Page 103 of The Altar Girls

‘Can you answer my question?’

‘Not until you explain what’s going on.’ Her shoulders slumped and she twisted her hands into white-knuckled knots before picking at the skin on her thumb. Her mascara stained her cheeks like muddy rivulets and strands of red hair stuck in it. ‘D-did he do something awful?’

‘To be honest, I don’t know what he did or didn’t do.’ Lottie decided to wait the woman out without giving her further explanation.

Jacinta stopped at her thumb and gnawed her bottom lip before speaking.

‘Alfie was troubled. Not having a father in his life doesn’t help. I think he resents me. I really thought he’d turned a corner when he joined Father Maguire’s choir. But now I’m not so sure.’

‘Why is that?’

‘Because you won’t tell me what’s really going on.’ She glared at Lottie.

‘I’ll ask you once more, where would Alfie go if he was in trouble?’

‘I don’t know.’ She paused. ‘What sort of trouble?’

‘Answer the question.’

Jacinta emitted a long sigh. ‘I work long hours. I do my best for him. But to be honest, I don’t know much about what he gets up to when he’s home from school.’

‘No one is blaming you, Jacinta.’ Lottie knew that wouldn’t be true if Alfie turned out to be a murderer. Then everyone would blame the mother. Now, though, she was worried for Alfie’s safety. ‘Who are his friends?’

‘It sounds terrible, but I don’t know. I’ve been so busy at work…’ Jacinta looked up through tear-stained eyelashes. ‘What about Father Maguire? Did you talk to him? I know Alfie got on well with him.’

The priest had crossed Lottie’s mind. He was her next stop.

‘Was there anything unhealthy about their relationship?’

‘Relationship? Alfie and the priest? What are you implying?’

‘Their friendship, then. Could Alfie be under Father Maguire’s control?’ If Alfie was the murderer, and he needed help, say to move the bodies, and if he hadn’t turned to his mother, that left the priest.

‘I… Maybe. He first met Father Maguire that time when he was riding his bike like crazy through St Patrick’s grounds. The priest saw something in him that others didn’t, and he helped my boy. He ended up assisting at the food bank from time to time because Alfie said Father Maguire asked him. Is that what you mean?’

‘Maybe.’ Lottie added that to her mental database. ‘I need you to outline your whereabouts last Monday.’

‘Again?’

Lottie stared, and Jacinta threw her hands in the air.

‘All right then. I went to work at eight thirty. Alfie had no school, so he was still in bed when I left. I was at the office for an hour or so, and then I went to the nursing home out in Gaddstown. I was home by six and dropped Alfie to his choir practice before eight, then went straight back for him when I realised it was cancelled. Happy?’

‘What time did you leave him at the cathedral?’

‘Maybe ten to eight?’

‘Was he at home at six when you arrived there from work?’

A raised eyebrow. ‘Yes. Why?’

‘What did you both do between six and eight?’

Jacinta shrugged her shoulders, making her face appear tiny. ‘Got dinner. Watched telly. I don’t know.’

‘Did you leave the house during that time?’

‘I don’t think so. No. Where is my son?’

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