Page 38 of The Altar Girls

‘Was Willow acting differently in recent times?’

‘No, she’s just Willow. Full of devilment. She tolerates school but loves serving at Mass and singing in the choir. She’s a good kid, Inspector.’ Zara doubled up with a heart-wrenching cry, then tore at her knuckles with her teeth. ‘This should not have happened to my child.’

‘I know, and I’m sorry…’ Lottie paused, her heart breaking for the bereft mother.

‘I reported her missing once I realised I couldn’t find her. I will regret for the rest of my life not seeing the school text before I dropped her off. I left her there and drove home, and when I went back, she was gone. How could a good mother do that?’

‘This is not your fault,’ Boyd said. ‘It rests solely with the person who took Willow from you.’

‘Do you really believe that? Because I don’t.’ She rubbed furiously at some imaginary mark on the arm of the chair and turned to Lottie. ‘I have to bear some of the blame.’

There was nothing Lottie could say to assuage the guilt Zara was feeling. She knew that guilt would soon be replaced with anger.

‘How well do you know the Kiernans?’

‘I don’t really know them at all. I didn’t even have their phone number to check if Willow was there.’

‘Were Willow and Naomi friends?’

‘Maybe in school and the choir, but there were no playdates or sleepovers.’

‘Okay, we’ll check with their teachers. If you think of anything that might help, please contact us immediately. Even if it seems inconsequential to you, it might mean something to us.’

‘When can I have my daughter home?’

‘First, you or someone close to you has to formally identify her body, and once the state pathologist completes the post-mortem she will determine when Willow can be returned to you.’

‘Okay. I will do the formal thing. Let me know when. I just want to give my girl the burial she deserves.’

Lottie had seen this sort of reaction so many times before and it usually came before a breakdown.

‘I don’t want to sound insensitive, but this may help you speed things up a little. When Willow’s body is released, you will need an undertaker. It might be no harm having one lined up.’

‘That’s okay. I know Connolly’s. I’ll give him a call.’

‘Detective Lynch – Maria – can do it for you if you like.’

‘No, it’s fine. Where’s Harper?’

‘Maria took her into the kitchen. We’ll have someone here for you day and night. Detective Lynch is one of our best. Lean on her for support.’

‘Thank you,’ Zara said. She glanced at Lottie. ‘Harper is all I have left now. I have to watch over her. To protect her. Please leave me in peace.’

28

When the guards were finished with their questions, Father Maguire dropped the caretaker home. He then decided to call to see Naomi’s mum, Ruth Kiernan. He had to do his duty as a priest, even though it pained him to be in the midst of sorrow. He’d leave calling to see Zara Devine until later that evening or maybe in the morning.

He parked in Carberry Grove and closed his eyes, praying silently. When he was finished, he blessed himself and glanced at the yellowing door. If poverty had a look, this house was it. It was unfair to bring up little children like this, but he knew there were things a child had to endure that were worse than poverty. He’d never noticed Naomi at choir looking hungry. All he knew of her was that she was a child with a placid temperament. Though he’d met Ruth a good few times after Mass and at church functions, he felt as if she had an internal steel door firmly locked to keep people out of her life.

He rang the doorbell and was surprised when a uniformed guard opened the door.

He held out his hand. ‘Father Keith Maguire. I’d like to offer my condolences to Mrs Kiernan and pray with her if she’d allow me.’

The officer shook his hand firmly, a broad smile lighting up her young round face. ‘I’m Garda Martina Brennan. I’m not sure Ruth is in any state to have visitors, but it might be good for her to see you.’

She led him into the kitchen. Ruth stood at the sink washing dishes, her back to him.

‘I heard you at the door, Father. Don’t take offence, but I don’t want to talk to you today. Or any day, for that matter.’