Page 144 of The Altar Girls

‘You found him! Is he okay?’

‘I was just in time. I don’t know how he’ll ever recover from this and I’ve yet to tell him about his mama. She’s dead. Crashed a car into the River Moy.’

‘Where is Sergio?’

‘He’s in ICU, but he will make it. I believed the doctor when he told me that. I have to believe it.’

‘Thank God. What way is he?’

‘Malnourished and dehydrated. Otherwise, no physical injuries. Lottie, he’s so thin, I hardly recognised him. I thought he was dead. I really thought I’d lost him…’ He broke down in tears and she cursed that she wasn’t beside him, to hug, console and reassure him.

‘Boyd, stay there as long as you need to.’

She heard him blow his nose and swallow back tears. ‘As soon as they allow me, I’ll be bringing him home. I’m going to ask Grace to come stay for a while to help out.’

‘You know your sister has her own life now.’

‘I know, but I’ve always been there for her.’

‘She doesn’t owe you.’

‘I don’t mean it that way, but I think she and Sergio would be good for each other.’

Lottie wasn’t so sure about that. Grace saw things in black and white. No middle ground. And that wouldn’t work out well with an eight-year-old.

‘Well if Grace can’t come, my girls will help out. And Sean. He loves Sergio. We all do.’

‘Thanks, Lottie, I know you do. You okay? The investigation?’

‘It’s progressing. I miss your wisdom and input.’

‘That’s one of the reasons I’m calling.’

‘Concentrate on your son.’

‘I am, but this is important.’

‘Go ahead then.’ She dragged a page from a file and turned it over to write on the reverse side.

‘Enda Daniels, the reporter who’s been helping me… I think he told some of this to Sinead Healy, so you may have already heard. It’s to do with Father Maguire. Word is he had an affair and—’

‘Sinead rang me. I spoke with the priest and he denies any wrongdoing with Ruth Kiernan.’

‘This has nothing to do with Ruth.’

‘Really? You have a different story to mine.’

‘It’s only hearsay. Enda did a bit more digging since he talked to Sinead. The rumour was that Maguire’s affair was with a married woman. Her husband had left her and she was staying with relatives in the north-west. Months later people realised she looked pregnant. Then she was gone. Her home is in Ragmullin. Some years later, Father Maguire was moved. According to the rumour mill, it was because he had dirtied his bib.’

‘But if he had fathered this woman’s child, why would he be sent to Ragmullin when she was living here?’

‘I don’t know. Enda stressed it’s a rumour. I just wanted to share it with you so you know what you’re dealing with.’

‘You said this woman wasn’t Ruth Kiernan. Who was it?’

‘I don’t have a name, but if it’s relevant to the case, maybe it was Jacinta Nally.’

‘Worth checking her out.’