‘I know.’ She was used to people judging her, looking down on her, pitying and despising her, distancing themselves from her, but that was local judgement. This was national. Everything is going to be OK. I’ve decided.

The reporter moved on: ‘Of course, following the press report earlier this morning, rumour has been rife about the nature of the relationship between the two boys and if that relationship has anything to do with their disappearance. The sub-aqua unit and the coast guard will be back at the reservoir at first light, but in the meantime the guards have asked us to urge anyone with any information on the whereabouts of these boys to get in touch. Back to the studio.’

The room was silent. Bridie started to cry. ‘He’s not in the reservoir, Maisie. If he was in there he’d be drowned. He’d be dead, Maisie. Our boy would be gone.’

Maisie got up and knelt on the floor in front of her. ‘They’re only checking, Ma. But I know they’re not in there. You know why? Because when I close my eyes I can’t see him there. Can you, Ma?’

‘No,’ Bridie said. ‘No, I can’t.’

‘We’re pretty good at pretending, Ma, you and me, aren’t we?’ Maisie said.

‘We are, love.’

‘But I’m not pretending when I say I know our boy is not in the reservoir. I promise, Ma.’

‘But it’s bad, love, isn’t it?’

‘Do you remember when Jeremy was only seven and we went to the zoo, and Valerie was still in the pram?’

Bridie nodded slowly.

‘Jeremy ran off to see the monkeys and when we got there he was nowhere in sight. Do ya remember?’

‘We ran all over the place. Me heart was crossways.’

‘And that nice security guard helped us. We walked everywhere, screaming Jeremy’s name. I was crying and Valerie was crying.’

‘And I was cryin’,’ Bridie said.

‘And then he woke up under a bench – do ya remember, Ma? He was too hot so he cooled off under a bench and fell asleep. Rolled up in a ball …’

‘… somewhere inside of happy,’ Bridie finished, a smile spreading over her face. ‘Still, I nearly brained him, the fright he gave us.’

‘But do you remember how happy we were when we found him?’

‘We were thrilled, Maisie.’

‘Hold on to that feeling, Ma.’

‘All right, love. I will.’

‘He’s coming home. I’ve decided.’

‘Good girl.’

Maisie kissed her mother’s cheek and stood up. ‘Who’s for a cup of tea?’

Fred

Fred sat on the outside step finishing a cigarette. He pulled out his mobile phone and made a call to Linda, then lit another. ‘Sorry to call so late.’

‘You’re grand.’

‘Any news?’

‘Well, your tip paid off. Carina Murphy is currently residing in some hippie religious sect that goes by the name of the Collective just outside Gorey.’