Page 96 of The Guilty Girl

‘Is this the first you’ve heard of it?’

‘Yeah, yeah. I’ve been flat out. We have the Leinster championship next week. I never heard a dicky bird. Shit. This is bad.’

‘Yes, it’s bad.’ It’s even worse, Lottie thought. She still had to break the news to him about Jake. ‘What can you tell me about Lucy?’

‘I only know her to see.’

‘Do you train girls as well as boys at this club?’

‘Sure. You have to realise the majority of the kids here are from the Brinsley estate. They find their true worth inside these mouldy old walls. I do my best. I really do. Of course some slip through the net …’

‘Who do you mean?’ She was trying to keep track as he jumped from one thing to the next.

‘Maybe you’re right about Jake. Maybe he is mixed up with the wrong crowd.’

‘How do you come to that conclusion all of a sudden?’ Frustration chewed at her and she clenched her hands into fists. Initially he knew nothing, now he knew it all. It was difficult to get a proper handle on him.

‘Jake’s been a bit on edge lately. Jumpy whenever I shouted at him. And believe me, shouting is what gets them to listen. Some of these kids live in environments where only a yell will make them pay attention. It’s not drugs, though. I’d recognise the signs.’

‘You know his father died a year ago?’

‘Sure, but Jake changed more recently. Can’t put my finger on it.’

‘Are you positive you don’t know what was bothering him?’

Reynolds shook his head. ‘No idea at all. I’ll have a chat with him. He’s our best hope of a medal.’ His cheeks lost their heightened colour. ‘Please don’t tell me you’re looking for Jake in connection with the girl’s death.’

Time to break the news that his prodigy was no longer around to win any medals.

‘I’m really sorry to be the one to tell you this, Mr Reynolds, but we pulled a body from the canal late yesterday evening. We believe it to be Jake Flood.’

The same unnatural smile remained plastered to the man’s face.

‘Don’t you have anything to say?’ she asked.

‘I … I can’t believe it. It must be a mistake.’

‘There’s no mistake.’

He leaned against the desk, shaking his head. ‘Why would he do that?’

‘Do what?’

‘Do away with himself.’

‘We believe he was murdered.’ She had no confirmation yet, but it was obvious Jake hadn’t beaten himself, tied his own hands and thrown himself into the canal.

‘You mean … you can’t mean … There’s two murders?’

‘Yes, and both have connections to this club.’

‘I’m in complete and utter shock. I’ll have to close the gym. Mark of respect. Who am I going to get to fill in for Jake next week? This is a godawful nightmare.’

‘It is indeed. Especially for his mother and sister.’ People were grieving and Reynolds was worried about getting someone to replace Jake in a boxing competition. Human nature confounded her at times. ‘I need you to tell me the names of Jake’s friends. Or enemies.’

‘Never saw him with anyone.’ He wiped his face with the towel, and with the movement of his arms, his acrid body odour clouded the air.

She readied herself to leave. ‘I want you to think carefully about anything that might be relevant to my investigations. When you come up with something, call me.’ She handed over her card. ‘By the way, are you any relation to Brontë Harrison?’ Lottie recalled the DJ’s wife’s maiden name from their checks.