old before her time.

Granted, Father Lyons was good to her and helped where he could.

Not Father Robert before that. He’d been a mean man and she hadn’t liked him, but he was one of God’s chosen ones so she’d been inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

He was no longer a priest, she recalled.

A chef, no less, according to the detective.

He’d always been giving her orders in her kitchen, so she was not surprised at his change of profession.

She pulled back the lock and slowly opened the door.

‘Oh!’ She clamped one hand to her chest and the other to her mouth. ‘I thought it was someone else.’

‘Hello, Brigid. Bet you didn’t expect to see me here.’

No, she didn’t. She tried to close the door on him. But his hand was on the thick timber and it was no problem for him to push it inwards. He stepped inside, shut the door and walked by her.

‘How about a nice cup of tea and a cosy chat.’

She couldn’t stop him. He was already in. He knew exactly where he was headed. She followed his loud clipping footsteps towards the kitchen. Before joining him, she slowly made the sign of the cross on her forehead, chest and shoulders.

‘Help me, dear Lord,’ she prayed.