No Safe Place(Detective Lottie Parker #4)(49)

‘I asked either Lynch or Kirby to do it.’ She glanced at the empty desks. ‘Shit, I’ve just sent them looking for Mullin.’

‘I checked the uniforms’ report from the nursing home. No one heard or saw anything.’

‘I’ll go over there myself. I want to have a look around anyway.’

‘Will I go with you?’

‘You keep at that list of runners. I’ll grab a sandwich and head over. Then I’ll check in with Elizabeth’s mother about the clothes.’

‘Are you coming back here afterwards?’

‘What are you now? My mother?’

‘Sorry, just asking.’

Lottie sighed. She’d no idea why Boyd was getting on her nerves today, but he was. ‘I’ll be going home. Katie is heading off tomorrow and I’ve to help her pack. I don’t want to even think about it.’

‘She’ll be grand.’

‘So you say.’ She glanced at the time. ‘And don’t forget to pick up Grace from the station.’

‘As if I’d forget that,’ he said.





Thirty-Nine





The sandwich was well and truly stuck in her gullet. Shouldn’t eat onions, Lottie told herself. God, she’d love a drink. Alcohol. Just to give her a moment of relaxation. One. Only one.

Tonight. Later. Maybe.

‘I’m not sure how we can help you.’ Peadar Kane, the nursing home manager, led her into his office. He was tall and thin, with a line of hair covering a bald head.

‘This is a lovely building. You must enjoy working here.’ Lottie didn’t do small talk, but as the residents and staff had already been interviewed, she honestly didn’t know what she was after.

‘Much nicer than the old home, anyway.’

‘Is that building still used?’

‘No. Health and safety. Most of it is condemned as unsafe for habitation.’

‘Health and safety, the bane of my life,’ Lottie said, thinking of McMahon and her makeshift canteen.

‘Can’t be too careful where older people are concerned. They’re not as able-bodied as us.’

‘I agree.’ She wondered how her mother was doing today. Better, she hoped. ‘Do you have a Mrs McWard here?’

‘Queenie? Yes. Second floor. Do you want to see her?’

‘Yes. And I’d like to have a look around.’

‘Be my guest. I have a meeting in a few minutes, so I’ll give you a visitor’s pass then you’ll have access to all areas.’

‘That’d be brilliant.’

Once she had the pass, and Queenie’s room number, he walked her out of the office. A man approached them. His skin was grey, and his eyes were so dark they could only be filled with sadness.

‘Ah, Donal. I’m glad you made it in,’ Kane said. ‘I’ve been worried about you. Take a seat in my office and I’ll be with you in a second.’

The man bowed his head and shuffled into the warm office.

‘Poor Donal. He’s been a porter at the home since God was a boy. His wife died a few weeks ago and I need to have a word with him to see when he’s coming back to work.’

‘Don’t let me delay you.’

‘If there’s anything else I can do for you, let me know.’

Kane followed his employee into the office and Lottie headed off on her tour of the facility. She wondered idly if Rose would like it here. But as quickly as the thought entered her head, she dismissed it. Rose Fitzpatrick would die rather than move into a nursing home.



* * *



Gilly O’Donoghue handed over the reins to Dan, who was late arriving for his reception desk duty. She picked up her bag and headed for the door, glad that her shift was ended. She’d have to rush home to eat, shower and slap on make-up before the play. Just as she had her coat on, Boyd came rushing down the corridor.

‘Hey, Gilly, before you leave, can I have a word?’

‘In a bit of a rush this evening. What’s it about?’

‘I’m not entirely sure. Just a hunch that you might have seen something.’ He showed her the copied pages from the Rochfort Gardens sign-in book. ‘I notice you go running here.’

‘I do. When I’m not on duty. Why?’

‘I found your name on a list. Did you know Elizabeth Byrne?’

‘The girl who was murdered? No. Why?’

‘She ran at Rochfort Gardens every weekend. Just thought you might have seen her, or someone acting suspiciously around her.’

‘I saw her photograph on the incident board, but I didn’t recognise her. Do you want me to do some undercover work for you?’

‘We’re trying to contact everyone on the list, and then I think Lottie wants us to interview the remaining people on Saturday morning before their run, so your help would be appreciated with that.’

‘Not undercover then?’ She would have liked a little detective work. It might help with her aim to become a sergeant.

Boyd shook his head. ‘Though if you can remember anything that struck you as being out of the ordinary, let me know.’

‘Long shot, isn’t it?’

‘I’d take any shot that hit the target at this stage.’