Page 76 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Ehm… It could be called Right One.’

‘Right One? Are you sure?’

She knew she could fudge it, but it was probably best to be honest in the circumstances. ‘Yes, I’m sure. It’s a dating thing.’

‘Did Shannon get many dates this way?’

‘A few. But more often than not she was stood up or they turned out to be pricks.’

‘Did you know Laura Nolan?’

‘Me?’ Jess was confused. Was she being interrogated? What had Laura Nolan got to do with Shannon disappearing. ‘No, I didn’t.’

‘Did Shannon?’

‘She knew of her. Ehm, I’m not sure how.’

‘Mm. Okay. Let’s back up a bit. You said you were texting her yesterday about the murder at the building site. Did you or Laura know the victim? John Morgan?’

‘I didn’t, but the name sounded familiar. I remembered I’d heard Shannon mention him before.’

‘She knew him?’

‘Ehm, I suppose so.’

‘Howdid she know him?’

Jess shrugged and said nothing but she knew the detective was about to put words in her mouth.

‘Was he registered with the agency, do you think?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Could she have dated him?’

Jess felt as if she’d walked into a minefield. If Shannon was just hung-over somewhere, she’d never forgive Jess for blabbing. But if she was in trouble, Jess knew she had to tell the truth.

‘She met him in rehab. Cuan Centre in Delvin. About a year ago.’

‘Shannon Kenny met John Morgan in rehab?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Go on.’

Jess picked at her nail, keeping her head down. ‘She told me about him because they helped each other in that place.’ She looked up at the detective. ‘But I don’t think she’d seen him since she left.’

‘What was she there for?’

‘Drug addiction. Her mother died a few years ago and Shannon went through a hard time. George discovered she was taking cocaine and pills. He gave her an ultimatum. Get help or get out.’

‘So she went into rehab. For how long?’

‘About two or three months. I don’t think she’s taken anything other than alcohol since then. And she’s holding down her job at the hospital. She’s with the household staff there.’

‘You’re sure she knew John Morgan?’

‘All I know is she mentioned he was nice to her in rehab. She was lonely and he listened to her. So yes. She knew him.’

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