Page 170 of The Last Love Song
‘I’d been thinking about it for some time. I started to realise I was never going to escape the memories, so I might as well come back and face them. And I’d read about the concert in a newspaper. I liked the thought of our music having a point, doing some good. It was the spur I needed.’
‘Did you leave a life behind?’
He shrugged. ‘No. Life seems to be about losing the ones you love. Anyway, enough of this melancholy. It’s music I’ve come home to play. When do we get together with the boys for a run-through?’
Helen stared at the photograph of Con Daly in the newspaper, her heart beating hard against her chest.
They had both gone away seventeen years ago and returned within the same week.
Would Con see her? No, he blamed her for Sorcha’s death.
She heard the tip of the letter box and went to the hall to collect her post.
There was one white envelope, neatly addressed. She tore it open and saw ex-DI Garratt’s name at the bottom of the notepaper. She was surprised and gratified he’d kept his word and written to her. Moving to the dining table, Helen sat down and unfolded the contents.
Dear Miss McCarthy,
Enclosed is a copy of my notes taken the night Mrs Daly died. You can see for yourself that she implicated you.
Yours faithfully, T. Garratt
There was a postscript, too.
The name Garratt mentioned within that interested her.
Helen stared out of the window and shook her head.
‘Sothat’swho it was...And I never knew.’
She put the letter to one side and unfolded the page on which were written the last words that Sorcha had spoken.
‘I can’t...remem— the name...Yes, Helen...ask Helen...an old friend...’
She took a pen and wrote down the name Inspector Garratt had mentioned in the PS several times. Once more, she studied the words Sorcha had spoken.
Then she stared into space for a long, long time.
She now knew who had murdered Sorcha Daly.
But the question was, why?
54
Todd picked up the post from the mat and went upstairs to the kitchen.
While the percolator did its job, Todd opened his mail. Bills, circulars and a letter addressed to Con. Instinct told him to open it.
YOU’RE BACK, BUT NOT FOR LONG. SATURDAY WILL BE THE LAST TIME YOU SING. THIS TIME THERE’LL BE NO MISTAKES. SEE YOU THEN.
He read it again.
‘Shit.’ He picked up the telephone. ‘Freddy, it’s Todd. Listen, I need some advice. You remember Con was receiving death threats through the post? Well, he’s had another this morning. I know, I can hardly believe it either. I’ll read it to you.’
Freddy uttered an expletive.
‘I know, I don’t like the sound of it either. Surely it’s got to be some creep using the past to frighten him? Should I tell him? You think so? I’m just concerned that if he knows, he might disappear again. Okay, will do. I know we can’t take any chances. Catch you later.’
Todd put the receiver down slowly.
