Page 78 of Three Widows

The macho smirk faded from Luke’s face, and he took a step back.

Kirby held on tightly and drew him closer. ‘Stay away from Amy Corcoran, or I’ll have your balls for breakfast. Got it?’

‘You can’t talk to me like that.’

‘And you have no right to intimidate your colleagues. Am I making myself clear?’

‘You need to make up your mind. Which is it I’m supposed to be guilty of? Harassment or intimidation?’ Luke twisted his arm to dislodge Kirby’s grip.

Amy arrived, flushed and flustered. She tugged Kirby’s sleeve. ‘What’s going on?’

Luke looked from one to the other, then pulled himself free from Kirby’s grasp and laughed. ‘Is this your dad? He was warning me off you, as if I’d even consider someone like you.’

‘That’s enough,’ Kirby said. ‘That’s not what I meant and you know it.’

‘Larry, give it up,’ Amy pleaded. ‘Please go, and I’ll talk to you later.’

Luke snorted with laughter. ‘Oh, now I get it. He’s the guy who has you up to ninety. God, Amy, you could have picked someone your own age.’

Kirby raised a fist, but she snatched his arm away.

‘Larry, give it a rest.’

He knew she was attempting to defuse the situation. He wanted to land the young prick into the middle of next week, but a muttering crowd had gathered at the checkouts, all staring across as if a half-price sale had been announced for fruit and veg.

‘Can you take your break now?’ he said. ‘I want to talk to you.’

‘Go on,’ Luke said, still smirking with glee. ‘He might have a heart attack if you don’t.’

‘Piss off, Luke.’ She pointed to the door. ‘Wait outside, Larry. I’ll be a few minutes.’

Shouldering his way out by Luke, Kirby went to stand outside, feeling like he had been the naughty one and got blamed for something he hadn’t done.

She was with him in five minutes, just as he’d made up his mind to leave. She shook her head angrily and dragged him away from the shop.

‘You’ve made things worse for me.’

They sat in Cafferty’s with two bowls of untouched soup and towering sandwiches. Both were staring unseeing at the television over the bar.

‘He’s a smug little bastard. He needed taking down a peg or two,’ Kirby said.

‘That may be so, but I have to work with him and now he’ll be relentless.’

‘Report him.’

‘I can manage, and I don’t need you interfering.’ She ran a hand over her forehead. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything to you about him.’

‘I thought I was helping.’

‘Well, you weren’t.’

They lapsed into an awkward silence, and Kirby wondered when – or if – he’d ever get to understand women.

50

A feeling of claustrophobia engulfed Lottie once she was in Kathleen’s overcrowded living room. It was similar to how she’d felt in Orla Keating’s home. Hoarder was the word that sprang to mind. A pot of tea and three mugs appeared on the table with milk in a carton and sugar in a white bowl. She was grateful for the tea to clear her head a little. But she still had no idea why Helena had lied to them.

‘Why did she join a widows’ group if she hadn’t a husband in the first place?’ she asked.

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