‘I heard a fair bit about you from my neighbour Tom Broderick,’ Sean continued. ‘You helped him out getting access to his kids when he was away from his wife. That’s right, isn’t it? Though they’re back together now that he’s off the drink. And aren’t you involved some way with the Film Festival, as well as being a solicitor?’

He didn’t wait for my reply.

‘I saw in the Evening Echo this afternoon that the festival, that it’s starting tomorrow, so there isn’t much time.’

I remembered Tom Broderick. I was surprised that he knew anything about my work with the Film Festival. And then again, I wasn’t. Cork is small, with all kinds of hidden connections. Information is currency here, and news seeps through the cracks in the broken-down pavements. But I still had no idea what Sean wanted.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I don’t understand. Somehow doing a film project was bad for Deirdre and you’re here to see me because of something to do with this year’s festival?’

‘Not the project,’ he said.

He thumped the underside of his closed fist on the table.

‘It was the man she met because of it. A man who hurt her. Abused her. Destroyed her. And he got away with it and became so famous he thinks he’s untouchable. Deirdre didn’t make a complaint to the Gardaí. She couldn’t, she said she hadn’t a chance of being believed. Wouldn’t even tell us who he was. But I know his name now and I’ve told the guards but they say they can’t take it further.’

‘Unfortunately, they’re right,’ I said. ‘It’s––’

‘It’s the law,’ Sean said. ‘It’s too late. Go home, they say. Rest. Take it easy. Tell me, how can I ever take it easy while that man walks free?’

‘I understand your frustration but legally––’

‘Legally, because Deirdre is dead, there’s nobody to make a statement or go witness against him.’

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘And the Child Protection social workers say I can’t do anything either,’ Sean went on. ‘They say I have no records, no proof, not even a name. Anyway, they think I’m imagining it, they think I’ve gone mad. But I haven’t gone mad. I know who he is.’

He sucked in a breath. Then he took something out of his shirt pocket and laid it on the table. He unfolded it. Inside a clear plastic bag was a sheet of white paper. He turned it over without a word and passed it to me. I left it in the plastic and read:

Mam and Dad

He’s too strong now. But the academy wouldn’t like him so much if they knew.

Sorry I wasn’t brave enough. Sorry for everything.

Love

Deirdre xx

‘You see now who it is,’ Sean said.