Chapter 43
After talking with Thomas, Lottie knew the only way she could verify what had happened in their bedroom was to speak to Sadie.
But Sadie was missing, so she had to concentrate on other things.
And, before she went knocking on Christy Kearney’s door, she decided she should read the other party guests’ interviews herself.
Something had to stand out. Something she’d missed.
‘Martina?’
‘Yes, boss?’
‘Can you recall any of the guests at Freya Healy’s party mentioning anyone coming to check on the bouncy castle or the balloon arch?’
‘I don’t think so. I’ll read through the interviews again.’
‘No, it’s fine. I’ll do it.’ She felt she had to be doing something physical, even if it was only sifting through pages of interviews. They’d have been typed and scanned into the system, but she liked the feel of the paper; it made her quest tangible.
She began slowly before falling into the trap of speed-reading.
‘No,’ she said, ‘take your time.’
‘You talking to me or yourself?’ Boyd stood at the door to her office.
‘Myself. What’s up?’ She slapped her hand on the desk, annoyed at being interrupted.
‘I was just wondering if we should talk to Caroline’s mother again. She might be able to throw further light on her daughter’s relationship with Sadie Clarke. Thomas didn’t seem too impressed with it.’
‘Give me ten minutes.’
‘Find anything there?’
‘Someone interrupted me.’
He held his hands up in mock surrender. ‘Guilty as charged. I’ll back out slowly, don’t draw your weapon.’
‘Get out, Boyd.’ She grinned as he left.
She started again, reading more slowly, hoping she’d find what she didn’t know she was looking for.
But no one had said anything about Christy Kearney coming to adjust the monstrosity in the garden, or Dermot Macken to look at the balloon arch. Had Thomas been lying, misremembering, or had others not noticed because the work would have been outside?
Thomas had said his wife and Caroline were tight. In cahoots. But no one else had mentioned that, had they? She continued to read. Then she came to an interview that made her stop.
A woman called Una Savage had reported that she got the impression Caroline and Sadie had had an argument, and that Sadie had followed Caroline upstairs.
Thomas had also said the two women went upstairs.
According to Una, they returned after a few minutes, all smiles.
But she thought there was tension between the two and the atmosphere was a bit strained.
This information warranted a follow-up.
Una Savage worked mornings in the Bean Café, so she was back home by the time Lottie and Boyd called to her address.
A single mother, she lived in a small detached house in the Mountmill horseshoe shaped estate.
Located across the road was the community college, where Una said she intended sending her daughter, Niamh, when she finished primary.
Once the detectives were seated in the compact living room, they declined tea or coffee.
Una cradled her own mug. ‘It’s an awful business. Niamh got on so well with Freya at school and she had such a good time at the party. Tragic what happened.’
‘From what we can gather, it was a short invite list. Did Freya not have many friends?’
‘Niamh said Freya had loads of friends at school, but her mother only allowed her to invite a few to her party because her dad didn’t want the house destroyed by marauding kids.
Niamh said Freya told her that. My daughter thought it was hilarious, but she was thrilled to be asked. I was a bit anxious, if I’m honest.’
‘Why was that?’
‘Look at where they live. That great house on the outskirts of town. It’s outrageously big for three of them, but the thing is, once I was there, I felt I was the lucky one.’
‘How so?’
‘Well, the house is lovely, but none of them seemed happy. It was like they were on edge all the time. And I mean all of them, including Freya.’
‘Can you be more exact? Have you any examples so that I can get a clearer picture?’
‘And another thing,’ Una went on, as if Lottie hadn’t spoken, ‘Caroline’s supposedly best friend Sadie Clarke had the worst sourpuss I’ve ever come across. Oh, I’m sorry, you asked a question. What was it? I forget to shut up once I start.’
Lottie tried to compute all that Una had said. Was it just jealous gossip or genuine observation? She was finding it hard to get a handle on the slim woman seated opposite her on a dainty armchair.
Boyd jumped in. ‘You’re being very helpful, Una. What did you mean when you said the Healys were on edge?’
‘It was after that man called. Cameron got all flustered and had words with his wife. Caroline was then whispering in Sadie Clarke’s ear, and the two women were staring daggers at each other. That’s when they went upstairs together. I think they were fighting.’
‘Fighting?’ Lottie asked.
‘Nothing physical. Arguing with each other. It didn’t look friendly to me in any case. But I don’t know them, so maybe that’s the way with those sort of people.’
‘What sort of people do you mean?’
‘Those who have money and think they’re so entitled when I have more wealth in my heart than they have in their bank balances.’
Lottie found herself getting lost again. Una could certainly spin a winding tale. ‘Can we back up a minute? You said they were arguing after a man called.’
‘Was it the man for the bouncy castle?’ Boyd asked, and Lottie kicked his ankle. Una was not the sort of witness you fed a line to; you had to let her come up with it herself.
‘God, not him. No, he came later. Nice man. A bit put-out, though, to be called out on a Sunday, I thought.’
‘The guy about the balloon arch then?’ Boyd pressed.
‘Not him either.’
‘There’s nothing in your statement about anyone calling,’ Lottie said, a little too sharp.
Una was unfazed. ‘You know the way things come back to you when you recount an event out loud. I’m only after thinking of it now.’
‘Okay, so someone else called. Who?’
‘I don’t know who it was. Cameron took him to his home office. That’s what Caroline called it when she showed me round. My daughter and I arrived before the other guests. They didn’t get the tour like I did.’ She folded her arms smugly.
‘Tell me more about this man.’
‘I suppose it must have been work-related.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘Well,’ Una deliberated, ‘they went into the office, didn’t they?’
‘Describe the man for me, please,’ Lottie said with a definite edge in her tone. She was annoyed that Una had not been properly interviewed at the start. Then again, as the woman herself had said, some of it was only coming to her now. If she was telling the truth, that was.
Una closed her eyes. ‘I think better with my eyes shut. I’m trying to remember what he was like. A thin rake, with glasses. He had a cheap sort of jacket and trousers. Like a mismatch of polyester you’d get in Primark or from Shein.’
‘What age would you say he was?’ Lottie felt the blood careen around her skull.
Una opened her eyes. ‘It was hard to tell. At first glance I’d have said thirtyish, but on second thoughts he might’ve been older. Does that help?’
‘Yes, it does. Thank you.’ Pulsing with energy, Lottie handed over her card. She was certain Una had described Liam Scanlan. ‘Please call me if you remember anything else. No matter how trivial it seems.’
‘Oh, do you think this polyester-suited man killed the poor Healy family?’
‘He’s just a person of interest at this stage, and I’d appreciate if you kept this interview to yourself.’
Outside, Boyd said, ‘You do know that when Una goes into work tomorrow morning, everyone in the Bean Café will have our visit relayed to them in technicolour?’
‘I do, but what I don’t know is why Liam Scanlan said he’d not gone to the party. Or did he say he hadn’t been invited? You were there, Boyd. Which was it?’
‘He said something about it being a kids’ party. I’m not sure if he actually denied being at it.’
‘Why can’t people be truthful? In my experience, it means they have something to hide.’