‘Too fucking right. Even though, say one of them knows something and Holly doesn’t want us identifying her: why bring in that card at all? Why not bin it, give your mate the tip-line number, keep it anonymous?’ Conway shook her head. Said, again, ‘Something’s going on there.’

The tip line gets you whoever’s on duty. The card had got her me. I wondered.

Conway said, ‘If we keep talking to Holly and her lot. She going to call Daddy?’

The thought itched my back. Frank Mackey is hardcore. Even if he’s on your side, you need to be watching him from more angles than you’ve got eyes. He was the last thing I wanted in this mix.

‘Doubt it,’ I said. ‘She basically told me she doesn’t want him on board. What about McKenna?’

‘Nah. You joking? He’s a parent. She’s up there saying rosaries that none of the parents find out we’re here till we’re good and gone.’

The itch went; not gone, but down. ‘She’ll be lucky,’ I said. ‘One kid phones home . . .’

‘Bite your tongue. We’re on McKenna’s side there. For once.’ Conway jammed the clingfilm down harder. ‘So how about Julia and Rebecca’s theory? A gang from Colm’s came in here, something went wrong.’

I said, ‘That one could play. If the lads were planning on a bit of vandalism, maybe digging another cock and balls into the grass, they could’ve nicked the hoe out of the stables. They’re messing about, fighting or pretending to fight – guys that age, half the time there’s no difference. And someone gets carried away.’

‘Yeah. Which puts the card on Joanne, Gemma or Orla. They’re the ones going out with Colm’s guys.’ The boyfriend question, suddenly making sense. The sardonic slant to Conway’s eye said she’d seen the penny drop.

I said, ‘Whatever happened to Chris, it’s been bothering one of the guys who was there. He doesn’t want to talk to an adult, but he opens up to his girlfriend.’

‘Or he tells her because he thinks it’ll make him sound interesting, get him into her knickers. Or he makes the whole thing up.’

‘We’ve ruled out Gemma and Orla. That leaves Joanne.’

‘Her fella, Andrew Moore, he was matey enough with Chris. Arrogant little prick.’ Snap of anger. One of those complaints had come from Andrew’s da.

I said, ‘Did you work out how Chris got out of Colm’s?’