Page 65 of Hidden Daughters (Detective Lottie Parker #15)
On the drive back to the house, Lottie thought of all the questions she should have asked Ann Wilson.
What did she know of Assumpta Feeney, Brigid Kelly and Mickey Fox back in the day?
And did she know Edie Butler? Ann could shine a light on their roles in the convent.
The laundry. The hellhole. She would have to tell Mooney, and it was up to him to ask the pertinent questions.
After all, she was not involved in the actual investigations.
Then again, she had inadvertently become embroiled in it.
Boyd would have something to say, but she could handle him. He never stayed mad for long.
As she pulled up in the yard, she noticed a familiar car parked out front. She rushed round the side and into the kitchen.
‘Look what the cat dragged in,’ she said, instantly happy to see Kirby sitting at the table, a mug of steaming coffee in his hand.
‘Hello there, boss. There’s been a development in my case and that brought me here in person.’
Grace was sitting beside him. ‘He’s telling me all about how Sergio is getting on with Amy. You know, Detective Kirby, you and Amy need to have children of your own. Have you been doing anything about that?’
Lottie smiled at the young woman’s directness, a trademark of Grace Boyd.
Kirby’s mouth dropped open, but he quickly recovered. ‘Ah, no kids. Not yet. We’re not long enough together to be making such plans. You know yourself.’
‘I don’t know,’ Grace said.
Reddening, Kirby said, ‘It’s early days.’
‘You must make an honest woman of her soon, Detective Kirby.’
Lottie cringed at the old-fashioned mindset. It was easy to forget that Grace was only in her mid thirties. She’d lived with her mother, just the two of them, isolated for too many years after Boyd had left to join the guards.
‘I’ll chat to you in a minute, Kirby,’ she said. ‘I need to have a word with Boyd first. Is he upstairs? I’ll go see him.’
Grace stood and picked up her own mug. ‘That will be difficult. He isn’t here.’
‘Out with Bryan, is he?’
‘No, he’s gone to Ragmullin,’ Grace said. ‘And he better be back for my wedding. He has to give me away.’
‘But…’ Lottie struggled. ‘Why?’
Grace tutted. ‘He said he wanted to go see Sergio.’
Kirby patted his pocket. ‘I’ll go outside for a smoke if you want to join me, boss.’
‘She is not your boss because she’s not working,’ Grace said. ‘And smoking is bad for you. I’m sure you’ve heard that.’
‘I hear it every day.’ He chuckled and made his way outside.
Lottie followed, glad to escape Grace’s scrutiny. She was still reeling from Ann’s revelations, despite her good humour at seeing Kirby.
‘Amy actually thinks I’ve given these up,’ he said, lighting his cigar, ‘so don’t go telling her.’
She didn’t care about his smoking. ‘Do you know what’s up with Boyd?’
‘No. He was gone when I arrived.’
‘I better ring him.’ She struggled to get her phone out of her pocket.
‘Don’t you want to know what brings me here?’
‘Oh, yes.’ She gave up on the phone. ‘Tell me.’
‘It’s about Robert Hayes.’
‘God, I’ve just heard the most horrendous story about him. Sickened me to my stomach.’ She paused for a moment. She didn’t know what to say or how to say it, so she decided to let him tell her what he’d come to relate. ‘Go on.’
‘His car was found at Athlone train station. CCTV shows him getting on the Galway train. It’s logical to assume he is actually here.’
‘Galway is a big county, Kirby.’
‘I know that. Did you have any luck tracing him for me?’
‘I visited his last known address here. Turns out it’s a priests’ house out Moycullen way. He used to be a priest, if you can believe it. I spoke to the housekeeper, lovely lady.’ She felt a sadness wash over her, clothed in guilt. Was Brigid dead because of her visit? She hoped not.
‘Oh good. I’ll call to her for a statement.’
‘That’s impossible.’
‘Because of jurisdiction issues? Nah, my investigation has brought me here. The super okayed it and?—’
‘Stop, Kirby. You can’t talk to her because Brigid Kelly was murdered yesterday evening. Sometime after I spoke with her. Her body was discovered this morning.’
‘What? Are you serious?’
