Page 164 of The Guilty Girl

‘Wouldn’t surprise me.’

‘How was her relationship with Ivy Jones?’

‘Best friends. Always hanging out with each other.’

‘Do you think Ivy could have been jealous of Lucy?’

‘For sure. Anything Lucy turned up with, Ivy arrived with something similar the next day. Be it a phone, an iPad or a jacket. Lucy got what she wanted because her father spoiled her. Ivy got what Lucy had because she was jealous.’

‘Was Lucy dating anyone?’

‘I heard he had a lucky escape to Australia. But before him, and afterwards, there was definitely someone. She was secretive about it, though.’

‘Then how would you know about it?’

‘I’ve worked with young girls and teenagers for a good few years. I know the signs,’ Sarah said smugly.

‘Any names?’ Lottie was lulling the woman into a sense of comfort, biding her time to pounce again about the photos.

‘Noel thought he was clever at hiding it, but he was with her a lot at the athletics ground. Lucy had no interest in running, so what other reason had she to be there? He was probably shagging her for years. Had to be something in it for him.’

‘She was underage. Why didn’t you report it?’

‘I couldn’t once Noel found out about my photos. He held that over me until finally he did the dirty on me and reported me to the principal. By that stage I was ready to leave. I’d had enough of the shit that went on in that school.’

‘Was Noel Glennon involved with Hannah Byrne?’

A shrug. ‘I wouldn’t put it past him. Hannah’s sweet but easily taken advantage of. Lucy and Ivy treated her like shit. And the poor girl stood around and took it.’

‘What about Cormac O’Flaherty?’

‘The gardener? He was always hanging about. Bit of a loner really.’

‘Ever see him with any of the girls? Lucy or Ivy, even Hannah?’

‘Not that I recall. He did some gardening for the McAllisters too. He’d have known Lucy.’

‘Did you ever see Cormac with Noel Glennon?’

Sarah shook her head.

‘Who were the photos for, Sarah?’

‘I didn’t mean any harm.’

‘It’s child abuse,’ Lottie said angrily, ‘no matter how you choose to look at it.’

Sarah stood, hitched up her jeans at the waist and dug her hands into her pockets. ‘I’m truly ashamed about what I did. You need to understand, I was always short of cash, even then. He paid good money for the photos.’

‘Who did?’

‘At first I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t recognise him. I saw him in the school car park one day, sitting in a flashy car. Noel was leaning in the window talking to him. Then when Noel headed off, the guy called me over. That’s when I realised who he was. He made me a proposition and I agreed.’

‘You agreed to give photos of girls in your care to a guy you barely knew? I find it hard to believe.’

‘I did know him. I went to school with him. He was an overweight lad back then, always getting into fights. I was small and miserable. Both of us were targets for bullies to pick on. For some reason, even at ten years old, he watched out for me. The more he fought, the better he got. He kept the bullies away from me. I hadn’t seen him in years until that day at the school. That’s when he cashed in his chips with me.’

‘Cashed in his chips?’ Martina asked.