No Safe Place(Detective Lottie Parker #4)(82)

‘Well, you’re not pinning anything on my boys,’ Donal said, unfurling his hands to slap the table. ‘We have enough grief in this family without you dropping more like dog shit on our doorstep.’

‘I understand, Mr O’Donnell. We’re merely trying to build up a picture of the deceased.’

‘You’d do better to find out what happened to my daughter. Her mother went to her grave without any answers and I fear the same will happen to me.’

‘Now, Dad, don’t go all melancholic,’ Cillian said. He twisted in his chair and faced Lottie. ‘You’re right, Inspector. Finn and I run most weekends. Not together. We just happen to be there at the same time.’

Placing a photograph of Elizabeth on the table, Lottie watched for their reactions. Finn folded his arms after a quick glance, but Cillian pulled it towards him and studied it.

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know her.’ He pushed the photo back across the table.

‘You sure? Take a closer look.’ Boyd leaned in and shoved the photo back again.

‘I told you, I’ve no idea who she is. There must be fifty or sixty people out there on a weekend. I go to run, not to admire the women. I’m a happily married man.’

‘Me too,’ Finn piped up. Was he destined to always be in his older brother’s shadow?

Lottie took out another photo. ‘Mollie Hunter. She is missing. Also took part in the weekend runs. Recognise her?’

Both men shook their heads. Remained silent. No other discernible reaction.

‘If that’s all?’ Donal rose from his chair, gingerly. He looked so wan, Lottie thought the man might be sick at any minute.

‘I’d love a cup of coffee, if you have it?’ she said. Why on earth had she said that?

Donal mumbled, ‘I’ve no groceries in. I was writing a list for Keelan. My daughter-in-law.’ He remained standing.

Lottie knew when she was being dismissed. She’d have to talk to the brothers individually. Not give them an opportunity to band together. But they had nothing to hide, had they? As she stood, she caught sight of the photograph on the dresser, a candle burning in front of it.

‘It’s a decade now, isn’t it?’ she said.

‘Ten years tomorrow.’ Donal picked up the frame and ran a finger down the face in the picture. ‘My pet never came home.’

‘She wasn’t in any kind of trouble at the time, was she? Any rows at home?’

‘What are you accusing me of?’ Donal slammed the photo down. The candle flickered and extinguished itself.

‘Nothing at all. I read the file and wondered if Lynn had maybe wanted to disappear. Make a new life for herself away from Ragmullin.’

‘Why would you even think that?’ Cillian now, standing beside his father. ‘What brings you to that conclusion?

‘It’s not a conclusion, just an observation.’ Lottie eyed Boyd for support, but of course he hadn’t read the file. ‘Had she a boyfriend?’

‘Boyfriend?’ Finn said, still seated at the table, his eyes dancing balls of intensity. ‘Did someone say something? Did you find out something that you didn’t tell us?’

‘No, no. There is no mention of it in the file. I just thought a beautiful young woman like Lynn might have been in a relationship.’

The temperature in the room appeared to have dropped at least ten degrees, and Lottie had an immediate urge to look through the rest of the house. Not just to escape the closeness of the three men, but to see if some clue had been overlooked ten years ago.

Back then, five adults had lived in this small house. Three men and two women. What had it been like? Cramped and full of hormones. Had they sat around this very table to eat meals as a close, happy family? Or was the tension she felt now even worse back then. Strings pulled so taut that eventually one snapped?

Donal said, ‘My daughter could have had any man in the world. Lads were knocking down my front door wanting to bring her out. But no. Lynn was a career woman. She wanted to work her way up the ladder, to the very top. And she wasn’t going to be held back by some snot-nosed Ragmullin tosser.’

‘Someone from Dublin, maybe? A lad at her office?’

‘My girl’s life was dissected by you lot. The only thing left unknown by the end of the investigation was her whereabouts.’

Lottie gazed over Donal’s shoulder at his two sons. They were standing on opposite sides of the table, glaring.

‘And neither of you ever saw Elizabeth Byrne or Mollie Hunter out running?’

‘Can’t remember everyone we see,’ Cillian said.

‘Is that a no?’

‘It’s all you’re getting. I’ll see you out, Inspector.’





Seventy-Two





Back at the office, Lottie threw her jacket on the back of a chair. ‘I can’t figure out whether those three men are just losers in need of sympathy or they’re hiding something.’

Kirby raised his head. ‘What three men?’

‘The two O’Donnell brothers and their father.’

‘The family of the girl that’s been missing for years?’

‘Ten.’

‘Right.’ Kirby stood and licked his fingers before attempting to calm the bush that was his hair.