Page 180 of The Guilty Girl

‘Why cut the tattoo from Lucy’s body?’ She was flying through her questions, dying to get away from his vile evil.

‘It had my initials on it. She had it done a few months ago, to impress me. All proud like, thinking she was mine alone.’

‘But then she discovered what you were really like.’

‘Ivy has a big mouth.’

‘You’re saying this is Ivy’s fault?’

‘She’s a leech. First she was into Noel Glennon and then Brontë’s husband. So yeah, she is partly to blame.’

‘How did you get Glennon involved in your scheme?’

‘Easy. It started with Ivy. She told him about this teacher, Sarah Robson, who she suspected of taking secret photos of the girls in the showers. Noel told me about it and I realised I knew Sarah from years ago, so I got her on board. She gave me her back catalogue, so to speak. We had a great little number going until she got cold feet and Noel dibbed her to the principal. We didn’t need her by then; he had access to youngsters at athletics.’

‘Who did you sell the images to?’

‘There’s plenty of buyers. Supply of fresh meat is the main issue.’ He grinned and her stomach churned. He was acting like he believed he was going to get away with his crimes.

‘How did you get Brontë involved?’

‘Barney was useless as a trainer after his accident. He had gambling debts and needed money. I put a proposal to him and he roped his daughter in. She has a good business head. Dollar signs are like diamonds to her. She’s ruthless. Puts the fear of God into those who seem to be unwilling.’

‘Did she put the fear of God into you too?’

‘I’m able for Brontë. Noel has just discovered she’s my right hand, and now he’s scared shitless of her.’

‘So you, Noel and Brontë ran the show, keeping Barney for the dirty work?’

‘I tried to keep everyone separate. Noel didn’t even know Brontë was involved until today.’

‘Richie’s part of this too?’

‘Brontë didn’t want her husband anywhere near young girls. She’s raging over the fact that he hooked up with Ivy.’ He laughed. ‘She told me Noel turned up at her house yesterday looking for Richie, unaware of her involvement.’

‘Richie wasn’t afraid of being photographed with youngsters at nightclubs, though.’

‘Part and parcel of his DJ gig. Noel was working on getting him more involved with me.’

‘The thing is, Terry, Noel tells me that he was trying to get out and wanted Richie to help him escape your claws.’

‘Claws? Good one, but that’s a lie.’

‘Brontë says you coerced her and her father to get involved.’

‘Also a lie. Trying to save her own skin and that of her kid.’

‘What were you planning to do if we hadn’t discovered that you’d murdered Lucy, Sharon and Jake?’

‘Barney finished Jake off, not me. Now I want to make that call to my solicitor to get me out of here.’

‘You will be incarcerated for a very long time, Terry. No flying the coop on this.’

‘I can spread my wings far and wide. You don’t know who you are up against, Inspector.’

‘Oh, I do. And Albert McAllister knows too. You’ve made one very powerful enemy.’

When Kirby finished up for the recording and switched off the machine, Lottie stood and leaned over the table towards Terry. ‘Your wings are about to be clipped for good. And once the other prisoners are finished with you, I hope your sorry arse melts into the sewers of hell.’