‘What did you want to ask me? I can’t remember anything else about those two lassies. Terrible. One murdered and the other missing. Shocking business.’
‘This is about Lynn O’Donnell.’
His face paled and he bit the inside of his cheek. ‘What about her?’
‘Did you know her?’
‘No.’
‘Did you see her the day she disappeared?’
‘I’m presuming you read up on the case, so you know I saw her that evening when she got off the train.’
‘She dropped her bag on the platform.’
‘I helped her pick up her belongings. That’s the last I saw of her.’
‘Did you know her before then?’
He seemed to digest that, perhaps wondering if it was a trick question. But she was throwing out a line, hoping something might bite.
‘I knew her a little. Knew her brothers. They were avid train watchers. Obsessed with trains, those boys were. Still are. Both are on the railway preservation committee.’
Lottie filed away that snippet. ‘How did Lynn seem that day?’
‘Ah, sure it was a long time ago.’
‘Try to remember.’
He closed his eyes. ‘Flustered. She dropped her bag, didn’t she?’ He opened one eye and squinted at Lottie.
‘Was there any reason for that? Did she see someone or something to make her flustered?’
He closed his eyes again. Imagining that day ten years ago?
‘The platform was packed,’ he said. ‘Busy. Not as many trains running back then. There were more people crowded onto the few that were operating. All the men were flitting about with bunches of roses. Probably got them cheap on Moore Street.’
‘After you helped her repack her handbag,’ Lottie probed, ‘did you notice where she went?’
‘What did I say in the report?’
‘I want to know what you can remember.’
He sighed and looked up at pigeons nesting on a rafter. ‘My memory is not as good as it used to be.’
‘I’m sure it’s just fine.’
He smiled at the compliment.
‘She was red-faced. Embarrassed? I don’t know. She rushed through that gate from the platform and went outside. Most of the crowd had dispersed by then. I flagged the train on its way and closed the gate. I remember standing on the steps there, thinking I was almost finished for the day. That was the last train. And …’
‘And what?’
‘I never said anything before.’ He clasped his hands tightly, as if the gesture might keep his tongue quiet.
Lottie placed a hand on his arm. ‘You can tell me.’
‘I … I couldn’t tell anyone. You see a small fire started. I think it blurred my memory. The old waiting rooms round the back. It was beginning to blaze. I never told anyone. It was my responsibility. I was terrified of losing my job.’
‘What was your responsibility?
‘Keeping the place clean and free of rubbish.’
Lottie sighed. He was trekking off on a tangent. ‘Jimmy, you were telling me about Lynn O’Donnell?’
‘There’s nothing to tell.’
‘Was it a big fire?’
‘I thought so at first. But I put it out quick enough.’
‘How did it start?’
‘A build-up of rubbish caught light at the side of the building.’ He wrung his hands together, his lips quivering. ‘I never reported it as it was my job on the line. Can you understand that?’
She could, but she said, ‘What aren’t you telling me?’
‘I couldn’t say anything back then. And I can’t now.’
‘We found her body. Lynn. Did you know that? We think someone abducted her that day and hid her away for ten years until she died. Can you imagine anything worse? Was your job worth the heartache that family had to go through?’
‘He said nothing either. So it wasn’t all my fault.’
‘Who are you talking about?’ Lottie sat up straight. This was certainly new.
‘He helped me. To put out the fire. I couldn’t say anything or he might have dropped me in the shit, you know.’
‘Jimmy, you have to tell me what you mean.’
He stood up, pushed his cap back and scratched his forehead. He had his back to her, and his voice was so low she had to stand up to hear him.
‘You see, he was with her, collecting her or something. They were in the car. I think he saw the flames starting around the same time I did, because he came to help me. When we got it quenched with the extinguishers, I shook his hand to thank him and asked him to say nothing to no one, and he said …’
‘Go on, Jimmy.’
‘He said, I expect the same from you. Then he joined her in the car.’
‘Jesus!’ Lottie felt a tingle of anticipation catching fire in her belly. This had not appeared anywhere in Lynn O’Donnell’s file. ‘Who? Who was it?’
He looked back at her, his eyes half closed with sadness.
‘Her brother.’
Lottie gulped down her surprise.
‘Which one, Jimmy? Tell me! Which brother?’
Ninety-One
‘Carol?’ Terry’s voice echoed up the stairs.
If he wakes Mum and Dad, I’m going to kill him, she thought as she jumped out of bed. The contents of her stomach rose to her mouth. Grabbing a tissue, she threw up in the bowl beside the bed. When would it ever stop?
‘Carol, get down here.’
‘I’m coming, you moron.’ Maybe it was a delivery of flowers for Valentine’s Day. That would be great. Maybe he was leaving his wife.
‘What’s all the racket?’
Now her dad was awake.
‘It’s for me. Go back to sleep, Dad. It’s Sunday,’ she said.
At the bottom of the stairs, Terry stood with the door open. ‘Someone wants to talk to you.’
‘You!’ Carol said, her jaw dropping almost to her chest. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘We need to talk,’ the man said, and turned away. ‘I’m parked around the corner.’
‘Give me five minutes. I better get dressed.’
* * *
The office was in uproar when Lottie entered. Desks were littered with mugs of coffee and half-eaten croissants, crumbs everywhere. People eating on the go.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked, stretching her arms out, imploring an answer from her animated team.
‘What are you doing here?’ Boyd jumped up from his desk and dragged her into her office. ‘Jesus, Lottie, you look a sight. You should be at home in bed.’
‘I don’t have a home, never mind a bed.’
‘And didn’t McMahon suspend you?’
‘He only thinks he did. I don’t care about him. Anyway, the chief super won’t want to get rid of me. Someone tried to murder my family last night. That’s all I care about. As soon as McGlynn has the evidence, I’m going to swing for the bastard who did it. So tell me, what’s all this about?’ She slammed the table, immediately wincing with pain. Her own news would have to wait until she found out what was going on.
‘Your hand, it’s hurt.’
She held up her bandaged left hand. ‘So it is, Sherlock. I didn’t realise how quickly flames could climb stairs.’
‘At least you got some clothes, even if they are a bit vintage.’
She studied Boyd’s haggard face. ‘You look awful. What’s going on?’
‘It’s Grace. She’s missing.’
‘What? Tell me.’
He explained about his mother’s phone call, and all they’d done so far without finding a trace of his sister.
‘She’ll be fine. Don’t fret.’ Lottie didn’t believe her own words.
Boyd’s breaths came in short puffs as he said, ‘She can’t be fine. Her phone and medication are at my place and I’m sure she’s wherever Mollie Hunter is. And if Mollie is already dead, then I’ll never see Grace again.’
‘One step at a time, Boyd. Breathe before you have a panic attack.’
‘Had one already. Passed out.’
‘See a doctor. Get checked out.’
‘Look who’s talking. I’ll be fine. Once I find Grace.’
‘Have you followed the protocol for a missing person?’
‘Yes, and more. I asked McMahon to talk to the media. In the light of all that’s happened this last week, he agreed.’
‘Okay. If Grace is linked to the current cases, we need to retrace our steps on Mollie Hunter’s disappearance and maybe that way we’ll find your sister. Agree?’
‘I suppose so. Are Chloe and Sean okay?’
‘They’re with my mother. Gilly is there. They’re fine.’
‘You should be with them.’