‘Then this morning,’ said Ginny, thoughts still focused on her daughter, ‘she announced that rather than flying home from Shannon, like she was supposed to, she wanted to go to Dublin. “I can get a lift into Limerick with Flan,” she said, “and hire a car there.” I told her to be sensible and get the train, but she claimed people would stare at her. “I guarantee you, Tessy,” I said, “every last person on the train will have their head stuck to their phone. They’re like zombies. The Queen of England could sit down beside them and they wouldn’t notice.”’

‘What did she say to that?’

‘She got narky with me, told me she knew what she was doing.’ Ginny poured water into the mugs and gave a vigorous stir. ‘I sometimes forget how famous she was.’

‘She still is. I don’t know if you can ever turn off that level of fame. Have you any idea why she wanted to go to Dublin?’

‘I’m afraid I don’t. You know how airy-fairy she can be. “Just something I’ve got to sort out,” she said.’

Ginny splashed milk into the coffee and handed Conor a mug and a plate of cake. ‘Dig in.’

Her words had become stilted. No doubt, she was trying to work out why exactly he was there.

He drank his coffee and looked out onto the back garden. Save for the grass, everything was brown. The sun was resting above the fence. At this time of year, it barely rose above the horizon before disappearing again, as though embarrassed by its own weakness. Thin streams of smoke rose from nearby chimneys. Outside, the air was laced with the smell of turf.

‘So,’ he said, ‘I presume you’re wondering what’s brought me down this way. Like I mentioned, it’s to do with Father Galvin.’

Ginny, who was leaning against the kitchen counter, tipped her head to one side. ‘Given that you couldn’t make it home for the funeral, we’d assumed you were very busy. Obviously, you still have time for a spot of unofficial work.’

Touché, thought Conor. ‘In this case, the work came to me. Hannah Galvin rang me, so I met her yesterday.’

‘What relation was she to Father Leo?’

‘Sister-in-law. She’s Gregory’s wife.’

‘Is that miserable old bastard still alive?’ Ginny raised her hand, as if trying to stop traffic. ‘And before you accuse me of being uncharitable, you’ve no idea how much trouble that man caused your father. Him and his “public inquiry”. I’ll never forget the interview he did with Nina Minogue’s husband. I don’t care how much he suffered, there was no call for that type of nastiness.’