Page 90 of The Altar Girls

Unfolding her arms, Jacinta pressed both hands on the ledge behind her, tapping a foot on the floor.

‘If I had my way, he’d never again darken the door of this nursing home, or any home for that matter. He’s an obnoxious man. Creepy as fuck.’

My sentiments, Lottie thought. ‘What did he do?’

‘It was a typical she-said, he-said situation. No witnesses. Of course I complained to the manager, but I was shot down in no uncertain terms. I was so incensed I went straight into the garda station and filed a formal complaint. The home manager must have called Connolly after I’d left, because the creep met me on the steps of the station. Grabbed my arm and pinned me up against the wall.’ She shivered and bent over a little, hugging herself. A strand of hair came loose from her ponytail and stuck to her cheek. The woman was sweating while Lottie was still cold. Was it fear, or lies?

‘What did he do to you?’

‘He threatened me. If I didn’t withdraw the complaint, he’d make sure I lost my job. That kind of thing. Alfie was only eight years old and I needed to work to care for him. And Connolly seemed to know this. He scared the shit out of me. Being up so close to him, I could smell death on his suit. I had a bruise on my arm for a week afterwards.’

‘You went back into the station and said you’d been mistaken. Is that correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘Once something goes on our database, it stays there even if it’s withdrawn without investigation.’

‘Figures why you’re here today so.’

‘What did he do that made you report him?’

Jacinta glanced around the room before her eyes rested on the empty bed.

‘It was a woman not unlike Mrs White. Ninety-three years old. Quiet as a mouse when she was alive, and then she died in her sleep. Lying there on a bed similar to this one, a little grimace on her face as if she had been pulled from the world against her wishes. Dream Care deals with Connolly all the time. They recommend him to the families. I swear there has to be money changing hands somewhere along the line. Anyhow, I figured he’d already left with the body and I came into the room to check it over. He was… Oh God, even now it makes me sick…’

‘Take your time,’ Lottie said. She rested her back against the door. She had a fair idea of what Jacinta was about to say.

‘He was lying on the bed beside her, stroking her face. Like a child would do to a mother.’

That wasn’t exactly what Lottie had imagined, but it was extremely odd behaviour.

‘What happened when he saw you?’

‘This is the weird thing. He was crying. Well, there were tears on his face. And he kept shaking his head as I backed out of the room. Like I said, creepy as hell.’

‘What happened then?’

‘Nothing really. I went straight to the manager’s office, and by the time I got up the courage to go back to the room, Connolly had left with the body.’

‘Other than lying on the bed and stroking the face of a corpse, he wasn’t interfering with her?’

‘Oh God, no. Nothing like that. I’d never have withdrawn my complaint if it was anything that gross. But you have to agree it wasn’t normal behaviour.’

‘Unnatural, to say the least.’ Lottie couldn’t see how this had any bearing on the murders of the two girls, but it posed questions about Connolly’s mental state.

‘And you’re sure Alfie is okay?’ Jacinta’s voice quivered.

‘I’ve no reason to suspect otherwise. Do you?’

‘No, no. It’s just school is off for another day and I… I can’t afford childminder fees, so I had to leave him at home.’

‘Alone?’

‘My neighbour checks in on him. I left his dinner for him to heat up and he’ll be on his PlayStation all day. He loves gaming.’

Lottie had been guilty in the past of leaving her children home alone when they were teenagers, so who was she to pass judgement. All the same, she felt a shiver of unease. Alfie had found Naomi’s body and he was in the children’s choir. Could he too be in danger?

She kept her face neutral, not wanting to worry the hard-working mother. ‘You worked from the office on Monday morning for a bit, is that right?’