Page 129 of The Altar Girls

‘When we entered the premises earlier, you were sitting on a steel table and he was standing in front of you. What was going on?’

Jacinta gasped.

Alfie said, ‘He… he took me out of the room and said we needed to talk. I thought he was going to kill me. I started crying and he lifted me up on the table and got me a towel to clean my face. Then you came in. I didn’t hurt Bethany or Naomi or Willow. Girls annoy me, they’re silly and stupid and I don’t understand them, but I wouldn’t hurt them. Never.’

He was breathless but sincere. Lottie believed him.

‘Thanks for explaining that, Alfie.’

‘He’s told you all you want to know,’ Jacinta said, her face sagging with relief. ‘I’m bringing him home.’

‘Not so fast.’ Lottie flicked through the file she’d brought in with her. ‘I’ve a few more questions. Do either of you recognise this?’

She showed them the photograph of the rosary beads found in Willow’s hands.

Alfie shook his head, but Lottie noticed his cheeks flaring. Jacinta was staring hard at the picture, so she slid it closer to the woman, whose eyes narrowed in concentration.

‘Single-decade rosary. It’s unusual, because most have five decades. There’s something about it that’s vaguely familiar…’

‘Familiar? Think, Jacinta. It’s important.’

‘Where did you find it?’ Her face paled, and she tugged at a flyaway strand of hair as she seemed to find the unspoken answer. ‘Was it with one of the girls’ bodies?’

Lottie remained silent.

The photo quivered in Jacinta’s twitching fingers. ‘Did you ask Father Maguire? He might know.’

She had asked him briefly, but he’d said it was hard to know because of the photo quality and he hadn’t his spectacles. Maybe it was time to talk to him about it again.

‘I’ll be speaking with him in due course.’

Then Alfie started to cough, spluttering into his hands.

‘Baby, what’s wrong?’ His mother flung her arms around him. He was crying so hard he couldn’t speak. ‘Inspector, we need to go home. I have to care for my son.’

Wondering what had sparked the tears, Lottie stared hard at Alfie, then reached her hand across the table towards him. ‘Are you afraid of Father Maguire, Alfie?’

He shook his head furiously, tears flying in all directions.

‘Is it the rosary? Do you recognise it?’

She felt the boy was on the verge of speaking when his mother interjected with a shout.

‘Wait. I remember!’ She unwrapped her arms from her son. ‘Father Maguire’s mother had one like this at the nursing home. But come to think of it, I haven’t seen her with it in ages.’

‘What makes you so sure?’ Adrenaline surged through Lottie. But just as quickly, she deflated. She had arrested Maurice Connolly for abducting Alfie, and he was in custody awaiting questioning about that plus the two murders. Had she made a mistake? Then again, Connolly had access to the nursing home where Phyllis Maguire was resident. But so had Jacinta.

‘I could be wrong.’ Jacinta’s voice broke into Lottie’s thoughts. ‘I’m thinking maybe it’s not the same rosary at all.’

‘That’s okay. I’ll follow it up.’

‘Can we leave?’

‘I need to speak with Superintendent Farrell to see if Alfie is to be charged with Bethany’s abduction. You’ll have to stay here for now.’

* * *

The temperature in the community centre was oppressive. After two days without oil, the tank was now filled. Within an hour, Father Maguire was burning up, the building as hot as a sauna.