Page 121 of Three Widows

‘Amy is stunning,’ she said.

‘You say that like you can’t understand why she’d be interested in me.’

He noticed she had the grace to blush. He didn’t care what she or anyone else thought, he was sure Amy liked him. Certain she had no ulterior motive. But now that he thought about it, what would such a beautiful woman see in him? An overweight, clotty, cigar-smoking, next-to-useless detective. He leaned against the back of Lynch’s chair.

‘Do you think she was only with me because of my job?’

She wheeled the chair around so quickly he almost catapulted into the desk behind him.

‘I’m sorry, Kirby, but it has crossed my mind.’

‘Shit, Lynch, I don’t believe it.’ He shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and his fingers found a crushed chicken nugget.

‘For fuck’s sake.’ He threw the rancid food into the bin under her desk and went on a little march around the claustrophobic office, coming to a standstill back where he’d started. ‘God, Lynch, I hope it’s not like that.’

‘I found her on a dating site. And you’re on it too. Is that how you met her?’

‘No, she just happened to be in the same pub as me the other night. We got talking, and one thing led to another.’

‘You met her in Fallon’s, did you?’

‘Yeah. I’d had a few at that stage.’ He could add drunkard to his personal CV, he thought.

‘She’s mixed up in this somehow,’ Lynch said. ‘I wish the boss would come back with Orla Keating. We need to advance this investigation, and quickly.’

‘She’s been gone a while. Ring her.’

‘She could be interviewing Orla at the shop.’

‘Or not.’

Lynch was tapping her phone when Boyd appeared round the door, tugging off his suit jacket.

‘I’ve had the most interesting conversation with Helena McCaul’s mother.’

‘Has she any idea where her daughter might be?’ Kirby asked.

‘No, but she knew Amy Corcoran. Broke down in tears. Apparently she’d fostered Amy as a child. Helena was insanely jealous of the girl at the time. Kathleen was sure that jealousy had turned into hate.’

Kirby stood open-mouthed. ‘I can’t figure out if that’s important or not.’

‘Kathleen also said she’d used Bowen Solicitors. Damien O’Loughlin worked on her will and the transfer of some property.’

‘Boss isn’t answering.’ Lynch pocketed her phone.

‘I’m going there to see what’s up,’ Kirby said.

‘Hold on,’ Lynch said. ‘Try Lei on the radio.’

‘You do that. I want to keep busy and I need the fresh air.’

‘I’ll go with you.’ Boyd shoved his arms into his jacket again.

‘Thanks a lot, guys,’ Lynch said as the two men disappeared out the door.

* * *

Her head was thumping like a drummer in a rock band had taken root inside her skull. Lottie brought her hand to the back of her neck and it came away with blood on her fingers. Her shoulder thrummed with pain. Blinking, she looked up into Boyd’s concerned eyes.

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