Page 54 of The Altar Girls

‘You said you contacted him for information on the Kiernans, so what did he tell you?’

‘Oh, right. Just what was reported on the news. That’s all.’

The woman was lying. Why? Was it even relevant?

‘What I can’t understand is why he would come the whole way here due to an email from you. There has to be something else.’

‘Maybe he was afraid I’d shout his name out on the news. After all, he’d got a court order for anonymity.’

Lottie didn’t buy that for a second. ‘You can talk to me in confidence, Sinead, because I know there’s something you’re not telling me.’

‘All I know are the facts of the case as Julian told me.’ Sinead related them swiftly, then stood. ‘Look, I’m sorry, Inspector, but I have to go. Brendan, my cameraman, is waiting to catch a few shots before I go live at six.’

Lottie couldn’t force her to reveal what Julian Bradley had told her, but two little girls were dead and he’d known the family of one of them. She followed Sinead from the kitchen.

At the front door, she handed over her card. ‘You need to keep me informed. Remember, Sinead, two children not much younger than your daughter are lying in the cold morgue.’

37

Jacinta Nally marched around her sparkling tiled kitchen floor. Her eyes were drooping and her skin was dry. She hugged her arms around her oversized green hoodie and her jeans could do with a wash. That caused Lottie to look down at her own ragged black denims. She crossed her legs to hide the stains.

Jacinta was on a roll. ‘That reporter woman should not be allowed within an inch of a child. She’s dangerous.’

‘Is Alfie okay?’

‘Okay? How could he be okay?’ Jacinta’s temper matched her fiery red hair as it flew around her face. She slapped a tea towel against her denim-clad thigh. ‘He’s traumatised from finding Naomi’s body, and then that witch grabbed him. What are you going to do about it?’

‘Look, Jacinta, can you sit for a moment?’ The woman was making Lottie dizzy and her empty stomach wasn’t helping.

At last Jacinta balled up the cloth, threw it in the sink and sat down.

‘I try my best, Inspector. It’s not easy. Alfie can be a handful at times. I lost a son when Alfie was six. Stevie had heart issues. I was devastated and it went hard on Alfie. Life turned difficult with him, and I couldn’t believe it when he agreed to join the choir. Father Maguire has a way with the kids. Father Pearse too. Those two are so good for our community. You know that food bank was Father Pearse’s idea? There used to be an old lady doing a soup run years ago, but it died when she did. I help out now and again, when I can, but I work long hours. I’m a carer for various people around town and I also work in a nursing home. Money isn’t great, but I try my best to manage.’

‘You were telling me about Alfie,’ Lottie prompted.

‘Oh, right, sorry. You see, he’s only eleven – well, he’ll be twelve next week – but he was beginning to hang around with older lads. Getting into trouble, robbing sweets and chocolate bars out of Lidl and flying away on bikes. He’s a good boy but easily led. One of your guards… the guy on a bike, do you know him?’

Lottie nodded. ‘Garda Lei.’

‘He chased the lads along the Dublin Road one day and they skirted down the track behind St Patrick’s. That was during the summer. Then suddenly Alfie comes home and says he wants to join the choir. I nearly fell off this same chair. The change in him was immense.’

‘Was he friends with the two girls?’

‘Willow and Naomi? I doubt it. He may have calmed down, but he’s still a lad’s lad. He knew them from the choir, that’s all.’

‘Did they ever visit here, or did he visit their homes?’

‘Inspector, Alfie is nearly twelve and those two were what? Eight? Big age gap there, and they’re girls. But to answer your question, there were no visits to anyone’s house that I know of.’

‘But you said you work long hours. Maybe they came here without your knowledge.’

‘I doubt it. I’d know.’

Would you? Lottie wanted to ask, but she had no reason to pressurise the woman at this time and didn’t want her to clam up.

‘Did you know the girls’ families?’

Jacinta turned up her nose. ‘Did you see where the Kiernans live? That estate should be condemned. If the councillors in this town were any good, they’d… Anyhow, no, I don’t know them as such. I saw the girls at the cathedral a few times when I picked up Alfie. And more often than not that Kiernan woman didn’t turn up for her little girl. Not surprised with that tin can she drives and a husband in jail too. Sad.’