Page 143 of Three Widows

‘I didn’t know her. I told your colleague, Detective Boyd, that her husband drew up my will and transferred ownership of this house into Helena’s name, but I didn’t know Jennifer.’

‘Are you certain?’

‘Of course.’

Lynch eyed the painting over the mantel. ‘Why do you have one of her paintings on your wall then?’

Kathleen twisted to look up at the abstract splashes. ‘Oh, that thing. Helena gave it to me ages ago. Said it didn’t go with her colour scheme. I hate modern art, but she was in one of her moods so I let her hang it up.’

She seemed to have an answer for every question she deemed fit to engage with. But Lynch couldn’t help feeling that Kathleen Foley was still holding back information.

‘One last thing, Kathleen. Amy said she’d been in a bad, long-term relationship. As a point of interest, do you know who she was with before they broke up? And don’t tell me to ask her myself. Amy is seriously ill.’ There was something between Kathleen and Amy that had her ask the question. Something about the intimidation that had brought Amy to Kathleen for investment in SunUp.

Kathleen stood and gripped the back of the chair, her hands alabaster white.

* * *

After Lynch had left for Kathleen Foley’s with Garda Lei, Kirby abandoned McKeown, who was being so nice to him it was suspicious, and headed to see Amy.

A call to the hospital confirmed she was out of surgery and the operation on her leg had been successful. They were hopeful that with physio and rehab, she would walk normally in the future.

He was relieved when the ward nurse allowed him in to see her. Her butterfly lips were almost transparent, her eyes shut tightly. A tube led to her nose and a series of machines gave off intermittent beeps. Pulling over a chair, he sat by her bed and took her hand in his.

‘Amy, can you hear me?’

Her eyes flew open and a frightened tremor started in her hand. He stared at her face, trying to read the silent message written there, but failed.

‘You don’t have to talk if it’s too difficult.’

‘Sorry,’ she said in a weak voice. ‘Should have… told you… truth.’

He tried to unravel the knot of anxiety before it took root in his chest. Was she more involved than he could imagine? Surely not.

‘I’m so sorry this has happened to you.’

‘Not your fault.’

‘You don’t have to talk now, Amy, but Orla Keating and Helena McCaul are missing. I need your help.’

She remained silent.

‘I think whoever abducted you might have taken one or other of them. Can you tell me anything about the person who took you?’

She shook her head slowly and a loud beep emanated from the machine by the bed. ‘I didn’t see… anything.’

‘Were you brought to the shop straight away?’

Her eyes drooped, lids heavy. ‘What shop?’

‘Herbal Heaven. That’s where you were found.’

‘Don’t remember. Sorry.’

He noticed tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.

‘I don’t want to upset you, Amy. You’ve been through such a horrific time. But I need to find those two women. Did one of them do this to you?’

‘Can’t help. Don’t understand… what happened.’ Now one of the machines beeped more loudly than the others and he noticed her blood pressure stats rising.