‘I was just wondering would she be there. I haven’t seen her in years and she was such a good friend of yours…’ Then he pauses before saying, ‘A great friend, I would say… I thought she’d be there. I never got to thank her.’

I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say except, why now? Why is he asking about Faye now when he hasn’t mentioned her once in the last three years? Does he know something?

‘Is Lucas excited?’ he asks, changing the subject.

‘Yes, he’s really looking forward to it. Imagine, it’s his first Irish wedding and he’s the groom. Hah!’

‘He’s a lucky man.’

I laugh out loud but I’m not laughing inside because I want to bring up the subject of Avril Ryan without sounding like I’ve an agenda.

‘Have you been playing any chess lately?’ I ask, taking a glass from the cupboard above the countertop. Even the glass is spotless.

‘No, I haven’t played much this year. There are a lot of new kids on the block,’ he says, rubbing his elbows. ‘Real whizz kids, too smart for the likes of me.’

My heart is beating fast now. I want to ask but I have to make sure I don’t upset him.

‘You know the woman who was killed at Huntley Lodge, the body they found there two weeks ago? She used to play chess. Maybe you knew her?’

‘What was her name?’

‘Avril Ryan.’

‘Avril Ryan… Do you know what club she was with?’

‘No.’

My father is sitting at the table, his face hidden behind the flowers so I can’t read his expression.

‘Is everyone coming to the wedding?’ he asks, moving swiftly off the subject of Avril Ryan.

‘Yes, so far we haven’t had one person who can’t make it.’

‘I guess that would be the time of year. A lot of people would be on holidays during the summer months.’

‘Probably.’

Dad doesn’t seem to want to talk about Avril Ryan. Which surprises me, because she played chess just like he did. I thought he’d be more interested for that reason. I can’t imagine it’s a huge community, so it’s possible their paths did cross. After a few more comments about the wedding and next week’s weather forecast, I want to bring the subject of Avril Ryan back into the conversation, but he cut me off so short the first time, I decide not to.

Chapter Fifty-One

Lucas laughs when I tell him about the possible chess connection between my dad and Avril Ryan. Pouring wine into a glass he tells me I’m losing it. The steak Diane which he has cooked smells delicious and for once I’m feeling hungry. Besides drinking about ten cups of coffee today, I don’t remember eating anything.