Page 52 of The Guilty Girl

Listening to Kirby scribbling, Lottie said, ‘Surname?’

‘No idea. It wasn’t serious.’

Mary lifted her head from her husband’s shoulder. ‘His name was Bradley Curran. He lived somewhere on the north side of Ragmullin. He’s moved to Australia with his family.’

‘Okay. Do you know who might have been at the party last night?’

‘What party?’ the McAllisters said simultaneously.

‘Lucy threw a party last night to celebrate the end of exams. There was quite a crowd there. Did you not know about it?’

Mary looked at her husband. Both shook their heads.

‘You’re mistaken,’ Albert said. ‘She would have asked us for permission. When Mary spoke with her yesterday, nothing was said about any party. Are you sure?’

‘Quite sure,’ Lottie said. ‘Who normally has access to your property? Keys to the house, that kind of thing.’

‘We have a cleaner who comes in twice a week. She has a key. Sarah Robson. She used to teach in Lucy’s school at one time. Salt of the earth.’

This was the first Lottie had heard Sarah used to be a teacher. She parked the information. ‘Sarah arrived to clean your home this morning and she was the one who made the sad discovery. What about gardeners, handymen? It’s quite a sizeable property.’

‘A young lad cuts the lawn for us. Cormac O’Flaherty. He doesn’t have keys or anything. I’m usually there with him. No one has private access apart from Sarah.’

And the killer, Lottie thought. Though there had been a crowd in the house last night, so a large pool of people had gained entry. ‘Did Lucy have much interaction with Sarah?’

Mary said, ‘She was normally at school when Sarah cleaned. But they probably had conversations while we were away. Oh Albert, we should never have left her alone.’

‘I’ll need a list of Lucy’s friends and acquaintances and their contact details.’

‘They’d be on her phone,’ Albert said.

‘Okay.’ SOCOs hadn’t found it yet.

‘Ivy Jones is her best friend,’ Mary offered. ‘She’ll help you.’

‘I’ve already spoken with Ivy, thanks. Do you know Noel Glennon?’

‘Who is he?’ Albert said.

Lottie glanced at Mary, but the woman merely shrugged.

‘He’s the PE teacher at Lucy’s school. He was at the party last night.’

‘A grown man mixing with teenagers outside of school time?’ Albert said. ‘I don’t know him, but I’ll be reporting him to the school principal and the Department of Education.’

‘What about Richie Harrison? Heard of him?’

He squinted as if trying to place the name. ‘Can’t say that I have. Mary?’

‘Is he another teacher?’

‘He’s a DJ. Played at the party last night. What about Jake Flood?’ Lottie was trying to find a connection.

Mary shook her head, but Albert looked up. ‘I know of him. He’s one of the kids at Goldstars. The boxing club. Why are you asking about him?’

‘He was at the party.’

‘He can’t be more than fifteen.’

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