Page 67 of The Altar Girls

‘Oh, but not a sin to lock your own flesh and blood in a dark box without food, water or a toilet? Come on, woman, don’t act the saint with me.’

‘You can mock me, but I’m within my rights to punish my children when they do wrong.’

Lottie took out her phone and tapped on Boyd’s message.

‘So it’s okay to thump a child so hard that she suffered bruising to her spine? To slap the soles of her feet with a leather strap so that she walked with a limp for weeks? Oh, and here’s one that really turns my stomach. To twist her arm so badly you broke the little bones in her wrist.’ She was putting an interpretation on the injuries, but she knew she wasn’t far off the truth.

‘Naomi was a clumsy child and prone to falling over and then telling lies. I would never consciously harm another living being.’

‘Her medical file tells a different story.’

She was waiting for Ruth to put the blame on her husband, but there was no way she could disown the abuse to Bethany while Isaac had been locked up in prison.

‘Doctors want to be heroes,’ she said. ‘They tell lies too. They’re the ones who should be punished. All atheists. I believe in God and His mercy. They do not.’

‘Oh sweet Jesus, give me a break,’ Lottie said.

‘And do not take the Lord’s name in vain. I said it before and I’ll say it again, you are a heathen.’

‘And you are a child abuser, Ruth.’

Lottie heard movement at the door. Isaac stood there holding both of his children in his arms, tears streaming down his cheeks.

‘It’s time that you paid for your sins, Ruth.’

‘And what about you? You’re spineless, gutless. You think taking a swipe at a defenceless man on the doorstep is enough to give you a backbone? Let me tell you, your actions left me destitute. Homeless with three kids. I’m living in this hovel and they’re ungrateful for everything I do for them. I’m within my rights as their mother, and the only parent who was here, to punish them.’

‘But you did that when I was around. I didn’t want to see it. I believed you over Naomi. I trusted you with our children. That was my biggest mistake.’ He glanced at Lottie and shook his head, tears flying onto the tops of his children’s heads. ‘I am truly sorry.’

‘I’ll have to call child services, Isaac,’ Lottie said.

‘Do what you have to do to keep my babies safe.’

‘How dare you?’ Ruth yelled. ‘How bloody dare you?’ She jumped forward, thumping her fists against her husband’s arms without a care for the children he was holding.

Lottie grabbed her. ‘Ruth, you’re coming with me. I have questions to ask regarding the murder of your daughter, Naomi.’

The woman sank back onto her chair. ‘I did not kill her.’

‘You’ll need your coat.’

While Martina accompanied Ruth into the hall, Lottie turned to Isaac. ‘Garda Brennan is staying here with you. Don’t try to leave. Remember you’re on a bond.’

‘I have nowhere to go, but thank you. And whatever Ruth may have done, I believe she would not go so far as killing our Naomi. Please find the person who did.’

‘I intend to.’

A little hand came up from the duvet in a wave, and Bethany smiled. ‘Thank you.’

And Lottie’s heart broke all over again.

45

Another day with no school. Sinead had to call on Carol again, and wait for her to arrive. She kissed Annie goodbye and headed out to work.

Settling into her car, she blasted the heat to defrost the windscreen. With her phone in hand, she scrolled to see if there were any new developments on the murders. A knock on the passenger window and she almost dropped the phone. This was getting to be a regular occurrence, she thought as she turned her head.

A figure, seen through the slowly defrosting glass, moved around to her side of the car. She snapped on the lock button just as he reached her door.