Page 46 of The Guilty Girl

Oppressive heat clogged the office air. Lynch abandoned her jacket and cardigan and rolled up her shirtsleeves. Only for McKeown being there, she’d have kicked off her shoes. Scrolling on Lucy’s laptop, she furrowed her brow and scratched her head with the end of her pen.

‘This is so frustrating.’

‘Is Ben not giving you enough rides?’

‘Shut up, McKeown. I’ll report you for sexual harassment.’

‘Like you told my wife about me and Martina. You’re a right little snitch.’

She scowled and pursed her lips. Fucked if she was going to discuss anything with him.

‘Go on,’ he said. ‘I know you’re dying to tell what you’ve discovered.’

Bloody hell, but she had to talk to someone. ‘Lucy made plans to be away with someone last weekend.’

‘The weekend before her party?’

‘Yeah. It looks like whoever she was emailing was using one of those anonymous accounts. I’ve asked Gary to see if he can trace the address.’

‘Why don’t you just email it and see who replies?’ McKeown said, stretching his arms above his head and yawning.

‘And spook them? No way.’ But she gave his suggestion some thought. ‘I could ask Gary to set me up with a fake account and VPN.’

‘See, I’m not just a pretty face.’

Lynch groaned. ‘Why don’t you do what you’re supposed to be doing and get back to interviewing the teenagers from the party?’

‘I can multitask, unlike some I know.’

‘Prick.’

She had little time for McKeown since the row at the station over his affair. If she was honest, it was more to do with the fact that he had boldly continued carrying on with Garda Brennan. Men! They led with their dicks. She shook her head furiously.

‘Careful there, or it’ll fly off,’ he said.

‘Twat,’ she muttered.

‘You’re so childish. For the record, it’s none of your business what I do with my private life, or who I do it with. Lighten up.’

‘Arsehole.’ She slapped the laptop shut, stowed it under her arm and marched into Lottie’s office, closing the door behind her with a bang.

* * *

‘Sorry, boss,’ Lynch said. ‘I didn’t mean to slam the door. Well, I did, but not on you.’

‘Take a seat.’ Lottie scrunched up the sandwich wrapper and dumped it in the bin. She wiped the crumbs from the desk to the floor. ‘You look like a storm about to blow. What’s going on out there?’

‘Just McKeown being … bull-headed.’

‘Being a dick, you mean?’

‘Exactly.’

‘Try to keep the peace. I’ll have a word with the super about transferring him back to Athlone once this investigation is over. I’m well aware that the office atmosphere isn’t great …’

‘That’s an understatement.’

‘… but we need all the personnel we can get and—’