Page 62 of Three Widows

‘It was just a suggestion.’

‘I’ll do it when I see you doing it.’ He gave her half a smile.

‘That’ll be the day.’ She grinned back at him.

‘See? It’s not for everyone after all.’

‘We need to find out if Éilis Lawlor had any identifying marks or scars. We can talk to the babysitter Bianca, and her mother. Or the friend, Helena McCaul.’

Boyd came over. ‘I talked to Helena yesterday. Want me to follow this up? I can give her a call.’

‘Face to face is best. I’ll go with you.’

The bell tinkled over Lottie’s head as she entered Herbal Heaven.

‘Wow, this is a little gem,’ she said. ‘I’ve passed this way so often, how have I not noticed it?’

‘Hello.’ A woman came out from behind the counter, her silver skirt floating around her legs. A skin-tight white top accentuated her figure, while the hair piled up on her head exposed her clear skin and highlighted her round, tired eyes. ‘Can I help … Oh, it’s you again, Detective.’

Was she flirting with Boyd? Lottie glanced at him and found him smiling. Feck.

She introduced herself, keeping an eye on the woman’s reactions. Helena McCaul seemed to deflate.

‘Is there somewhere we can talk?’ Lottie prompted.

‘I’m on my own here. I don’t employ any staff.’

‘It’s important.’

‘I’ll lock the door for a few minutes if you like.’

‘That’d be great. Won’t keep you long.’

Once she was back at the counter, Helena leaned against it as if she needed propping up. Boyd took up sentry beside Lottie. Helena directed her question to him.

‘Have you found Éilis? I still can’t believe she’d go off somewhere without her kids being looked after.’

Before Boyd could answer, Lottie said, ‘We wanted to get a few more details about your friend. I believe you met through the Life After Loss group, is that correct?’

‘Yes.’

She needed more information on Éilis to conclusively identify the body. ‘Has Éilis any distinguishing marks or scars?’

Helena shook her head. ‘Why are you asking that? Is she—’

‘What about the index finger on her right hand?’

Helena scrunched up her eyebrows, thinking. ‘Oh, that. She had a mole on her finger. Her doctor burned it off. Said it was safer in case it was cancerous.’

‘And was it?’

‘She never said. I know she was terrified at the time that her cancer had come back.’

‘She had cancer?’ Lottie glanced at Boyd, who had his full attention on the woman’s nutmeg eyes.

‘Way before I knew her. A few years before Oisín, her husband, died. He had a genetic heart defect. She got the kids checked out and they were fine. Is Éilis okay?’

‘What type of cancer did she have?’ Lottie persisted. If she’d had breast cancer that had needed a mastectomy or lymph node removal, that might account for the scar high up on their victim’s side. And then Helena confirmed it.