Page 35 of The Altar Girls

‘Yeah. He’s inside the church now, giving his statement to Kirby and Garda Lei. Older man, Christy Reilly. A bit shook up, to say the least.’

‘Did Maguire touch anything?’

‘Says he didn’t.’

‘Has he provided us with his DNA sample yet? He was at Naomi’s scene last night too.’

‘Yes, we got it. The caretaker’s too.’

‘What’s he saying?’

‘Mr Reilly? Says he was about to wire up the star on the outdoor crib when he found her inside it. He thought she might be asleep and checked her neck for a pulse but otherwise doesn’t recall touching anything else. He said she was cold with no sign of life.’

‘Shit, why do people compromise crime scenes?’

‘He had to see if a doctor was required.’

‘Fine. Is Grainne here?’

‘At the crib.’

‘I was beginning to think Naomi’s death had something to do with her father, Isaac Kiernan, but now we have a second body, I don’t know what’s going on.’

‘Neither does anyone else.’

Lottie moved past Boyd and nodded at the priest. ‘Father, can you come up with any reason as to why two little girls have been found dead on parish property within hours of each other?’

‘I can’t. It’s such a tragedy. A sin. It’s Willow Devine back there.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘I looked, Inspector. Christy was on his knees in the church, phone in his hand, when I arrived. Totally shocked. Told me to check the crib. I didn’t touch her. I could see she was dead.’

She watched his eyes for emotion and was surprised to see them watering. ‘Don’t go anywhere. We need to talk, Father.’

‘That’s no problem.’

As he moved back into the church, she made her way around the side of the building. Two SOCOs were struggling to erect a tent, which was being billowed by the breeze sweeping down the hill. The crib looked to be fairly solid, a timber construction. The roof was built in a triangle with a massive star situated on top of it. It would be the perfect Christmas scene if not for the horror contained within.

Lottie suited up and joined Grainne.

Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the little body. She could see how the caretaker had thought the girl was asleep. Everything about the scene told her she was dealing with the same killer. The only difference at first glance was the red-beaded rosary intertwined on the little white fingers. Willow’s fair hair fanned out like a halo. So had Naomi’s, though hers was jet black.

‘How long…’ She found it hard to form the words.

‘I’d estimate she died around the same time as Naomi, but the pathologist will—’

‘Yeah, okay. The two girls were last seen together and it’s likely they died together.’

‘Were they best friends?’

‘They were in the same school, and both were altar girls and in the church choir. Let me know if you find anything.’

‘Sure will. The caretaker’s footprints are all over the place. I’ll have to take his boots for comparison.’

‘Do whatever you need to do, Grainne, because I want answers and so do two grieving families.’

She left the SOCO in silence, and once she’d divested herself of her protective clothing, she joined Boyd.