Page 80 of Hidden Daughters

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Lottie stayed on to fry a lamb chop, and when the potatoes were boiled, she mashed them with butter and milk, under Brigid’s watchful eye. The older woman had been silent for a long time, and Lottie left her alone.

‘Will you not have some yourself?’ Brigid enquired when the plate was in front of her.

‘No thanks,’ Lottie said. ‘I need to be getting back. But can I ask you a few more questions?’

‘If you have to. I’ve not been so upset in a while. The memories…’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Go ahead. Ask away.’ Brigid dug into her dinner.

Lottie debated the order of her questions. She decided on asking the last one first. ‘A man was murdered out in the woods behind the convent this week. Mickey Fox.’

‘He was the gardener. They treated him badly too.’

‘How so?’

Brigid took a sip of water, passing her cutlery to one hand.

‘He tried to help. He once got a woman out the gate and was about to put her in his car when Father Robert appeared and chastised him and took the woman back inside. Mickey had gotthe lass a boat ticket to Liverpool. I don’t think he chanced it again after that. And now he’s dead? May he rest in peace.’ She blessed herself, knife and fork still in her hand.

‘A woman was found brutally murdered too, out at a holiday cottage in Connemara. You might have heard it on the news?’

‘I try not to listen. All you hear is bad news. Father Lyons always has a radio on somewhere, and this week I’ve had such peace without the hum and noise. Who was this woman then?’

‘Her name was Assumpta Feeney. I believe she used to be a nun at the convent at some stage. She would have been quite young.’

‘Her name rings a bell, but I can’t be sure.’

‘What about Imelda Conroy?’

‘Is she dead too?’ Brigid scrunched up her eyes, brows knitting in the centre.

‘I hope not. She was making a documentary about the laundries and the industrial school at Knockraw.’ Lottie added the last bit even though she wasn’t sure about it.

‘I remember a young lassie being at the door a few weeks ago. All biz she was. Wanted to interview Father Lyons. He sent her packing. Don’t think he’d have had any knowledge of that time. He’s only in his late thirties.’

‘Did this woman talk to you?’

‘She didn’t pay any attention to me at all.’

Lottie stood. ‘This is my card in case you think of anything. I’m not on duty here, not my jurisdiction, but if you’d rather talk to me than the Galway guards, please contact me.’

Brigid took the card and propped it against the sugar bowl in the middle of the table. ‘Of course I will. You’re a good person.’

Lottie smiled. ‘I’ll rinse the pot and pan, and then I’ll be off.’

‘And you’re a gem of a woman. The man that gets you will be lucky.’

‘I don’t think he feels too lucky at the moment. His sister is due to get married on Sunday.’

‘Must be a civil ceremony if it’s on a Sunday.’

‘It is and her fiancé is currently in custody. The detective in charge thinks he might have had something to do with the murders.’

‘Good God, that’s terrible. Terrible altogether.’ Brigid blessed herself. ‘Didhe have anything to do with them?’

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