Page 122 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Money. What else wrecks a marriage?’

Lottie nodded, but she felt uneasy about how Rex was being left to fend for himself. She’d been guilty of that from time to time after Adam died, but her children had been teenagers then, not seven-year-olds. She brought her attention back to the child. He turned his pale face up towards her, his sad eyes swimming in tears.

‘Are you all right, Rex? Do you want me to stop asking questions?’

‘I don’t like it when they fight. It’s noisy and makes my head hurt. That’s why I was looking out the window the night before and I saw…’ He trailed off.

‘What did you see?’ Lottie asked, noticing Garda Lei taking notes. Good.

‘Will I get in trouble for missing school?’

‘No. You’re doing great. Just tell me what you saw that night. Was it the night before you found her body?’

‘Yeah. A taxi was stopped down by the trees on the road and a man got over the wall carrying something. It looked really heavy. Like a big bag of stones.’

‘Jesus, Rex!’ His father jumped up and pulled the boy to him in a hug. ‘Why didn’t you tell me or your mother?’

‘You were angry with each other. I didn’t want you to be angry with me too.’

Lottie noticed a tear escape from the boy’s eye. She itched to wipe it away; to comfort him.

‘Rex,’ she said softly, ‘it’s important that you tell me more about that night. Do you know what time it was?’

‘Well, there were no lights on outside the cinema and it was real dark, so it had to be after it closed. I don’t know what time it closes. Can you check?’

‘I can. Are you sure it was a man you saw?’

‘I think so. He was able to carry her. Well, I didn’t know what it was until the next morning, but it had to be someone very strong if he carried the woman over the wall.’

‘Can you describe him?’

‘It was dark and he was bent over carrying her.’

‘Did you see where he left her?’

‘Right where I found her, lying in the long grass with no coat or shoes. It was so cold. I was going to put my jacket over her to keep her warm, but there was no point, was there?’

‘You did well. What did the man do after he left her there?’

‘He ran back to his car. He must have driven off but I didn’t wait to see any more because I jumped back into bed. The shouting got louder and I knew Mam and Dad were coming up the stairs.’

McGovern kept his head lowered but squeezed his son’s shoulder in apology.

‘About that car,’ Lottie said. ‘You mentioned it was a taxi. How did you know that?’

‘It had that sign on top. But there was no light on it.’ A crease of worry furrowed Rex’s little brow. ‘Maybe I made a mistake and it wasn’t a taxi at all. Don’t those learner driver cars have a sign like that too?’

‘Yes, but at the time you were sure it was a taxi, is that right?’

‘Yes, because Maggie, a girl in my school, she comes in every day in a taxi. It’s so cool.’ He hesitated. ‘Can I go back to my game now?’

‘All this is very useful and you’re a brave boy, Rex. Thanks for your help. I have one last favour to ask you.’

‘Okay.’

‘It’s important that you tell the truth and?—’

‘My son always tells the truth,’ Benny interjected.

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