Page 142 of Hidden Daughters

‘It’s just going to be a small affair and it’s taken a back seat with all that’s going on.’ He hesitated before continuing. ‘When did you last see Lottie?’

‘In her hotel last night. Had a nightcap and went to my own room around ten. I left early this morning. Why?’

‘She’s not answering her phone. Did she give you any idea of what she would be up to today?’

‘Not a dicky bird.’

‘What were you talking about last night then?’

‘Imelda Conroy phoned Lottie from Ann Wilson’s phone. And I heard this morning that the Wilson woman was murdered. This Imelda appears to be MIA, so my bet is that Lottie went off looking for her. Talk to Mooney.’

‘He’s here. He can’t reach Lottie either.’

‘Oh shit. Can’t he track her phone? Find her location?’

‘I’ll mention it to him. I’m worried, Kirby.’

‘She’ll be grand. And if you don’t mind me saying this, because I’ve not got the world’s best track record, you two need to talk. Rescue your relationship. Don’t let a good thing die.’

‘I’m not sure there’s much good left to rescue.’ Boyd found himself shaking his head in the empty bedroom. ‘But thanks for the advice. First, though, I need to locate her and find out what she’s up to.’

‘Good luck, and if I hear anything my end, I’ll contact you straight away.’

Boyd walked Mooney to his car.

‘What’s this about Imelda phoning Lottie from Ann Wilson’s phone?’

‘Lottie contacted me about it last night and I went to talk to her and Detective Kirby.’

‘What did Imelda say in the call?’

‘That Assumpta Feeney was key to it all.’

‘The woman who was murdered out at the holiday cottage,’ Boyd said, reminding himself. ‘And what did you do about that?’

‘I spoke with Ann Wilson last night. She was nervy and anxious. She said Imelda had made her drive around half of the county. Ann had something to say, I’m sure of it, but she didn’t want her husband to overhear anything. She promised she’d come to HQ this morning to talk to me. But as it turned out, she didn’t make it. Poor soul.’

‘What could she have known that got her killed?’ Boyd ran the toe of his shoe over and back on the gravel yard. ‘Did you mention Assumpta Feeney to her?’

‘No, but Ann had told Lottie about a child being pushed into a washing machine in the convent. She blamed Robert Hayes. He was a young chaplain at the time.’

‘And was Assumpta there then too?’

‘She must have been. I’m finding it hard to tie in why they are all being killed now.’

‘Someone doesn’t want what happened back then to emerge. The only person that can be is Robert Hayes. We have to find him.’

‘We?’ Mooney raised an eyebrow. ‘I’ve had enough interference from your fiancée, so you stay out of it.’

‘You asked her in on day one.’

‘True. I did.’

‘Well, you better find her. And I can help.’

‘Do you want to get me sacked?’

‘Do you want the wrath of Lottie Parker raining down on you?’ Boyd said.

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