Page 118 of The Altar Girls

‘Do you remember what you did today?’

‘I… I drove into town.’

‘You know you shouldn’t be driving. You have to think of other people. What would happen if your mind suddenly blanked and you had no idea what you were doing? You could cause an accident. You might kill someone.’

A tiny light flickered in Rose’s brain. ‘That’s it. A killer. Betty. I was with Betty. We were knitting. She dropped all her stitches.’

Lottie remained silent, but Rose could see she was waiting for more.

‘She said the priests were killers. Where is my knitting bag? Find it. She gave me something.’

‘Wool?’

‘Just look for it.’

As Lottie went to the hall, Rose forced herself to remember. Priests. Killers. A note!

‘There’s a note in the bag!’ She jumped up as Lottie returned. Taking the tote bag, she upended its contents onto the table. Among the needles, wool and a half-knitted cardigan was a piece of paper.

‘Is this it?’ Lottie held it up and scrunched her eyes trying to read it.

‘You need glasses. You can have mine.’

‘It’s the writing, not my eyesight. The words are a jumble. I’ll have to talk to Betty. Are you okay if I go now?’

‘Am I okay? Lottie Fitzpatrick, do you think I’m a five-year-old?’

There was a loud ping, and Rose shuddered. ‘What was that?’

‘The microwave.’

‘Oh, if you say so.’

‘I put in the other dinner for you. I’ll have mine later on.’

Rose sat down and began to shove all her knitting paraphernalia back into the bag. Lottie rushed from the room and she heard the front door bang. She was alone with her jumbled thoughts and confused feelings.

Life was so unfair, she thought, and tears broke free from her eyes and travelled down her cheeks.

‘Peter will be home soon. He’ll know what to do.’ That made her feel better. She got up and looked at the microwave, trying to figure out how to open the door that had no handle.

72

Garda Lei felt like his limbs were on another plane as he tried to lift his head up off his folded arms. His ankles were caught around the legs of the table and his spine unfurled like an out-of-tune concertina.

‘Sorry to wake you, but I can’t sleep. I keep thinking Willow is here and then I check and she’s not. I miss her running mad around the house. Always into something and causing mayhem.’ A sob escaped, but Zara continued. ‘I made myself a carrot and ginger smoothie, to help my upset gut, and one for you too. I’m going out for a walk to try clear my head. Harper will be fine.’

‘That’s no problem. I must have dozed off.’ He blinked the sleep from his eyes.

‘Go lie on the sofa. It’s more comfortable.’

‘I’m grand, I’m awake now.’

‘Take the sofa, I won’t be long. Might even go for a drive.’

‘Mind the roads.’

‘Harper sometimes cries out in her sleep. Ignore her if she does. She won’t wake up.’

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