‘Are you OK? You look ill?’

‘I’m fine, thanks, just need some fresh air.’

‘I heard the rattling and thought it was the other woman back again.’

‘Sorry, I couldn’t find the button, though I’ve been here a thousand times.’

‘You’re Cynthia’s daughter?’

‘No. I’m not.’ It doesn’t even feel like a lie now.

‘The other woman was in a right state. I’m glad it’s not her again. Maybe she was the daughter.’

‘What other woman?’

‘A week or two ago, on a Thursday evening. Some woman banging on the door like a lunatic. Cynthia didn’t open it for ages, I was going to call the police. Then finally, she let her in.’

‘This woman – what did she look like?’

‘She was short, shorter than you, I see that now. Curly hair, like a bird’s nest. And wearing a green denim jacket.’

I let go of the front door handle and turn back to Cynthia’s flat.

64

June 2018

‘WHY WAS CORA O’BRIEN here?’

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. I have a headache now and it’s time you left. Again.’

‘Don’t lie to me.’ I step closer and the smell of whiskey on her breath turns my stomach. ‘I know it was her. Your neighbour just described her to a tee.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake. Always the drama queen. Fine. Sit.’

I do. Again.

‘It’s your fault,’ she starts, and though I have no idea what she means, I’m not surprised. It is somehow always my fault. ‘You started asking her those questions. If Lily had a nickname or any kind of illness.’

‘But Cora said she didn’t know the answer to those questions.’

‘She didn’t. But it reminded her of a fight she’d heard between her parents, the night her father died. She was quite the eavesdropper, Cora. Always listening in on extension phones or hovering outside doors. Never a good idea.’

‘What did she hear?’

‘She told me she heard Victor say to Ines, “How could you do that to your own child.” It stuck with her because she had never heard her dad speak up for her before. I think she was quite pleased.’

‘OK. And?’

‘It was Ines’s reply that confused her. Ines apparently said, “Lila was well looked after by Cynthia.” Cora couldn’t understand why her mother used the name “Lila”, she said. Her mother was cold and absent, but she certainly wouldn’t have forgotten her own daughter’s name. So it stayed with Cora all these years; a name that made no sense but didn’t matter in the bigger scheme of things. The main thing for her was that her dad had stood up for her, just hours before he died.’

‘So Victor must have found out about Lila? And her death?’

‘He wasn’t supposed to be there. Ines had planned the burial for a night he was due to be away, checking on a factory down in Limerick. But there was a huge storm forecast, and he turned back. No mobile phones then – people didn’t text to say they were on their way. So suddenly, there he was. Standing on the patio. And there we were, filling in her grave.’