Page 75 of The Altar Girls

‘Believe me, I do,’ she said with a smile. She felt Boyd nudge her leg with his. ‘What made the boy join the choir?’

‘You’d have to ask him that.’

‘Did you interact with the kids at all outside of choir?’

‘No, I only saw them at practice. We talked about hymns and training their voices. Look, Inspector, I try my best to give those children something to do other than stick their faces in PlayStations and televisions. I offer them the power of their own voices. Singing is one way to relax, to find inner peace. I hope those little girls had some moments of joy in their lives before they were brutally stolen from them.’

His words caused her to shiver. ‘Do you think they had unhappy home lives? Naomi and Willow?’

‘Naomi’s father is in prison. They only moved to Ragmullin a year ago, when he was in custody. It can’t have been easy for Ruth. I know she used the food bank. And Willow’s mother used it occasionally too. I believe both families found it difficult to make ends meet. Suffering that kind of hardship has to impact on the children.’

Lottie wondered if the killer saw themselves as an angel of mercy, rescuing tortured souls. Was Father Maguire such a person? Did he have it in him to take away a life? She studied his fine chiselled features, his dark brown eyes, and saw a hint of sadness locked in the amber fleck. She’d love to know more about him.

Boyd butted in. ‘Did you visit their homes?’

‘I had no occasion to until yesterday. I went to offer my sympathy to the grieving family.’

‘You warned Garda Brennan to keep an eye on the Kiernan children,’ Lottie said. ‘Something about the enemy from within. What’s that about?’

‘Ruth is under a lot of pressure, with her husband in jail and her daughter just murdered. I only wanted you to be vigilant. Nothing else.’

‘I don’t believe you, but I can’t force you to tell me what you really meant. That’s it for now. We’ll go get your briefcase.’

She thought that if she talked to him outside the confines of the station and without Boyd for company, she might get the measure of him. But was that being reckless? After all, he had refused permission to examine his car or search his room. He could be a killer. But she was not an eight-year-old girl. She could fight back.

49

The interior of the cathedral was eerily silent and pulsating with cold air as Lottie stepped through the side door behind Father Maguire. The search of the grounds was being scaled back, but the cordons remained in place. Mass in both churches was only available online to congregations until Superintendent Farrell gave the word.

His shoes must be soft-soled, she deduced as he moved silently ahead of her. She followed him through the sacristy inner door to the altar sanctuary. The marble echoed beneath her soggy boots. It was the only sound besides their breathing. He approached the organ with its closed wooden lid and removed his hat and scarf. Bundling them into his anorak pocket, he bent down to a box beside it.

‘I thought the organ was up there.’ She pointed out over the pews and up to the balcony perched above the main door.

‘That one isn’t used any more. We’re being more inclusive by having a smaller one down here and the choir beside the altar.’

‘Did you find your briefcase?’

He’d hunkered down and was shaking his head at the empty box. ‘I was sure I’d left it here.’

‘So someone took it?’ She wondered if he had hidden it.

‘I could have… Give me a minute.’ He stood, straightening his back, and strode back through the door they’d used to enter the sanctuary.

In the sacristy, Lottie loosened her scarf and unzipped her jacket halfway, but then shoved her hands into the pockets. She watched as he opened a cupboard, the one with the choir robes hanging like a line of sentries, and searched around the timber floor.

‘Aha!’ He dragged out a bulging brown leather satchel, with one buckle undone. She feared its contents would spill all over the floor.

‘Can you leave it there, please?’ she asked.

‘Of course, but why?’

She tugged on a pair of gloves with difficulty. Damn the Raynaud’s that caused the blood flow to her fingers to be non-existent.

‘I just want to be careful in case this is evidence.’

‘You think someone took my music?’ He stared at her and she could see the realisation dawning on him before he spoke again. ‘You actually believe I planted the music in the little girls’ hands. Why on earth would I do that? I didn’t kill those children, Inspector.’

She bent down and opened the other buckle. ‘Can you see at a glance if anything is missing?’