Page 63 of The Altar Girls

Julian Bradley sat on an icy wall a little way up the road, across from the Kiernan house. A squad car was parked outside, and all the lights were on inside the house.

If he had been more vigilant, he would have known what was going on in there. He sighed and stood up, almost slipping on the ice. Now Sinead Healy was someone to be reckoned with. He had seen the bite in her eyes. She was a Rottweiler, and if she got wind of anything, he could be in her direct line. Maybe he would be better served watching her house with that little girl she left at home with a babysitter.

If he didn’t watch out for those children, who would?

* * *

His mother was fast asleep, but Alfie’s mind would not let him rest. All he could see when he closed his eyes was Naomi’s body, flat-out dead. His little brother hadn’t looked like that when he died, but then Stevie had been very small and Alfie had been small too, so it wasn’t easy to see into the coffin. He wondered what Naomi would look like in her coffin. Like an angel, probably. That was what everyone said Stevie looked like. An angel. And his mam had put his favourite teddy in there with him before the white lid came down for ever. It had made Alfie cry then, and now he felt tears in his eyes. He’d wanted to keep the teddy, but his mam had said Stevie needed its comfort in heaven.

He sat up and slid his hand under his pillow. He pulled out the bracelet-type rosary. Holding it up to the light from his bedside lamp, he saw the red glass beads twinkle a little. Or maybe that was the tears in his eyes. Whatever it was, he wondered if he could slip the rosary into Naomi’s coffin to give her comfort like Stevie’s teddy. Then again, he really wanted to keep it for himself.

He fell asleep with the beads entwined in his fingers.

WEDNESDAY

43

The paperwork took an age, but the prison governor was accommodating and smoothed the process.

Lottie had asked Garda Martina Brennan to drive her over because she didn’t want to be alone in the car with Isaac Kiernan on the way back. She’d left her mother asleep and texted Sean to go over there as soon as he got up.

Kiernan walked out with his solicitor, who promptly disappeared into his own car.

‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.

‘Escorting you home,’ Lottie said.

‘My solicitor could have done that.’

‘Isaac, I don’t want any trouble. You’ve been released on a bond and you must sign in at the station daily.’

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but clamped his lips shut again.

As Martina drove, Lottie twisted round as far as her seat belt allowed.

‘Isaac, I am truly sorry for your loss and I know you need time to grieve, but we could do with your help.’

He raised his head, eyes watery and sorrowful. ‘You think my little girl is dead because of me? You could be right, you know.’

A surge of anticipation filled her and she wanted to ask a million questions. Instead she waited to see what he had to say.

But he just lowered his head and joined his hands in prayer, and Lottie knew she’d have to wait until he was ready.

* * *

The warrant for access to Naomi Kiernan’s GP and hospital medical files was processed first thing. Once it was executed, the electronic files appeared in Superintendent Farrell’s mailbox and she forwarded them to Boyd in Lottie’s absence.

Boyd scanned the pages quickly, then phoned Nancy Whelehan, the Kiernans’ family GP. After getting the runaround from a PA, he was eventually connected with the doctor.

‘I believe the warrant provides you with all you need.’ Whelehan sounded weary. Boyd hadn’t time to feel sorry for her.

‘Yes, thank you, Dr Whelehan. I received the files from you and the hospital. But I wanted to ask about the other Kiernan children.’

‘Why?’

He had to be economical with the truth because he had no evidence to support his fears. ‘The family was referred to child services. I’m thinking there might have been issues with the other children too, not just Naomi. Two little girls were murdered in Ragmullin this week and I need to determine if that has anything to do with what went on in their homes. Otherwise, more children might die.’

‘You’re alarming me now, Detective. But I still can’t release any information to you.’