Page 103 of Her Last Walk Home

But the receptionist wasn’t finished. ‘I sent the email to the gardaí with the dates Aneta worked here. Also the dates confirming when John Morgan was resident.’ She must have seen the shocked expression on Irene’s face, because she added quickly, ‘That’s what the inspector asked for. I wonder if I should send over Laura’s dates too.’

‘Why in heaven’s name would you do that?’

‘Because it might all be linked.’

‘Linked to what?’ Irene clutched the coffee cup so tightly the dark liquid splashed over the rim.

‘To Cuan. I remember listening to a true-crime podcast once and?—’

‘I’ve calls to make, Mona. Don’t send anything to the guards again unless I say so. Do you understand?’

‘Of course. I was only trying to help.’ Mona slouched out of the office leaving a cheap tangy perfume trail in her wake.

Irene waited for a moment, then took three deep breaths before once again picking up her phone. She had a feeling the house of cards on which she’d created a successful business was about to come tumbling down.

73

Lottie sent McKeown to the railway station to see if anyone remembered Diana and her grandson, and failing that, to check the CCTV.

He returned quickly. ‘No one remembers seeing them, but I did a quick check of the camera footage. You can’t see them getting out of the taxi, but I caught them heading inside the station. I lost them after that. The platform was busy. Commuter time.’

Lottie pulled up the rail timetable as she spoke. ‘Where was she going? Dublin or Sligo?’

‘She only had a rucksack and a handbag,’ McKeown said. ‘No suitcases.’

‘And you have no idea what train she was getting?’

‘She was in time for the seven twenty to Dublin. But the thing is, she could have got the bus to Sligo.’

Tapping furiously, Lottie found the bus timetables. But Diana might not have taken either a bus or a train. She could have got into a car or doubled back into town.

‘And you couldn’t see the taxi?’

‘No, sorry. I only had a quick look. Do you want me to go back and check further?’

‘Leave it for now. I don’t want to take you away from your other work. We can do it if it becomes necessary. Did you have any luck on the bearded guy in Fallon’s?’

‘No, they wipe their CCTV every Sunday morning.’

As he left the office, Martina’s words came back to her about how Diana had been ransacking the drawers in the sitting room dresser. What was that all about? Was Diana running away? If so, what did she fear?

74

A call came to the incident room from Danny’s Bar following the appeal about Aneta Kobza. Boyd headed down there. He’d had a quick word with Charlie at her office to see if Aneta had ever expressed an interest in Pine Grove. But there was no record of it.

He’d talked to Amy on the phone when he’d left Charlie’s office to see how Sergio was getting on. She’d told him the boy was a dream and she was delighted to have the company. Feeling a bit better, he hammered on the pub door. It wasn’t yet opening time.

Andrew, the bar manager, brought him in and bolted the door behind him before leading him through the dark lounge.

‘The garda press office shared her photo on Instagram about a half-hour ago,’ he said by way of explanation. ‘When I saw it, I knew I’d seen her somewhere. I’ve a great eye for faces. I’d make a good bouncer if I wasn’t the bar manager.’ He laughed.

‘When did you last see her?’

‘It must be nearly a year ago. Around Valentine’s Day, that’s why I remembered her. Striking-looking woman in a red coat.’

‘What exactly do you remember?’

They’d stopped at the end of the bar. Andrew took a key from a ledge and opened the door, switching on a light.

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