Page 106 of The Altar Girls

With that thought, he quickened his pace down the hill to the caravan park.

65

Lottie’s head was in turmoil, her body shaking. If anything had happened to Sergio, Boyd would never forgive himself, and he would never forgive her. Jackie had fled with the boy while he had been in the midst of a grisly murder investigation. Being a parent was all new to him, and she felt in her bones that if he didn’t have Sergio back in his life, he’d never recover. Trying to shake off the negative feelings, she rang the bell at the priests’ house.

She was led into the hallway to wait while Father Maguire was being fetched.

After two minutes that felt like an hour, he came down the stairs dressed in his tan cords and a black polo-neck jumper. Eyes like hazel nuts widened without any sparkle and his hair looked even darker. She realised it was damp as he swept it back from his forehead.

‘Inspector, how can I help you?’

‘Can we talk somewhere private?’

‘There’s a meeting on in there.’ He nodded towards the room to her left. ‘Would you like to come upstairs? I have a living room.’

She followed him, content to have an opportunity to look around the place where he spent his free time.

The room was square and small. Dark wooden wall panels made it feel cold despite the log fire burning in a protruding stove. A desk to one side sported a slimline monitor but little paperwork. Two armchairs faced the fire.

‘Can I get you tea or anything?’

She could smell coffee from somewhere but said, ‘I’m fine, thanks.’ She shook off her coat and sat in one armchair while he made himself comfortable in the other.

‘You don’t look fine, if you don’t mind me saying so.’

‘I am fine,’ she said sharply.

He drew back as if she’d slapped him. Maybe her tone was way too sharp. She was wired.

‘How can I help?’ There was an edge to his voice now. She’d alienated him before she’d even begun. Damn.

‘Do you know where I might find Alfie Nally?’

‘Alfie? I don’t have a clue. Is he in trouble?’

‘When did you last see him?’

‘He called here yesterday. He was upset over finding Naomi’s body. Can you explain what’s going on?’

She shook her head. ‘When he joined the choir, did he make any… unnatural attachments to any of the other children?’ In her heart she feared Alfie was in danger, but because he’d taken Bethany, she had to consider that he might have been involved in the murders.

‘You mean to Naomi and Willow, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’

He shook his head, his dark hair falling over his eyes, masking the hard lines she’d seen there. ‘Not that I noticed. But as I told you already, I originally had him pinned as a complex, angry boy. His mother worked long hours, so he spent a lot of time alone, as far as I could gather. That can’t be healthy, can it? In my day you’d go out and kick a ball against a wall, not vegetate in front of a screen.’

Feeling herself blush, Lottie slumped lower in the chair. She had left her son to his own devices for years. Literally. But Sean was turning out all right. Wasn’t he? The truth was, she didn’t really know. A surge of guilt threatened to overwhelm her.

‘I’ve hit a nerve, Inspector. Don’t feel guilty. You haven’t got it easy either.’

‘You know nothing about me, Father.’ Indignation surged, to cover the guilt.

‘Call me Keith. I’m a good listener. That’s if you want to talk about it.’

‘I have two dead children and a missing boy. I’m trying to find the girls’ killer. I haven’t time to talk about anything else.’ She folded her arms and blinked away her frustration and exhaustion.

‘You asked me about Alfie. Even though he’s hard to understand, I can’t believe that he harmed anyone. He’s just a boy.’

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