Page 87 of The Guilty Girl

‘I hadn’t gloves on, if that’s what you mean. I knew she was dead, but I felt her wrist for a pulse anyhow. Then I thought, what if the killer was still in the house? I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.’

‘Why didn’t you call the emergency services?’

‘Mam, she was dead. I didn’t want to get in trouble. I legged it.’

She couldn’t believe he had been so stupid. ‘Right. Okay. Do you know Hannah Byrne?’

‘She was with Cormac. Only talked to them for a few minutes.’

‘You didn’t see her arguing with Lucy?’

‘No. It must have been after I left.’

‘Sean, are you disturbed by all of this?’

‘Disturbed?’

‘Troubled or anxious. Will I call your therapist?’

‘If I need to talk to anyone, I can phone.’

Lottie could see how difficult it was for him not to cry in front of her. ‘I’m sorry I’m not here for you when you need me.’

‘I love you, Mam, but you can be so frustrating.’

‘You’re not the first to say that. My boss is wearing a blood pressure monitor because of me.’

Sean laughed, and the joyous sound warmed Lottie’s heart.

‘I’m not surprised,’ he said, tears rolling down his cheeks. From the laughter? She hoped so.

‘She moved all the furniture around in her office. Said it helps relieve her anxiety. I think I’ll take up that kind of therapy.’

‘If you started moving things around here, this ancient stuff would crumble.’

‘We could use it for firewood. Save a fortune on fuel.’ They both laughed, and Lottie felt the closest she had to him in a long time, maybe since Adam had died.

Louis rushed into the room. ‘Nana Lottie, Uncle Sean. Dinner’s ready.’

‘That’s great, Louis. We’ll be there in a minute.’

‘Mammy! Nana be there in a minute!’ Louis roared, running back out.

Moving to the edge of the sofa, Lottie faced her son and took his hand in hers, relieved when he didn’t withdraw it or flinch. ‘Sean, I don’t want you to tell anyone else what you’ve just told me.’

‘I told Detective McKeown most of it.’

‘I’ll ask him to keep a lid on it.’

‘But I didn’t see anything.’

‘I know that, but the killer doesn’t.’

She watched the weak blaze from the fire settle on Sean’s face as his eyes widened.

‘You mean if they find out I was at the house while they were still there, they might come after me?’

‘That’s exactly what I mean.’