Page 104 of The Guilty Girl

‘Drugs in my house?’ Mary whipped around and stood up, fire shooting from her eyes like arrows. ‘I’d kill Lucy myself if she wasn’t already …’ Her voice trailed off with the realisation of what she’d said. She sat down again. ‘I’m sorry. A figure of speech.’

‘I understand.’

‘It’s just that Albert is anti-drugs because of the scandals surrounding drugs in sport.’ She fixed Lottie with a more lucid gaze.

‘Can I ask why Albert would be involved in a local boxing club now that he’s an agent for big stars?’

‘He said he had to put something back into the community. Philanthropy, he calls it.’

Lottie stood and placed a hand on Mary’s shoulder. ‘Don’t be too hard on yourself. I have two daughters and a teenage son, and more often than not we’re at loggerheads. It’s all part of the growing-up process. Hating their parents.’

‘The difference being, Lucy has no more growing up to do.’ A soft sob escaped Mary’s throat. ‘But thanks for your kind words, Inspector.’

Lottie left the apartment with a heavy heart. No mother should have to suffer like that, and she more than anyone was well aware that regrets could eat you up for the rest of your life, no matter what anyone said.

Sad. Too bloody sad.

Lynch was standing outside the apartment eating a brown-bread salmon sandwich.

‘The food here is to die for,’ she said with her mouth full.

Lottie attempted to shake off the melancholy roosting on her shoulders. ‘Kirby would enjoy a stint here.’

‘He’s welcome to it. I’d rather be stuck into real detecting than babysitting where I’m not wanted. How did you get on with Mrs Stony Face?’

‘She’s broken inside. Full of regrets. The main thing I took away is that Lucy was a handful and fought with her mother regularly.’

‘If Mary hadn’t been in Spain when Lucy died, she’d be my number one suspect,’ Lynch said, licking mayonnaise from her lips.

‘Why do you say that?’

‘She comes across as cold as ice. Not a word of comfort for her husband, and he’s crying constantly. Poor man.’

‘Don’t jump to any conclusions just yet.’

‘You have to suspect her. I know this sounds ridiculous, but if things were as bad with her daughter as she said, maybe she hired a hit man.’

‘That’s far-fetched.’

‘Not really.’ Lynch was digging her heels in while deciding where next to take a bite out of her delicious-looking sandwich.

‘Arranging to have her own daughter killed? I don’t buy it. Anyway, Hannah Byrne is still our main suspect. I’m waiting for toxicology and detailed forensic reports before I interview her again. Though even if she is responsible for Lucy’s death because of the photo, what reason had she to kill Jake Flood? I have to figure out Jake’s role in it all.’

‘Well, there’s no way Hannah was involved in burning the car. She was in hospital.’

‘But Cormac O’Flaherty wasn’t. Nor any of the other suspects.’ Lottie felt her phone vibrating in her bag. She checked the caller ID before answering. ‘Hi, Gráinne. Hope it’s good news.’

She listened and gave Lynch a thumbs-up as she ended the call.

‘They found Lucy’s phone in the McAllisters’ garden. Don’t tell them yet.’

‘My lips are sealed,’ Lynch said. ‘Or they will be once I finish this sandwich.’

‘I’d better talk to Albert, then I’ll see what Lucy’s phone gives us. Still no word on who sent her the email?’

‘Soon as Gary figures it out, I’ll contact you. Oh, there was nothing of interest on Hannah’s phone.’

‘Okay.’