‘Fencing,’ Lucey said. ‘I was auditor of the Fencing Society when I was an undergraduate, and I’ve kept in practice. Mens sana in corpore sano.’

‘Dead right,’ I said.

Tosser, I thought. Lorcan Lucey was so self-obsessed, he wouldn’t notice anything beyond his own nose. This was going to be a complete waste of time.

After Lucey had poured his tea, he spoke again.

‘I’m intrigued,’ he said.

I repeated the history that I’d given to other potential witnesses, told him about Deirdre’s death and asked about his recollections of the workshop. As expected, he had nothing to add to what Jessica Murphy and Joey O’Connor had told me.

‘Thanks for your help. I take it that you didn’t keep in contact with Deirdre?’

‘No, not at all,’ Lucey said.

‘Different schools, of course,’ I said. ‘And her life changed considerably after she became ill.’

‘So sad, really. I had no idea. I think I only saw her once after the festival, and that wasn’t very long after it.’

‘Can you remember where you saw her?’

‘Out at Muskerry Castle Hotel. We were there for a family occasion, my grandfather’s birthday in fact. His seventieth.’

‘Did you talk to her?’

‘No I didn’t. But it stuck in my mind. I was in the lobby and she was walking upstairs towards the bedrooms. I thought it was unusual because I knew she was from Cork. I remember wondering why she was staying in the hotel but I can’t say I thought much more about it than that.’

‘Was she with anyone?’

‘No, she was on her own.’

‘Dr Lucey, do you remember when this was?’

‘Well, my grandfather’s eighty-five now, so …’

‘The date, Dr Lucey? Can you remember the date? It’s very important, or at least it might be.’

I held my breath.

‘Well, he has the same birthday now as he always had. That hasn’t changed,’ Lucey snorted. ‘So, yes, it was the 12th of December. The 12th of December 1998.’

41

‘Need big favour! Call me ASAP.’