Page 42 of Her Last Walk Home

‘So when you accept someone onto this Facebook group, you allow them access to the site?’

‘No. The Facebook group informs them about the Right One website. There’s criteria and an online application, which comes to me.’

‘I must give it a go. I’ve tried everything to meet a nice woman. I miss having someone to take out for a meal, to chat with, to share with. This is the first time I’ve come across Right One. The circumstances are tragic, but I’m glad to have met you, Mr Plunkett.’

Boyd held out his hand and Plunkett shook it warily.

Outside, Lottie jumped into the car and kept her head down. ‘That was priceless, Boyd. You were brilliant.’

‘You think I was joking? I can’t get you to agree to go for a meal, so I thought, why not try?—’

‘Drive the bloody car, Boyd.’

He laughed as he set off, and despite the enormity of their investigation, she had to laugh too.

35

Garda Martina Brennan was on the verge of withdrawing her name from the FLO database. She had messed up on her previous assignment, and here she was with another young child throwing her anxious glances. How long could she stand it?

The doorbell went. Hopefully not reporters. Diana opened the door, and a familiar, unwelcome voice reverberated from the hall.

Sam McKeown. Probably checking up on her. He could feck right off. With that thought, she watched him walk into the sitting room and sit on the large recliner armchair. Laura’s mother remained by the door, eyeing him, then turned her attention to Martina.

‘Your colleague wants to ask me some questions. Would you mind taking Aaron to the kitchen for a snack?’

Yes, I would mind, Martina wanted to say. She needed to hear what McKeown had to say first-hand. But she had no option but to take the youngster’s hand and lead him from the room. She left the door ajar, hoping she’d catch the gist of the conversation.

When Martina left the room with the little boy, McKeown exhaled a soft breath, easing the tension from his body. Things were so strained between them recently that you could cut the air with a knife. He indicated for Diana to sit opposite him. The woman looked tiny, almost folded in on herself in the large armchair. Like a child. A grey pallor drained her face.

‘I’m so sorry about the death of your daughter. We are doing all we can to find whoever did this.’

‘Like what?’ Her voice was just a whisper as she choked down tears. ‘Tell me what you’re doing.’

‘We have a number of leads. That’s why I’m here.’

‘Go on.’ She rooted up her sleeve for a tissue.

‘You need to brace yourself, because you might not like what I’m about to say and I apologise in advance.’

‘Detective, just tell me what you came here to say. Nothing can be worse than finding out my daughter was murdered.’ There was steel in her tone that made McKeown shiver.

‘Right. Okay.’ He felt like a shit, but there was nothing for it but to blurt it out. ‘Did you know Laura was registered with a dating agency? An escort agency.’

‘What? I don’t understand. Don’t be silly.’ Diana stretched the tissue between her hands and it ripped down the middle, sending dust motes into the air.

‘She was signed up with Right One Escorts. It’s like being paid to go on a date.’

‘That’s crazy. My Laura? She wasn’t a prostitute.’

‘I’m sure she wasn’t. It’s not like that.’

‘Whatisit like then?’ Her voice had a sharper edge to it and the tissue had disappeared back up her sleeve, leaving fragments floating to her knee.

‘The agency matches her with a client and they go on a date. No strings or anything. Usually just dinner and drinks. She’d get paid for it.’

‘And you know this how, Detective?’

‘Research. My boss, Detective Inspector Parker, is meeting the person who runs the agency as we speak.’

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