As if he guessed Tess’s thoughts, and sometimes she suspected that he did, Conor asked how her mother was doing.

‘Do you know,’ she said, ‘I’m not sure. She’s gone quiet on me. Have you seen her lately?’

‘No, but I haven’t been home in a couple of months. I drove straight up from Cork this evening. She’s not het up about this documentary, is she? Everybody else is.’

Tess twirled a lock of hair around her finger. ‘What documentary?’

‘I’m amazed you haven’t heard about it.’

As they zipped through Templemorris and swung left for Kilmitten, Conor filled her in.

‘Holy shit,’ said Tess, ‘I’d say they’re all agog. It’s a wonder Mam didn’t say something.’

‘I gather some people are loving the attention. Dad hates it, and the worst thing is, he’s got to co-operate. The fellows in Headquarters reckon they can use the programme to appeal for fresh information.’

‘Good luck to them with that. With all due respect to everybody involved, I’d say the chances of getting to the truth are slim. If whoever did it has managed to keep their mouth shut for almost ten years, they’re unlikely to open up now.’

‘I’m with you on that. I mean, I used to think a breakthrough was possible, but crimes like that are either solved quickly or they’re not solved at all. Not that I’d say that at home. Dad’s still convinced they’ll get him – or her – in the end.’

Tess had found that, as she’d got older, her interest in the Father Galvin case had grown. She was surprised by how often it crept into her head. She’d be thinking of something else, and then – whoosh – there it would be. It was disturbing to think that a harmless man had been killed and nobody knew why or by whom. This didn’t mean she liked the idea of a gang of outsiders in the village, poking and prying. Who knew what they’d ask?

‘Imagine,’ she said, ‘it’s ten years since we were in that shed with our smokes and bottles of Harp. Which reminds me – do you think we’ll get a wedding soon?’

‘Tom and Nina? Nah, they’re too young.’

‘Are they, though? They’ve been together for four years and they’ve known each other for ever. The village is full of couples who were married at twenty-two. What age was Paula?’

‘Twenty-one but, like you say, she lives in Kilmitten. There wasn’t much else for her to do.’

‘Fair point. I take it Tom and Nina will be around over the weekend?’

‘Yes and no.’ Conor explained the situation.

Tess reached into her bag. ‘I’ll give Nina a ring, so. Will we meet up later?’

‘Sounds good.’ His eyes slid in her direction. ‘What’s that?’