Page 102 of The Altar Girls

‘It’s all a bit of a mystery.’

‘I’m sure you know more than that.’

‘What’s your interest? Haven’t you a big investigation ongoing in Ragmullin? Those little girls’ murders?’

Boyd wondered how much to reveal to the reporter. But if he could find Sergio, it didn’t matter what he said. ‘Yes, but this is personal.’

The man stood straighter, his pale cheeks flushing, his hand tapping his pocket as if looking for his notebook. Boyd knew he had piqued the reporter’s interest.

‘Personal? You knew the deceased?’

‘She’s… she may be my ex-wife.’

Enda squinted up at him. ‘Boyd? Now I know why your name clicked. You made public appeals when your ex disappeared with your son, didn’t you?’

‘Yes.’

‘And you think you’ve found her?’

‘I know I’ve found her, but not my son. Have you discovered anything that might help me?’ Boyd caught the sceptical glint in Enda’s eye. He wasn’t going to give him anything for nothing. ‘I don’t know if he’s alive or…’ He was unable to voice his worst fear.

‘Oh shit, man, I’m sorry. But I know as much as you do.’

‘Come on, I know what reporters are like. You can dig in places for information where we need to execute warrants. You must have something we don’t.’

‘I’ll help you if you give me access to what you discover when you find your son.’

‘Deal.’ Boyd knew he was breaking rules that could result in him losing his job, not to speak of Lottie’s wrath. In that moment, though, he only cared about finding Sergio. Alive.

‘The car was stolen a month ago in Easkey. No security footage. No sightings of it since. The number plates have to have been switched.’

‘I need to go to Easkey, so.’

‘I already went there. The owner was genuine. A farmer who had the car for sale on a Facebook site. He reckons that’s how it was targeted. It was only worth about a grand and he’d already bought a new one, so he wasn’t too pushed. Farmers, eh?’

‘If it was stolen from that area, it’s possible she was living around there.’

‘Yeah, but there’s nowhere to hide up there. Seaside towns are all but deserted at this time of year and in this weather.’

‘I beg to differ. It sounds like a perfect place to lie low.’ Boyd put the cigarette into his pocket in case he needed it later and made to turn away.

Enda caught his sleeve. ‘Hey, not so fast. I know the area. I can drive you.’

Two sets of eyes would be better than one, he supposed. ‘Sure. Come on.’

63

Jacinta Nally was a mess of tears, the little make-up she’d had on earlier now smeared. Her demeanour appeared crushed, but she still leapt out of the chair when Lottie entered to take a seat in the interview room.

‘What’s the meaning of this? Where is my son? Someone said he took a little girl and now he’s missing. That’s ridiculous.’

‘Sit down, Jacinta, and I’ll explain.’

‘You better, because no one else will tell me what’s going on.’

‘We’re trying to find Alfie. Thanks for letting us search your home. Do you have any idea where he would go if he needed to hide?’

‘Hide? Why would he need to hide?’