Page 110 of Three Widows

‘Orla, it’s time to quit the bullshit. You were in Fallon’s lunchtime yesterday. I have CCTV images showing Helena’s car being driven through the M4 toll yesterday evening and back this morning at two a.m. It’s now outside in the car park. Explain.’

Orla remained statuesque, cup raised towards her mouth, but her eyes belied her calmness. The amber flecks had darkened, making them almost black.

‘Oh, right. Yes. After our drinks at Fallon’s, she didn’t want to go home. We decided to get out of this suffocating town for a few hours. I booked us into a hotel in Ballsbridge. We had food and drinks, but she was restless and wanted to go home. I drove back and she rang early this morning asking me to open up the shop, so here I am.’

Lottie huffed. ‘There’s been a full-scale search on for both of you.’

‘Why?’

‘You disappeared without letting anyone know where you were going.’

‘We’re adults.’

‘And both of you were friends with two women who were murdered in the last two days.’

‘That’s why we had to get away. We needed time to think and clear our heads.’

‘How long have you known Helena?’

‘About a year.’

‘How long had you known Jennifer O’Loughlin?’

‘What has she got to do with me?’ Orla was defensive now, Lottie noted. Good.

‘Come on, Orla, you knew her before you joined the Life After Loss group. Didn’t your husband, Tyler, commission a painting from her?’

‘A painting? I’ve no idea what you mean.’

Lottie decided to rattle Orla’s cage. ‘Was Jennifer having an affair with your husband? Maybe you decided to get rid of him, and then her.’

The amber flecks in Orla’s eyes flared like fire. The first flicker of anger. ‘You are joking me. Tyler was a charmer when it suited him, but he was obsessed with me. He wasn’t shagging anyone else.’

‘Do you know that for sure?’

She slumped back on the stool and placed her mug on the counter. ‘Tyler was hard work, Inspector. He was infatuated with me initially. Then that turned to what I now recognise as coercive control. I couldn’t do anything right. He had to be in charge. I was a virtual prisoner in my own home. I had to give up my office in town and work from the attic. I still loved him, and I believe he loved me in his own warped way.’

Lottie leaned both hands on the counter. ‘I have two gruesomely murdered women and three… no, two now who are missing. I’m losing ground on this killer, and I think it is the time for the truth.’

‘I can’t tell you anything other than what I’ve told you already.’

‘Where do you think Tyler is?’

‘I assume he’s dead.’

‘Did you have anything to do with his disappearance?’

Orla shot up off the stool and slapped the counter. ‘That is ridiculous.’

‘People have died. What do you know, Orla?’

‘I can’t answer any more questions. If you want to proceed with these preposterous insinuations, I will call my solicitor.’

‘Damien O’Loughlin was Tyler’s solicitor for his house purchase. What can you tell me about him?’

Orla blew out a sigh. ‘Damien did the contracts and related work, but that’s it. I don’t know where you’re going with these questions, but I think you should leave.’

She walked out past Lottie towards the door. McKeown opened it and stepped outside.

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