Page 59 of The Guilty Girl

‘Ivy never pursued her allegations. Please don’t tell her about this conversation.’

‘I can’t promise you that. Did you hear from Glennon again?’

‘No, and I don’t want to either.’

‘I appreciate you being honest with me.’

Sarah glanced over at Kirby and back again like a scared rabbit. Was she hiding something? Lottie wondered.

‘Would either of you like a drink? Tea, water? I really need a cup.’

‘No thanks,’ Lottie said, though she’d kill for a coffee. She had the feeling the woman was stalling.

‘Right. Okay. I have to tell you this.’ Sarah paused as if weighing up what she was about to reveal – or conceal. I’m just too suspicious of everyone, Lottie thought.

‘Noel Glennon threatened me and it scared me. He knew I was still sneaking drinks at school and I couldn’t face the humiliation if he reported me. That’s the real reason why I left. I was terrified to be in the same room as him, even with others around. I have no idea if he killed Lucy, but I think it’s possible. That poor girl. I will never forget the sight of her lying there, like Jesus on the cross.’

The words prompted Lottie’s mind to focus on the image of Lucy in death. Had the killer posed her body? ‘Why do you use that analogy, Sarah?’

‘That’s what she looked like. Arms spread out and ankles crossed. All that was missing were nails through her hands and feet. She suffered, like Jesus did.’

‘Suffered for her sins, you think?’

‘I … I don’t know what to think.’

‘Anything else to add?’

‘Don’t think so.’

‘Thanks for your time. If we need to speak to you again …’

‘You know where I live.’

Lottie moved to the door and the cat jumped from the window ledge back to his spot on the couch.

At the car, she said, ‘We need to find out more about who Lucy McAllister really was and if she’d been hiding something that might have got her killed.’

‘Like what?’ Kirby asked.

‘I don’t know, but something was going on in her life, because now she’s dead.’

‘It’s getting complicated.’ He thrust the car out onto the main road, cutting between two vehicles in a line heading back to town.

Holding the dashboard, Lottie said, ‘Delve into Noel Glennon’s background. I want something solid before I bring him in again.’

‘Sarah has certainly stirred up the suspect pot.’

‘And we need to find out more about her too.’

* * *

The kid on the bike munched a Mars bar while he waited. He’d swiped two bars from the corner shop and this was the second he’d had in quick succession, trying to fill his belly.

The job he’d been given wasn’t cool any more. His legs were tired from all the cycling around after the two detectives. And he was bored.

He didn’t like being close to the old asylum. It gave him the creeps. He shivered as he looked up at the narrow windows and the multiple chimney stacks. It could fall on top of him any minute.

When the car pulled out onto the main road, he sent the text. Zipping his jacket up to his neck, he pedalled away as if the devil himself was on his heels.