Page 145 of The Guilty Girl

‘What did I do now?’

Releasing the chair, she folded her arms and straightened her aching shoulders, ready for attack.

‘The condoms found in your jacket pocket; one is missing from the box. When did you use it?’

His face blushed purple. ‘I haven’t had the … erm, the opportunity to use … Mam, this is so embarrassing.’

‘One condom is missing from your box. And get this, my brilliant forensic team found it. Used. Shoved down behind a cushion in Lucy’s garden cabin. Isn’t that strange? I need an explanation.’

‘What?’

‘You heard me.’

‘I … Let me think. I bought the pack a while ago. Stuffed it into my pocket in case I met someone and …’

She shook her head. ‘And did you?’

‘No.’ His face was bright red.

‘Why is one condom missing?’

He lowered his head and twirled the controller in his hand. ‘Someone asked me if I had any spare.’

‘Who asked you?’

‘Ah Mam, can’t you leave it at that? I don’t want to get anyone into trouble.’

Lottie grabbed his hand to stop his incessant fiddling.

‘Listen, Sean, you’re the one in trouble. You have to tell me the truth.’ She let go of his hand and paced his untidy room, despairing at the mess of dirty clothing and smelly runners. How could other kids wash their own clothes and her son couldn’t? Then again, maybe the others were trying to hide something and he wasn’t.

‘I gave it to someone at the party. I’m not saying who … I don’t want to be a snitch.’

‘For fuck’s sake! This is a crucial piece of evidence. I won’t be able to keep your name out of it if you don’t tell me who you gave it to.’

‘I felt sorry for her.’

The reality that he hadn’t given it to another boy clicked. ‘Ah shit. Do you know who Lucy intended to sleep with?’

‘Lucy? You’ve got it wrong, Mam. It wasn’t Lucy.’

Lottie stared at her son. ‘Who then?’

‘I gave the condom to Hannah Byrne.’

68

There was no time to digest or analyse Sean’s revelation because she heard the front door open. As she raced back down the stairs, hoping her mother was home, she met Katie carrying a Tesco bag in each hand.

Her grandson held aloft an action figure still in its box. ‘Look, Nana Lottie, I got Batman.’

‘Later, Louis, I promise.’ She smiled at her little grandson before turning to her daughter.

‘I thought you were having Outback takeaway?’

‘Chloe’s got your credit card and she’s still with Gran at the hospital. I’ll throw on the chicken and chips that I bought with my own money.’

Lottie wasn’t in the humour to argue, so she kissed her grandson and raced out to her car.

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