Page 55 of The Guilty Girl

‘Will you find out what you can? I’m trying to cover all eventualities. McAllister said he’s an agent for a boxer called Terry Starr. Lucy’s murder probably has nothing to do with her father’s work, but I can’t help feeling uneasy about them leaving her home alone during exam time. Do you think Albert was up to something dodgy in Spain?’

‘We both know there’s an underbelly of Irish criminals residing on the Costa del Sol,’ Boyd mused. ‘You hardly have to lift a mat to find them crawling underneath. Is that what you’re getting at? You think Albert is involved in something shady and it got his daughter killed?’

‘It’s possible Lucy was murdered for something her parents might have been involved in. I just need to tick that box and move on.’

‘I’ll see what I can find out. Have you any suspects?’

‘There’s one girl who had dried blood under her fingernails when we picked her up. I’m not sure how she is involved because she has no memory of anything relevant. She took some sort of narcotic, so anything is possible.’

‘Sounds cut and dried,’ he said.

‘The thing is, Sean was at the party too. I brought him home early, but do you think I should tell Superintendent Farrell?’

‘Jesus, she’ll chew you up and won’t even wait to spit you out. She’ll swallow you and your career. You have to tell her straight away.’

‘But won’t I make it worse if I mention it now?’

‘Up to you, but she needs to be told.’

‘I’ll see. Will you ask a few questions out there? You know the drill.’

‘Yeah, I’ll see what I can find out and let you know.’

‘You’re a star.’

‘As long as I’m your star, that’s all that matters to me.’

‘I’ll text you the full address.’

‘I miss you, Lottie.’

‘Miss you too.’

‘Love you.’

‘Me too.’

He hung up and stared at the phone. Why did she find it so hard to verbalise her feelings? He turned around. Sergio was standing right behind him.

‘Who was that?’ the boy said.

‘My boss.’

‘You love your boss?’

Boyd laughed and gathered him in a warm hug.

‘Ugh, let me down,’ Sergio said. ‘I’m not a baby.’

‘Right you are.’ Boyd’s phone pinged with the McAllisters’ address. ‘Fancy a little walk?’

‘It’s thirty degrees. We should have a siesta.’

Boyd grinned. Sergio reminded him of his sister Grace in more ways than one, and he still couldn’t get over the fact that he spoke like an adult. Despite his misgivings about his ex-wife, she’d done a good job rearing the boy. But as he picked up their towels, he worried about Jackie reappearing to prevent him taking Sergio to Ireland.

‘Fancy being a policía for a few hours?’

‘Like real detective work? Wow!’