Page 27 of The Altar Girls

‘Do you and Father Maguire usually work together here at the food bank?’

‘He helps me out, yes.’

‘And he was here yesterday?’

The small priest seemed to falter before recovering. ‘We have ten volunteers, but there were only a few here. We’re busy this time of year. Money is short all round. If you hang on, you’ll see how many use this service.’

Lottie blew out in frustration. ‘Was Father Maguire here yesterday?’

‘Oh, right. He must have been. I can ask.’

‘You don’t seem too sure about it.’

‘Mm, not really. But if he said he was here, then he was here.’

Not a satisfactory answer at all, Lottie thought.

Boyd said, ‘We’ll send someone along to interview the volunteers. Is it the same people every day?’

‘No, we have a roster.’

‘We’ll need a copy.’

‘Sure. Sure.’ The priest stood. ‘Certainly.’

‘You can get it when we’re finished,’ Lottie said. He sat again. ‘Tell me about Naomi Kiernan.’

‘She was a sweet child. Quiet as a mouse.’

‘What was she like yesterday morning serving Mass?’

‘Like always. Efficient. Good at her tasks. You don’t have to ask her twice to do anything. Wish more were like her. God rest her soul.’

‘Notice anything unusual?’

‘Nothing out of the ordinary. She never talked much. Quiet, as I said. I suppose I make up for it. I don’t know when to stop, according to Keith – Father Maguire. He says I gab too much.’

‘Was he with you for Mass?’

‘He came in early and set the altar. He put the liturgy missal on the ambo and filled the communion chalice. The sacristan has flu, so we help each other out.’

‘And was Naomi there at that time?’

Father Pearse fidgeted with a pen on the desk. ‘Now that’s something I don’t know. You’d have to ask Keith.’

‘He couldn’t recall.’

‘I can’t either, but it was just an ordinary Monday morning. Nothing stood out as being wrong or abnormal, except for the weather.’

‘Did you see anyone unusual at Mass or hanging around?’

‘There were only ten or so at Mass. Most of the other regulars were deterred by the snow.’

‘Was Mrs Coyne there?’

‘Betty comes to Mass rain, hail or shine. She was in her usual front-row seat.’

‘Did Naomi seem nervous or upset?’