Page 79 of Final Betrayal

‘Not a lot. The boss was in a state. Shouting and roaring about his daughter. He was looking for you. Screaming that he was going to string you up.’

‘Me? Just because I’ve served time, everyone has me tagged as a mass murderer.’ When Tony remained silent, Conor added, ‘Cleary said nothing to him about the body in the tunnel?’

‘He didn’t have a chance to get a word in edgeways.’

‘I think he should forget it’s there and continue with the job. We all need the work. If that body’s reported, the site will have to close.’

‘I think the boss is more concerned about the murder of his daughter than some old bones that’ve probably been down there for a hundred years.’ Tony slurped his tea, then dunked the remainder of his biscuit into the liquid.

Conor was about to say that the rags of clothing on the bones didn’t look like they were a hundred years old, but he decided to say nothing. He’d have a word with the foreman. He couldn’t lose this job. Then again, maybe Gill would sack him anyway. He heard his mother calling him.

‘Conor? Take this cup away before I let it fall. My poor hands are in bits.’

‘Tony. Be a best friend and get it for me.’

‘Piss off.’

‘Please? And I’ll forget that you messed up my workshop.’

‘I didn’t mess it up, you wanker. Some friend you are.’ Tony grabbed his jacket and was out the front door before Conor got another word out.

‘Is Tony leaving already?’ Vera shouted as the cup shattered on the floor.

Conor clenched his hands into tight fists.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Bernie Kelly waited and watched.

Leo Belfield was going round in circles, looking for her in all the wrong places. She kept tabs on him. Cat-and-mouse stuff, but she was so much cleverer than him. She should pity him, but she carried not a shred of sympathy in her heart. He had thought he was bribing her for information when she was stringing him up and down like a puppet.

Once she saw him re-entering the Joyce Hotel, she was free to roam. She had plans for him, but not just yet. Her half-sister Lottie Parker was going to pay dearly for incarcerating her with the lunatics who had pled insanity. Bernie wasn’t insane. She was just a very clever woman. She laughed, then realised that people were starting to look at her and tugged the cord on her hood, tightening it around her face. It was a dark evening and that suited her just fine.

She headed in the direction of Lottie’s house.

Rose knew that Katie was fed up with her hovering around, but she had to stay until Lottie got home. Sean and Chloe had been safely delivered from school in a taxi. None of her grandchildren had any idea why their mother had arranged it. But Rose was relieved.

‘Granny, why don’t you go on home? We’re fine,’ Katie said.

Glancing at a basket of laundry, Rose got out the iron and ironing board. ‘I’ll do this before I go.’

‘Mam doesn’t iron. The wrinkles fall out of most of our stuff once we put it on.’

‘In my day you wouldn’t go outside the door without a crease pressed into your trousers.’ She slid the iron up and down the arm of one of Sean’s school shirts.

‘That was like a million years ago,’ Katie laughed.

‘Less of your cheek, madam. I’m not that old.’ But I am, Rose thought. The return of Bernie Kelly had aged her. She felt like someone had turned her bones to sawdust. How was she going to tell Lottie?

‘Gran, I know you wouldn’t tell me earlier, but did Mam ask you to come over today?’

Rose hung the shirt on a hanger and picked up a creased T-shirt belonging to Lottie. How could she wear clothes unironed? ‘Why do you think that?’

‘It’s just … Well, she was acting really weird this morning.’

‘Isn’t your mother always a bit weird?’

Katie laughed. ‘You’re right there. But she’s been so much calmer and in better form since we moved. It’s great to see her something close to happy again. But she got spooked this morning and I don’t want her to go back to the way she used to be.’

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