Page 73 of Hidden Daughters (Detective Lottie Parker #15)

It was fully dark by the time Ann arrived home.

After the journey from Clifden, she’d had to drive into the city to drop Imelda Conroy in Eyre Square.

The young woman said she’d be safer in a crowd.

Ann had pleaded with her to go to the guards, but she was adamant that she could not. They could not protect her, she’d said.

When she put her key in the front door, Denis almost collapsed out on top of her.

‘Where the fuck were you?’ He grabbed her shoulder and hauled her into the hall, shoving the door shut behind them.

‘Slow down, Denis. You’re hurting me.’

‘I want an answer.’ He shook her with his hands on both her shoulders. ‘I’ve been out of my mind with worry. I even went to the guards. Do you realise you’ve made a fool of me?’

She wanted to say he’d made a fool of himself, but bitter experience made her pause. Then she noticed his bulging, damaged eye.

‘What happened to you?’ she asked, incredulous, though secretly impressed by whoever had done it.

‘It’s nothing. A skirmish. Don’t worry, the bastard will pay for it. I’m making a formal complaint. If they won’t lock him up for murder, they can lock him up for this.’ He stabbed a finger to his eye and scowled.

‘Who did it?’

‘Doesn’t matter. Where were you?’

‘I had a particularly taxing day, so I went for a drive.’

‘A drive? A fucking drive? Without telling me? You’re so stupid.’ He shook his head, and it must have hurt because he gingerly patted his eye socket. His tone reduced a notch. ‘You know there’s a murderer out there, Ann. I really thought you would turn up dead. I was terrified for you.’

‘Don’t fret. I’m here now, and as you can see, I am very much alive.’

‘Are you being smart with me?’

‘God, no. I’m trying to reassure you that I’m fine.’ She made to pass by him in the hall, but he caught her arm.

‘Why didn’t you ring or text?’

‘I just needed some head space, Denis.’

‘You had no regard for my head space and what you’ve put me through.’

‘I said I’m sorry. What more can I say?’

‘Give me your phone,’ he demanded.

She sighed and searched through the detritus of her handbag. ‘I must have left it in the car.’

He snatched the bag from her hands and upended it. Everything fell out on the hall floor. No phone.

She bit back a told you so and said, ‘I’ll go out for it.’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

Leaving the mess on the floor, he took her by the elbow and led her into the living room. She noticed a smear of dust on the mantelpiece that she must have missed, and hoped he didn’t see it. He was upset enough.

‘Tell me exactly what you did today,’ he said. ‘Who you saw. Who you spoke to. The works.’

With a sigh, she extracted herself from his grip and sat on a hard armchair. He preferred sturdy furniture. Said it was better for his back. No thought for her comfort, but she’d learned to live with it.

‘Really, Denis, this is getting too much for me. I need to have some space to myself. You are crowding me out.’

‘You know it’s because I love you. I’m trying to protect you.’

Protect yourself, more like, she thought. ‘It’s too much. You’re smothering me.’

‘For fuck’s sake, woman. Answer what I asked you and then we will sit down with a nice cup of tea or a glass of wine. Maybe a whiskey. Yes, I need a strong one.’

‘I’ll fix the drinks.’

‘Not until you answer the question.’

She wondered which question he meant, but dared not antagonise him further. Plus she feared she might not be convincing in her lies. Then again, she’d been lying to him her whole life, so she should just about manage this.

‘I had a wedding dress fitting.’

‘Not for that Boyd woman, I hope?’

‘Actually, yes. Grace came into the shop with her future sister-in-law. Lottie Parker.’

‘Mooney mentioned her. What has she to do with you?’

‘Nothing. She’s just here for the wedding.’

‘What had Grace to say for herself?’

‘Nothing much. Just that she loved my work and would recommend me to everyone she knew.’ She had done no such thing, but Ann wanted to divert his attention from her own subterfuge.

‘What was so taxing about all that? Did this Parker woman question you or something?’

‘No, it’s just that Grace is fussy. She wanted the belt raised and the strap tightened. And as it was the final fitting, I had to do the alterations with both of them there looking at me. You know I find it hard to work under scrutiny.’ She hoped he didn’t see through her lies.

‘I have to work under scrutiny every day. It’s a pain in the hole, but if I want to get into government, I have to suffer the eejits around here.’

‘You love it, Denis. I know you do. But I prefer working in the shadows.’

‘You will have to come out of the shadows once the election is called. I’ll need a dutiful wife by my side.

There will be interviews, soundbites, canvassing, hand-shaking, baby-kissing.

’ He paused, and smiled at the image he was creating.

Then he frowned. ‘I’ll have to hire someone in PR to tutor you for your new role. ’

‘That won’t be necessary. I can act as good as the next one.’ Shit, maybe she’d gone too far. ‘I’ll make those drinks. I’ll have a whiskey myself.’

‘No, you need to put on some food. I’m starving and I can’t have you half cut. You might poison me.’ He laughed.

She thought it wasn’t a bad idea at all.