Page 18 of The Altar Girls

Martina watched from a safe distance as McKeown frowned at Boyd. A tired frown. The smack-on-the-jaw episode from a few months ago was done and dusted. Time to move on. He directed his attention towards Lottie.

‘I might have something,’ he said. ‘The missing girl, Willow Devine, was dropped off on Bishop Street, at the bottom of the school lane, by her mother. She then walked up to the school gates. CCTV showed her standing there and then turning to walk back down the lane.’

‘We knew that yesterday.’ Lottie tugged off her damp jacket and balled it up in her arms, waiting.

‘Right. The school doesn’t have any cameras at the bottom of the lane, but I secured security footage from the solicitor’s office across the road. I’ve just watched the relevant time slot.’ McKeown smiled, then dropped it. Martina saw the scowl on the boss’s face.

‘Are you going to make me wait here all day while I have a child’s suspicious death to investigate?’

‘It shows Willow chatting to another little girl, both wearing heavy-looking jackets and school bags on their backs. I believe the second child could be Naomi Kiernan.’

‘What?’ Lottie dropped her coat and kicked it out of the way as she made for McKeown’s desk. She stared over his shoulder at his screen.

Martina figured he was now back in the good books.

He said, ‘The two little girls were together for less than a minute before they turned and walked out of shot.’

‘Both of them together? What time was that?’

‘Eight forty-five a.m.’

‘Where did they go?’

‘They turned left as we look at them, so to their right. I reckon they walked up towards the cathedral.’

‘Proof?’

‘None.’

‘So they could have gone anywhere. Did they appear elsewhere on the footage?’

‘Not that I’ve seen so far. It was a near whiteout, so what I have is suspect. Good thing is that not too many people were out, as warnings had been issued to stay home. Roads were hazardous.’

‘Keep looking. Grab footage from the whole street and trawl traffic cams too. They have to be on there somewhere.’

‘I will, but with the snowstorm at the time, I’m not sure I’ll get much.’

‘Try. And thanks. Good work.’ Lottie paced. ‘This might prove Willow and Naomi were together yesterday morning. We need a still of that image to show Ruth Kiernan for confirmation.’

‘Does it mean the girls might have been abducted, and at the same time?’ Boyd said.

‘I hate to voice this, but if that’s the case, is it possible there’s another body on the cathedral grounds?’ Kirby said.

‘Shit, did we miss that last night?’ Lottie stomped around the cluttered office, furiously kicking out at box files as she moved. ‘Could little Willow be buried under frozen snow? Sweet Jesus! Get everyone over there now. I want a full search of the grounds, the cathedral and any other buildings around it. Including the priests’ house.’

‘Won’t we have to get the bishop’s permission for that?’ Boyd said.

‘Go in as if it’s routine. If there’s an objection, we’ll deal with the fallout.’

* * *

Lottie looked up when Garda Brennan knocked on the door jamb.

‘Martina, how did you get on at Willow’s house last night?’

‘It was quiet, but this morning it felt odd.’

‘Odd? How?’

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