Page 29 of The Altar Girls

‘Where are Bethany and Jacob?’ Lottie asked when they were seated at the kitchen table.

‘Both asleep. Wrung out over all this… over Naomi.’

‘This is going to be difficult, Ruth, but I need you to formally identify your daughter’s body. Is there someone to mind your children or anyone you can nominate to attend in your place?’

‘I’ll have to bring them with me. There’s no one to ask but the Lord himself. I have prayed for His grace to help me do this.’

‘With your permission, I can leave my colleague, Garda Brennan, with the children. This won’t take much longer than an hour.’

‘Do I have a choice?’

‘It’s best to do it now. It might give you some closure.’

‘Does Isaac know?’

‘About Naomi’s death? Superintendent Farrell called the prison governor, and he has informed your husband. I’m organising a warrant to go talk to him later today.’ The thought of interviewing the incarcerated father so soon after he’d been told about his child’s murder sent a shiver up her spine.

Once in the car, Lottie drove slowly until she reached the motorway, which had been gritted and was clear of snow.

‘Tell me about Naomi,’ she said. ‘I’d like to know what she was like.’

‘I can’t talk about her until I’m sure you haven’t made a mistake.’

‘Did she enjoy choir?’ Lottie persisted.

‘She loves music.’

‘What was her favourite Christmas carol?’

‘I don’t think she has a favourite.’

Lottie pressed on. ‘I’ve checked Isaac’s file. He attacked a social worker. Why was that?’

‘He was poking his nose in where it didn’t concern him.’

‘But it was a child welfare issue. Naomi had unexplained injuries. How did those happen?’

‘She fell off a chair and broke her wrist.’

‘There were lots of old injuries. They showed up in the post-mortem X-rays. What was the reason for those?’

Ruth twisted round in the seat. Lottie glanced sideways and caught the steel in the other woman’s eyes. Piercing straight through her. But when she spoke, her voice was low and trembling.

‘Children of that age are always getting scrapes and bruises. My children are not, and never have been, wrapped up in cotton wool. They are allowed to play. It’s natural that they have minor injuries. There’s no big mystery.’

‘Why were the Child—?’

‘We were targeted because of our religion. Those services are run by heathens. Isaac was standing up for his family. But what he did was wrong. He should not have lost his temper. He should not have lashed out. He sinned and is paying the price.’

‘Last night you were angry at him. Why?’

‘I am angry that he abandoned me to fend for myself and our children. He left us destitute, almost homeless. We had to move and ended up in Ragmullin to be closer to the prison, but I never visit him. I know it’s wrong to be angry, but I am human.’

‘What did Isaac work at?’

‘He did odd jobs. Nothing that paid much. We were on welfare.’

Lottie would have to check that out if it became relevant. She had exited the motorway without noticing and had reached Tullamore. She parked and turned to the grieving mother.