Page 66 of Three Widows

‘Don’t you need a warrant for that information? At the very least, I need to have her permission.’

‘I haven’t time for this. I believe Éilis is dead. Murdered.’

‘Oh God, that’s terrible. And I heard Mrs O’Loughlin was found murdered yesterday. What’s going on in this town?’

‘Was Jennifer a member here also?’

‘As she is no longer with us, I can confirm she was a member, though I don’t think she’d attended for some time.’

She noticed how he talked about the women formally. She preferred to call victims by their forenames. It made their deaths more personal. She figured Owen Dalton was aged anywhere between twenty-five and forty-five. No lines on his face, but with Botox and other such therapies trending, that didn’t mean a thing.

‘When did Jennifer last attend a session?’

He bent his head of sweaty curls and tapped the screen. ‘Her membership runs out at the end of the month. It’s six weeks since she was here. What happened to her?’

‘When was Éilis Lawlor last here?’

He gulped. More tapping of keys. His initial reluctance to divulge information seemed to evaporate. ‘Monday. The seven-thirty class.’

‘Morning or evening?’

‘Evening.’

‘Who’s her instructor?’

‘I am.’

‘And were you also Jennifer’s?’

‘Yes.’

‘How many instructors do you employ?’

‘I have three freelance. I’m full-time. This is a deluxe service and—’

‘So two women from your classes have—’

‘Sessions, not classes. My studio is exclusive, expensive and beneficial for my clients. Believe me, I value my business too much to do anything bordering on unethical.’

‘You think abduction and murder is bordering on unethical?’ She couldn’t help her sharpness. He was too bloody calm.

He opened his mouth, then shut it again. He bowed his head and stared at his manicured nails. Lottie hid her own bitten ones in her pockets.

‘Listen, Owen, I am not accusing you of anything. All I need is information.’

‘I can’t tell you anything other than that both women were members here. GDPR and—’

‘Yeah, okay. Were either of them friendly with other members?’

‘Not that I noticed.’

‘Ever see them talking to each other?’

‘No, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t.’

‘Is Helena McCaul a member?’

He glanced at whatever list he had open on the screen. ‘No.’

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