‘Well, if it makes you feel better, everyone in this village who had a bad word to say about Mary Ellen when she went missing will be feeling like right shits now, when they hear what happened to her. Come on, let’s get on the road to Cobh to interview Treasa Lee’s family. The best thing we can do for all these women now is find their killer. Once we’ve that sorted, we can send a report up above about Sergeant Doyle and the accusations that were made against him. It will all come out in the wash, Laura.’

CHAPTER 14

‘You know I’m dropping Maria and Cáit down to my parents later, don’t you?’

Louise poured fresh grapefruit juice into two glasses. Tom was poking at the fruit and Greek yoghurt in the small bowl in front of him. So far, none of it had made it into his mouth. His wife had put the healthy dish on the table minutes after he’d sat down, her expression brooking no dissent.

‘Aren’t you going to thank me for making you breakfast?’ she asked, handing him his glass.

‘When you offered to make me brekkie, I thought you meant something fried. This is dessert.’

‘Tom Reynolds, have you looked at your tummy lately? Do you know that where you’re carrying those extra few pounds is the most dangerous place in the body and a big indicator you could be making yourself a candidate for heart disease?’

His wife had been watching a lot of healthy eating shows recently.

‘And don’t think I haven’t noticed your diminishing supply of cigars. I mean, you brought boxes back from Cuba. How fast are you smoking them?’

He sighed dramatically.

‘Anyhow,’ she continued, ‘I was thinking I’d stay down with them in Wicklow for a while. It’s a little cooler by the sea and – don’t think I’ve lost the plot – but I kind of don’t want to let Maria out of my sight at the moment. With what’s going on and everything. I know you won’t miss us here, I’m only telling you because I won’t be around to pop in to help Sean with June.’

This time, Tom sighed for real.

‘What’s up?’ Louise asked, force-feeding him a grape. ‘Aside from having to investigate five murders and a missing girl.’

He swallowed, distractedly.

‘I thought Sean would have been on to me by now. He rang Moya Chambers and I’d lay money he’s talked to Emmet McDonagh. Probably Linda, too. I don’t feel like I can ring him about work but I miss his advice.’

‘He’s just giving you space,’ Louise said. ‘Call him, why don’t you?’

Her husband nodded, silently mulling as his wife poked a spoon of yoghurt into his mouth.

‘Jesus, Louise,’ he said, coming to. ‘I’m not the baby.’