‘I was still grieving Joy back when I did that to Danny. I couldn’t save her but I thought I could try to save you. I crossed a line, no doubt about it. I went to counselling. I made a mistake but I made peace with it. It’s not who I am. I won’t be defined by it.’ He stood up and faced her. ‘This is me, Mai. You get what you see, so if you can’t move past that night, I’ll accept it, and as soon as we find Jeremy I’ll move on.’ He pushed open the door. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I smell a fry.’

He left her sitting on the step, thinking about what he’d said, and despite everything that was going on Maisie Bean found herself smiling.

When Maisie finally made it into the kitchen, Lynn and Fred were hovering over a map.

‘If the boys are in Blessington and they ditched the bike, they either thumbed a lift or walked there. If they thumbed a lift, surely that person would have come forward by now, and if they stashed the bike and walked from the Bohernabreena Road, the shortest route is at least eleven miles, which would take approximately three and half to four hours, maybe more with the weather conditions, and the question is why?’

‘Maybe there’s a girl,’ Lynn said. She was studiously ignoring any implication that Jeremy was gay.

‘Even if there is, why didn’t they cycle rather than walking?’

‘Maybe they did take a lift and the person left the country the next morning,’ Lynn said.

‘Maybe.’ He sighed. ‘Maybe something else …’

Maisie used the moment to divert the conversation. ‘How long would it take to drive to Gorey from here?’

‘Not long, depending on which part.’

‘The part where Carina Murphy lives.’

‘Now, Mai …’

She held her hands up. ‘I know what you’re going to say, Fred, but please hear me out.’

He crossed his arms over his chest.

‘Rave deserves to have a parent at that conference, asking him to come home.’

‘I know he does, but it’s not possible.’

‘Everything is possible. I just want to talk to her. Five minutes.’

‘I don’t know …’

‘She’s not the fuckin’ Queen of Sheba, Fred. She’s a mother who has abandoned her son once already and now she’s doing it again when he needs her most, except this time she’s being supported.’

He rubbed his new chin, sniffed and pulled at his nose. ‘Right then, five minutes.’

‘I’ll get my coat.’

Lynn agreed to watch over Bridie, who was happy, having disappeared into the TV.

Maisie found Valerie in her room. ‘Fred and I are going for a drive if you’re up for it?’

‘You’re going to find Rave’s ma?’

Maisie nodded.

‘Is she a Moonie?’

‘I don’t know what she is, love.’