Page 127 of Her Last Walk Home

‘I explained about the subsidy system. That information is in the public domain, so I wasn’t telling tales, if that’s what you’re insinuating.’

‘I’m just trying to find out what the bloody guards wanted. Was it that woman again? Inspector Parker?’

‘Yes, and another fine-looking thing.’

‘Mona!’

‘Sorry. They asked about Aneta and how she got the job so quickly after arriving in Ireland.’

‘And?’

‘I mentioned we have a vetting process, but they twigged that that would take time, so I had to tell them someone must have put in a word for her.’

‘You what? Jesus, Mona, no. That’s against regulations.’

‘Me telling them, or you actually doing it?’

Irene detected the scorn lacing the receptionist’s words. ‘I suppose you told them who spoke on Aneta’s behalf.’

‘No, I didn’t, because I have no idea. It’s not written down anywhere.’

‘Good, good.’ Irene took off her gloves and tugged at a stray tendril of hair that had come loose over her ear. ‘I’ll be in my office.’ She made towards the door.

‘Oh, they also wanted to know what sparked Aneta’s outburst that day and who was in the vicinity when it happened.’

‘Suppose you told them?’

‘I told them what I knew, which wasn’t much. What’s going on? Is Cuan mixed up in these murders?’

Irene stopped. ‘This place has nothing to do with those murders. It’s a coincidence. Did the guards say something to plant that idea in your head?’

‘Not at all.’ Mona strode into her cubicle and began banging the keyboard. As Irene entered the code to leave the reception area, the other woman added, ‘I think they were on a fishing mission. They even asked why we cut the grass in January.’

‘You could be right they’re fishing, but I can tell you, this river is dry.’ With that, she left Mona to her work.

Once she was in her office, Irene flopped onto her chair. She turned her hands into fists and twisted them around her eyes. She had to stay strong, because this was going to get a whole lot worse before it got any better. She’d overcome adversity before; she would do so again. She took off her coat and got to work.

89

George Kenny seemed fraught and fidgety. His eyes were red-rimmed and his clothes needed changing. A sweaty smell surrounded him.

‘I can’t believe Shannon was hooked up to an escort agency.’

‘Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt her?’ Lottie asked.

‘Hurt her? How? Do you know something?’

‘No, I’m just trying to get answers.’

‘Shannon was her own worst enemy. She abused herself with drugs, but I don’t think she’d touched any since her stint in rehab.’

‘Do you know of anyone she was friends with in Cuan?’

‘I don’t recall her talking about any of the residents.’

‘Can I see her room?’ She wanted to look for herself even though it had been searched and Kirby had seen it too.

‘Go ahead up,’ he said, ‘I’m trying to get fluids into Davy. He has chickenpox. Never rains but it pours.’

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