Page 153 of The Guilty Girl

Hannah paused. ‘I suppose I wanted to be accepted by her group. Maybe I was fed up being a loner. Maybe I just wanted a night out. How do I know why I went? But I’m sorry I ever set foot in her house.’

‘Had you ever been there before Friday night?’

‘No.’

‘You sure?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘How well did you know Cormac O’Flaherty?’ Lottie hoped the quick-fire questions and change in direction would cause Hannah to slip up.

‘Just to see him around.’

‘And still you had sex with him.’

‘I didn’t. If I did, I don’t remember.’

‘You brought a condom with you to the cabin.’

‘I did not! No way.’

Shit, now she’d have to implicate Sean. Careful, she warned herself. ‘I have a witness who claims you asked him for a condom and he gave you one.’

‘I never … Who are you talking about?’

Ballesty got in on the game. ‘That’s right, Inspector, who is this witness?’

‘It doesn’t matter for now, but I believe the person who told me.’

Hannah was shaking her head slowly, her fingers probing her temple. ‘I … I think I did, you know.’

‘Did what?’ Lottie asked.

‘I was mad at Lucy and I think I asked a guy if he had any condoms.’ Hannah scrunched her eyes shut, as if visualising a memory. ‘He gave me one and I slipped it into my skirt pocket.’ She looked up then and eyed Lottie. ‘I remember now. Sean Parker gave it to me. Your son.’

Lottie squirmed on the chair. ‘How come you can remember that and nothing else?’

‘I don’t know, but my drink must have been spiked afterwards. That’s why I can’t remember anything later on.’

Ballesty straightened her shoulders. ‘Inspector, if your son is involved in this investigation, we have a clear conflict of interest. You must remove yourself from this investigation. I request a meeting with Superintendent Farrell. Immediately!’

‘Oh, get a life,’ Lottie muttered.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘I have no conflict of interest. My son has made his statement. Cormac O’Flaherty has made a statement. I just need Hannah’s. I have evidence that ties her to Lucy’s murder.’

‘What evidence?’ Ballesty was now like a Rottweiler with bared teeth, having shed her prim image.

Lottie explained about the blood on Hannah’s hands and the bloodied towel in her rucksack. She was well aware that if Cormac was telling the truth, this evidence was useless, but she kept that to herself.

‘Does not prove murder.’

Lottie ignored the solicitor. ‘Hannah, why do you think Lucy picked on you with those photos?’

‘Because she could.’

‘Are you sure it was Lucy? Do you think anyone else might have been involved?’

---