‘Girls, we’re so out of here. Get my bag and coat and I’ll meet ye outside. The air quality in this place has deteriorated all of a sudden.’

They left in a flurry of schoolbags and indignation. I was left alone, staring at the slammed door, kicking myself.

39

If I had said less, Carmel might have opened up and admitted that Gill had been in touch with her. I could have persuaded her to talk to Sadie, or I could have helped her make a Child Protection report to a social worker, and the mandatory investigation would have started; I could have seen to it that Gill was arrested and charged. And now I could do none of that. Forewarned, probably in touch with Gill again already, Carmel would deny everything.

I left the cafe and headed in the direction of the university, taking the long way home, facing into the rain, the drops like whips on my cheeks, and night falling as fast as a stone in a lake. Back at the house, I tore off my clothes in the hallway, wrapped myself in a towel and sat on the stairs. How had I let it happen? How had I thrown away the chance to catch Gill in the act of committing a crime that would have got him locked up and unable to hurt anyone else?

But, after a time, the hot rage I felt at myself and at my own stupidity turned cold. Carmel was going to be Gill’s next victim. There was nothing surer. The only way of preventing it was to put him away for Rhona’s murder. I needed to get back to the investigation.

And yet, I didn’t trust myself as much as before. I had been wrong about Joey. I had completely mishandled my meeting with Carmel. What if I made another mistake, a bigger one this time? Exhaustion coursed through me, spread out from my belly, up my neck to my head, and down my legs, and all the way to my fingertips.

I leant my head against the bannister, and closed my eyes.

The doorbell woke me.

‘Thank God you’re here,’ I said.

I took Davy’s hand and led him upstairs.

‘Come on,’ I said, and threw the towel over the bannister.

He laughed.

‘Shit,’ I said, at my bedroom door. ‘No sheets.’

‘No matter,’ Davy said, and pushed me on to the bed.

‘So I’ve a little surprise for you,’ Davy said.

‘I don’t like surprises. I hate them, in fact.’

‘You’ll like this one. I’ve booked Paradiso for dinner.’

‘Tonight? It’s Monday.’

‘Exactly. Which is why I could get a reservation at such short notice. Get dressed or we’ll be late. The table is booked for 7.30.’

‘Davy, I can’t,’ I said.

‘Why?’