‘I never joke about murder.’
‘And do you know…? Shit. I don’t know what to say.’
‘Detective Sergeant Matt Mooney is the man to talk to. He’s investigating the murders. Unfortunately, I believe there will be a task force or a new team taking over soon. You know how the powers-that-be work.’
‘Holy Mother of God. Do you think… could Robert Hayes be involved here?’
‘It’s a strong possibility,’ Lottie said. ‘I suspect he could have killed Edie Butler in Ragmullin and then come here to murder more people. I need to talk to Mooney and so do you.’
‘Okay. I can ring him and arrange to meet as soon as possible, if not before.’
‘Sure.’ Lottie felt empty. It was frustrating being consigned to the sidelines.
‘Changing the subject,’ Kirby said, ‘what’s up with you and Boyd?’
‘Don’t ask.’
‘Rough waters?’
‘Stormy enough.’
‘Shit.’
‘Yeah, Kirby, I agree. It’s shit.’
He puffed on his cigar. Coughed a little before putting it away. ‘Need to give up these bastards.’
‘I agree.’
‘You’re no saint yourself.’ He smiled, his eyes twinkling. ‘You smoke too.’
‘Only occasionally, and I haven’t done so for a long time. Mainly when I’m stressed. Which is now.’
‘Well you’re not getting one of my cigars. Listen, there’s something else I wanted to tell you.’
‘Fire ahead.’
‘It’s to do with Bryan O’Shaughnessy.’
‘Just what I don’t need to hear.’ She stifled a groan. ‘Did you find something on PULSE?’
‘No. It came to light while I was investigating Edie Butler’s murder.’
‘I’ve a feeling I’m not going to like this, Kirby.’
‘Maybe or maybe not. Do you want me to tell you?’
‘Jesus, you’re here. Spit it out.’ She realised she sounded contrary. ‘Sorry. I’ve had a stressful morning.’
‘Maybe you should buy a pack of Silk Cut purple?’
‘Shut up.’ She grinned, and some of the tension left her body.
‘It turns out Edie Butler knew your Mr O’Shaughnessy. She used to live around here before she was married. Over twenty-five years ago or so. They were a bit of an item back then, according to the owner of the salon where Edie worked.’
‘This gets weirder by the day. I don’t know what to make of that nugget.’
‘The thing is, I will have to talk to Bryan in relation to Edie’s murder.’
‘I’d say he was nowhere near Ragmullin. He spends all his time on the farm. Let me speak to him.’
‘You can’t do that formally. You’re on leave.’
‘I’ll rescind my leave then.’
‘Superintendent Farrell won’t allow it if she learns the reason why.’
Lottie marched in a circle around Kirby, kneading her hands into each other. ‘I have to do this. You can take the lead. You see, I’ve heard some terrible stuff this morning that may be relevant to the murders. Bryan is either wholly involved, or alternatively, he could be a target.’
‘It never ceases to amaze me how you can confuse me.’ Kirby scratched his curly hair. ‘What did you hear?’
She decided to tell him. ‘I spoke with a woman called Ann Wilson. She’s a dressmaker in Spiddal. Her husband is a local councillor and a bit of a bollox, per Sergeant Mooney.’
She related some of the story without the grotesque imagery Ann had conjured.
‘That’s horrific,’ Kirby said. ‘ Now can I talk to Mr O’Shaughnessy?’
‘We have to be careful. We can’t upset Grace. Boyd already had words with me over it.’
‘Oh, so that’s why he went off in a huff. You were rocking the boat with his sister. Figures.’
‘Why does it figure?’
‘Don’t take offence, but as much as Boyd loves and respects you, his sister is blood. His last surviving family member. I imagine she’s as close to his heart as you are, if not closer.’
She felt miffed at this, but then reality hit her.
Kirby was right. She held her children closer to her heart than anyone else.
No one could break that bond, not even Boyd.
It had come between them during her last case, when they’d discussed buying a house together.
She’d felt they’d got over that hurdle, but her life was never straightforward.
She negotiated one obstacle, and before she could catch her breath, another reared its head, blocking her path forward.
She’d overcome worse.
She’d overcome this.