No Safe Place(Detective Lottie Parker #4)(94)

‘Where did you get those?’ She opened her eyes wide with amazement.

‘The mats? My drawer. You never told me what Queenie said.’

‘That feels like two days ago.’ She tapped her computer keyboard. ‘Wait until I log in here. I want to find a picture of Paddy McWard.’

‘Why?’

‘To see if he wears any rings.’

She clattered at the keyboard.

‘I know we found a ring attached to a chain at Elizabeth’s house and a ring in the unidentified female from the lake, but what has McWard got to do with it?’

‘Boyd, drink your coffee and shut up for a minute. I’m trying to get my head back in gear.’ She brought up a set of photographs and zoomed in on one.

‘Is that a recent picture?’ Boyd asked.

‘It’s a few years old. When he was arrested for car theft … There. See his hands?’ She turned the screen so that he could see what she was looking at.

‘No rings.’

‘Right.’

‘Right what?

‘Most of the traveller community wear jewellery. Thick gold chains, rings and all that shite. But he has no rings.’

‘And that proves what?’

‘Hold on a minute.’ She zoomed the cursor up McWard’s arm. ‘Jesus, Boyd. Look at that tattoo.’

He stretched across the desk, squinting. ‘It’s a Celtic cross.’

‘Up further. Just below the hem of his sleeve. It’s a Claddagh.’

‘So it is. So what?’

Lottie thumped a key and the screen turned to black. ‘I don’t know.’

‘What’s brought this on?’

‘Queenie said that Paddy had a broken heart. We can assume Elizabeth was in school with Bridie. And we’ve just found a Claddagh ring on a chain in her room. What if there was a love triangle and Paddy was mixed up somehow?’

‘And he killed Elizabeth and then his wife? Oh, and I suppose you think he also abducted Lynn O’Donnell and kept her hidden for ten years? And Mollie Hunter too, just for good measure. You need more coffee, Lottie, your brain is dead.’

‘My brain is on fire. I need to talk to McWard again.’



* * *



She brought two squad cars and Kirby, along with Boyd, for protection. There was no knowing how this was going to pan out. She had a lot of unconnected lines of thought but she knew that somewhere in the maze the answer was waiting to be found. And currently, Matt Mullin aside, all paths were leading her to Paddy McWard.

Crime-scene tape circled the remains of the McWard house. Paddy was at his cousin’s mobile home. He stood at the door. No invitation to enter. If that’s the way you want it, Lottie thought. We’ll do this in front of your relations and neighbours.

‘Your mother-in-law passed away an hour ago, Paddy.’

‘Good.’

‘Good?’

‘At least she won’t have to mourn her daughter and grandson.’

A pang of fear pierced Lottie’s heart as she thought of Katie and Louis so far away from her. She better ring Chloe to make sure she and Sean were okay. As soon as she finished here.

‘Did you know Elizabeth Byrne?’

‘No.’

‘Mollie Hunter?’

‘What’s this about?’

‘Answer the question.’

‘Never heard of her.’

Lottie played her trump card. ‘What about Lynn O’Donnell?’

‘No.’

But his face told the lie. Eyes shrouded over, pupils dilated to black crescents beneath their lids, and the light spilling from the bulb outside the caravan cast a yellow hue on his rapidly tensing skin.

‘Come with us, Paddy. We need to have a word down at the station.’

‘Again? How many times have I been there and each time it’s been a waste of time. So no. You either arrest me or be gone. I’ve done nothing.’

‘We need to speak to you with regards to the arson attack on your home.’ She watched as his fists curled. ‘We can do this the hard way.’

She took a set of handcuffs from her pocket and pointed to the two squad cars with their flashing lights at the gate.

‘This is the last time.’ He relented and pushed by her, heading for the nearest car.

Lottie could have sworn there were tears in his eyes.





Eighty-One





They followed the two squad cars back to the station, and Lottie jumped out at the front steps. She wanted to be inside when McWard was brought in.

Even though it had started to spill rain, she began pulling off her coat as she ran up the steps.

‘Inspector Parker! A word, please.’

Lottie turned to see the reporter, Cynthia Rhodes, complete with a cameraman behind her. A feeling of déjà vu flashed before her eyes. This wasn’t going to turn out well.

‘What do you want, Cynthia?’

‘I believe two complaints have been made against you today. Care to comment?’

‘What complaints?’

‘I’ve had a call from a Mrs O’Grady. She says you upset her daughter unnecessarily. Wants to highlight garda insensitivity. The girl’s best friend was found murdered and all that.’