Page 74 of Three Widows

‘And?’

‘I found it under her maiden name, Whelan. She rented the lock-up under that name too.’

‘She rented it before she was married, then?’

He shrugged. ‘Think I’ll need a warrant for that information unless someone can tell us.’

‘Maybe she forgot to change the name over. It’s a dead end, McKeown.’

‘Not quite.’ His face held a grin that she thought was a bit uncalled for, with two murders on their books. ‘There’s a white Hyundai parked inside the lock-up. And the car stinks of bleach.’

‘What the hell?’ Lottie tried to get her head around what the detective was saying.

‘I called in a couple of SOCOs to examine it. I left two uniforms on security detail there.’

‘Do you know who owns the car?’

McKeown looked like the cat that had got the cream. ‘Belongs to Tyler Keating. He went missing a year ago.’

Kirby shot up from his chair. ‘That’s the cold case I mentioned to you, boss. Tyler’s wife is Orla Keating. She’s part of the Life After Loss group, like the two dead women.’

‘So you’re the numbskull who was running that case?’ McKeown smirked, unable to contain his delight.

‘You weren’t even based here back then,’ Kirby shouted, and Martina moved to stand between the two men.

Lynch appeared at the door. ‘What round are we on?’

‘Shush, don’t wind them up,’ Martina said, in an effort to restore peace.

‘Calm down, lads,’ Lottie said. ‘We need analysis on that car. It might help to unlock the two murders.’ She could almost smell the testosterone levels in the room as she spoke. She looked at Kirby. ‘You asked for permission to reopen the case this morning. Because of this new information, I want you to set up a small team to investigate it. Take Martina with you. Go over everything, including Tyler Keating’s bank accounts and financials. And find out how Jennifer O’Loughlin is connected to him.’

She turned to McKeown. ‘I need to know everything about Jennifer. Why was she missing for over a month without anyone noticing or reporting it? Where was she during that time? Helena McCaul suspected there might have been rancour at the dental clinic. She also said Éilis and Jennifer were the first members of the widows’ group. See what you can find. Then cross-reference all the information you find with Kirby.’

‘Certainly.’ Then, as if he realised he should be annoyed that she had allocated Martina to his nemesis, he said, ‘As Martina has been with me on this today, I’d like to hold on to her.’

‘I’m sure you would,’ Kirby snapped.

Lottie glared. ‘Will you pair stop? I’ve said what I’ve said, so get to it.’

As she made her way into her own office, she heard McKeown mutter to Kirby, ‘Let’s see how far you get with her. She isn’t your type.’

‘And what type would that be?’ Kirby snarled.

‘The type that sits in a window in Amsterdam.’

* * *

The atmosphere in the Keating house had always been electrically charged whenever Tyler was around. Now, when she stepped through her front door, Orla couldn’t help the smile that spread over her face and the flush of warmth flooding through her heart. She felt safe. No one could touch her or shout at her. She relished the peace.

She opened the refrigerator to get some juice, and shuddered at a memory dredged from the depths of the past. She could almost hear Tyler’s voice barking at her.

‘I don’t know why you have to buy the expensive stuff. Lidl do a perfectly acceptable own-brand orange juice’

‘Sorry. I like this one.’

He’d snapped the Tropicana carton out of her hand and shoved it back on the shelf. ‘In future, I’ll do the grocery shopping.’

She’d nodded, knowing there was no point in arguing with him. She still had her own wages, so at least he couldn’t snatch those from her.