Page 93 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Sure will.’ He pocketed the card and made his way to his car.

She sat into hers and watched him drive off. She had an identity for the murdered woman discovered that morning, andsome of her possessions. Now she had to find out when and from where she’d disappeared. Was it possible she had been held somewhere for almost a year? And why had she been murdered now?

With three people dead and Shannon Kenny still missing, was it just one murderer she was searching for? Time would tell, and she didn’t have any more time today. She needed to get home and eat.

65

Katie had driven Rose back over to Farranstown House late in the afternoon. She lit the fire in the large draughty sitting room while she began concocting a dinner from the meagre provisions in the cupboards and freezer. She needed to have a serious conversation with her mother. Her gran was not doing well and Katie figured she needed full-time care. It was dangerous leaving her on her own.

With chicken goujons in the oven and potatoes boiling on the hob, she had her head in the freezer looking for peas when she heard the clang of the doorbell. Wiping her hands on a dirty tea towel, reminding herself to put on a wash, she went up the draughty hall to answer the door.

She felt her jaw hang open, unable to utter a word.

‘Hi, Katie. We need to talk.’

At last she was able to form words. ‘Christ Almighty. What are you doing here, Jackson?’ She kept the door only partially open and leaned against it.

‘Can I come in? Please.’

‘But how did you find out where I live?’

‘I dropped you home last night. Remember?’

‘Oh, right.’ She knew how Rose felt now. She hardly recalled the drive home after their argument at the restaurant. ‘Suppose it’s all right, then. Be quiet, though, my gran is resting in the sitting room.’

‘Will I take off my shoes?’

Katie smiled and pointed at the grubby floor. ‘What do you think? I’m in the kitchen with Gordon Ramsay.’

‘Will I be safe in Hell’s Kitchen?’ He followed her through.

She closed the freezer door, deciding on a tin of beans instead of peas, and switched on the kettle. ‘Coffee?’

‘Sure, thanks.’ He seated himself at the table and rolled his finger over and back on a crumb. ‘I’m sorry I was such a dick, Katie. I really like you and it makes me sad for us to finish with a row. I like your company. I even like your son.’

‘You know nothing about my son.’

‘I like you, so I know I’ll like him.’

‘Leave Louis out of this conversation.’

‘I just want to apologise. I’ve had such a stressful time lately, but it was no excuse for being an idiot with you. I’m so sorry.’

‘The food was nice, though.’

‘It was, until I ruined the evening.’

She made two mugs of coffee, and sat beside him. ‘I feel a confession coming on.’

‘This is difficult. I believed that if you knew the real me, you’d run a million miles.’ He flashed her a forlorn smile of perfect teeth. Made her wonder how much it would cost her to have her own teeth straightened.

‘All right. Out with it.’ Just then she heard the front door slam. ‘Great. Not. Mam is home from work. She doesn’t know how to shut a door quietly.’ She stood up and began wiping down the table. Why was she nervous? Did she not want her mother turning her nose up at her boyfriend? Was he even her boyfriend? She didn’t know what to think.

Lottie marched into the kitchen dragging a suitcase unevenly behind her. ‘I smell spuds burning. Did you let the water boil off them? Is that Gran’s car outside? Is she okay?’ She noticed Katie’s visitor and stopped. ‘What the hell are you doing in my house?’

She let go of the suitcase and it toppled over on its three wheels. Katie held her breath, ran to pick up the pot of spuds and watched Jackson, his face ashen, leap to his feet.

‘Inspector Parker?’ He turned to stare at Katie. ‘She’s your mother?’

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