Chapter 100
Celeste
Thursday
Celeste stares at Moira Fitzpatrick. She can’t have heard her correctly.
“What…what did you just say?”
“I said Maeve Khoury’s in hospital and, I’m sorry to tell you, Cody seems to have attacked her.”
“Wait, stop for a second. Is Maeve OK?”
“I think so. She was conscious in the ambulance, and I phoned Leesa; she’s on her way to the hospital. But unfortunately, it appears Cody was responsible.”
Celeste feels her jaw clench. She will kill him.
She will absolutely kill him. How has it come to this?
She knows how. Ignoring the signs, not getting him assessed, putting her head in the sand.
Ignoring the knife and the bruised knuckles.
The babysitting incident with Moira Fitzpatrick’s child.
Oh god, Moira in her ridiculous gaudy jumpsuit is loving this. Revenge.
“I’ve contacted the guards, but I wanted to do you the courtesy of letting you know before they arrive.”
The courtesy. You wanted to gloat, that’s what this is.
But Jesus Christ, she is going to murder Cody.
She’s going to throw him out, that’s what she’s going to do.
There is only so much her mental health can take.
She hears a noise from the landing and glances up to see her daughter’s face peering between the banisters.
All of this is so unfair on Nika…She straightens her shoulders.
Celeste is in no mood to defend Cody, but she can’t lose face.
“I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Moira is shaking her head. “No misunderstanding. I went out after Maeve because I accidentally gave her two fifties for the babysitting.” Her cheeks color slightly at the admission.
“I didn’t know what I was seeing at first—one figure leaning over another.
When I got closer, I realized it was Cody and that Maeve was semiconscious on the ground.
Maybe from one of those drugs people put in drinks… ”
Celeste suppresses an eyeroll. This woman is an idiot. “Moira, Maeve was babysitting in your house, not out having her drink spiked. And Cody was here most of tonight; he wasn’t out putting drugs in anyone’s drink. He’s fifteen—he’d hardly be in a pub.”
“Here most of tonight, but out for a while, you mean?”
Who does she think she is—Columbo? “I’d better go and find out what’s going on. Thanks for letting me know.” A tight smile.
“No problem.” Moira’s smile is wider. She turns. “Oh, here are the guards now.”
Celeste’s heart thumps as headlights beam from the end of the driveway, momentarily blinding her. Two car doors open and close.
Moira steps back to make room at the porch but doesn’t leave.
Two gardaí loom out of the darkness, both in uniform. The taller one speaks.
“Mrs. Geary?”
“Yes?” Celeste keeps her face neutral. Inside, she feels sick.
They introduce themselves, but Celeste is numb, taking none of it in. Nothing until one of them says something about a car.
“I’m sorry, I missed that, could you repeat it?”
“I said, we’d like to take a look at your car.”
“My car?” The fear starts to lift. This must be some kind of misunderstanding. Cody doesn’t drive. This has nothing to do with him after all.
“Yes, we’re investigating a hit and run. A young woman in a vehicular incident here in Oakpark.”
Moira’s hand goes to her mouth. “Oh my god, he knocked her down!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Moira,” Celeste snaps. “Cody is fifteen. He’s never driven a car in his life. And anyway, Nika had the car tonight.”
Oh.
Oh god.