Page 144 of The Guilty Girl

‘Great. I want to know what Terry Starr and the McAllisters were up to in Spain. There has to be something more going on for Albert and Mary to be there for three weeks leaving their daughter on her own. Why would they do that with a threat hanging over the family? It makes no sense.’

‘Let me think.’ He was silent so long, his breathing lulled Lottie into a sort of calm. ‘Are you certain the email threat was authentic?’ he said eventually. ‘You need to grill Albert.’

‘If I could find him. The McAllisters are not at the hotel and they have no access to their home. It’s still a crime scene. Terry Starr is currently nowhere to be found. But I will track them down. In the meantime, see what you can find out. Please?’

‘I’m heading home tomorrow. I’ve Sergio here and packing to do and—’

‘Please, Boyd, can’t someone watch Sergio for a few hours? I’m desperate.’

‘Leave it with me. I’ll do my best.’

‘Thank you. I’ve another call coming in. Have to go. Love you.’

‘Hey, Lottie, wait. I need to tell—’

She hung up and answered the other call.

‘Inspector, can you come out to the McAllisters’ place?’

‘Gosh, Gráinne, I’m at the pin of my collar here. Just tell me.’

‘Okay. We’re finishing up with the garden cabin. We found a used condom and its wrapper stuffed down behind the cushions on one of the rattan couches. Hopefully the DNA in the semen will match one of your suspects.’

‘Jane also recovered a trace sample from Lucy’s leg. Fast-track what you found, please.’

‘I will.’

‘Thanks, Gráinne.’ Lottie went to end the call, but the SOCO was still talking.

‘You might not thank me in a minute. There’s another reason why I’m calling you.’

She braced herself for whatever was about to be revealed. She wasn’t sure how much more she could handle. ‘Go on.’

‘Thing is, I suspect the condom we found in the cabin is similar to the brand I found in your son’s jacket pocket. His pack had one missing.’

‘How can you be sure it came from Sean’s pack?’ Lottie closed her eyes. Dear God, please let it be a mistake, she silently implored.

‘I can’t be certain,’ Gráinne said, ‘but if it’s not, then it’s a very odd coincidence.’

Lottie hated coincidences.

She hung up and put her head on her desk, her ears ringing with bells of confusion. What the hell had Sean landed himself in?

Garda Brennan still hadn’t returned with Oscar and Ivy’s parents. Lottie wanted to talk to Sharon and see her mother, but first she had to find Sean. She grabbed her keys and fled the station. She had to look her son in the eye when she posed the question.

Outside her house, she gulped a few quick breaths. Silence greeted her as she made her way down the cold hallway. A good thing, or something to make her suspicious? At this stage she was too wired to care.

‘Sean?’ She leaned her head against the stair post.

No reply. Probably had earphones glued to his head.

After glancing into the kitchen to find a mess of bowls and a pot in the sink, she opened the living room door. The couch was still made up with her sheets, pillows and duvet.

Upstairs, she slammed into Sean’s room. He was sitting with his back to the door. Some car race was playing on one of his computer screens, his headphones blocking out exterior sound. Swiping them off his head, she swivelled him around to face her.

‘What the hell?’ Alarm skittered across his face, his hand flying to his heart. ‘Mam! You scared me. I thought it was Lucy’s killer coming for me.’

‘I’m coming for you, Sean Parker, and that should frighten you more.’