Page 167 of The Guilty Girl

‘I can give you a hug if you like.’

‘Thanks, Kirby, I’ll survive.’ She pointed to the board. ‘What or who connects it all?’

‘We need to outline everything in a linear manner – stole that word from McKeown,’ he panted. ‘Then it will come together.’

‘Is your optimism going for free?’

‘Go home and rest, boss. Things are always clearer in the morning.’

She held up her hand, thumb and index finger almost touching. ‘We are this close to unlocking it, Kirby.’

‘Go home.’

She moved to the second board, recognising McKeown’s writing. A series of bullet points, his attempt to bring clarity to the jumble of knowledge gained and evidence secured.

‘Who first brought Hannah and Cormac to our attention?’ she asked.

‘Ivy Jones,’ McKeown said, abandoning the laptop and approaching the boards clutching his iPad.

‘And who first mentioned Ivy Jones?’

‘Sarah Robson,’ Lynch said, entering the room. She looked as wrecked as Lottie felt. ‘Lei turned up eventually. He’s stationed inside the house now, listening to Rita’s tales of woe. A squad car is parked in the driveway.’

‘Learn anything after I left?’

‘Only that Rita Jones is one sorry cookie. She is spitting anger at her hubby for never being around when the shit hits the fan. Oozing with self-pity.’

‘The sort who doesn’t like her little world being upended?’

‘Exactly.’ Lynch pulled out a chair and sat facing the boards. ‘Are we brainstorming?’

Lottie fetched a chair for herself. McKeown and Kirby followed suit. They sat in a semicircle.

‘Can I light up?’ Kirby chanced, rolling an unlit cigar between his fingers.

‘Not on your life,’ Lottie said. ‘Anyone see the super around?’

‘Gone home,’ McKeown said. ‘She held a half-hearted press conference. She was breathing fire with your name burning in it as she left.’

‘Glad I missed her so.’

As Lottie told them about Sarah Robson, McKeown added more bullet points to the whiteboard.

‘I can’t believe we haven’t found Terry Starr and the McAllisters yet,’ she said.

‘Not a sign of them.’ Kirby shook his head.

‘What are they up to?’

‘Destroying evidence?’ Lynch suggested.

‘I hope not. I can’t see the McAllisters being in cahoots with Terry over the abuse of young girls. But Albert could be involved in the drugs angle, based on what Boyd told me.’

‘Is Boyd due home tomorrow?’ Kirby said.

‘Focus and concentrate, Kirby.’

McKeown said, ‘Terry Starr is the only one who has avoided an interview with us thus far.’