Chapter 77

77

After speaking with Brenda Morgan, Lottie was no further on. All she'd gleaned from the grieving mother was that Brenda was gunning for Collins. She'd flatly denied anything to do with the money going into Aneta's account and had no idea who she was. Then she played the ‘speak to my solicitor' card, which infuriated Lottie further.

Her mood didn't improve with the news that Gordon Collins wasn't at home, nor was he on the building site at Pine Grove.

‘We need to speak to him,' she told Boyd.

‘He's probably visiting his ex-wife and daughters in Dublin. Or something…'

‘Or something? Why isn't he answering his phone? Why doesn't the site manager, Patrick Curran, know where he is? Jesus, Boyd, if Collins is behind these killings, we've let him slip through our fingers.'

‘Don't get ahead of yourself. He has no reason to think that we suspect him of anything. We don't even know if we suspect him yet.'

‘I know that, but Aneta's face was all over the news and social media this morning. What if that spooked him?'

‘Perhaps,' Boyd said. ‘He clammed up when we showed him her death-mask photo.'

She inspected the copy of the photo they'd found of the group on the steps of a building. ‘This building could be Cuan years ago, before the fire. The facade could have been altered in the rebuild. Maybe that's why they need the big donations from the likes of Collins.'

‘You're really stretching that fishing line now.'

‘One way to find out. Let's pay a visit to Irene Dunbar.'

Boyd drove them to Cuan and expelled a low whistle when they reached their destination. ‘It's impressive. What are the fees like here?'

‘Expensive,' Lottie said.

He parked the car. ‘How would Laura Nolan and Shannon Kenny be able to afford them?'

‘Hadn't thought of that.' She mentally kicked herself. Had someone helped them out financially? ‘We can ask. Hope you brought that photo.'

He tapped the folder he carried under his arm. ‘I have all we need.'

Mona buzzed them in.

‘Hi, Mona,' Lottie said. ‘This is Detective Sergeant Boyd. We'd like to talk to Irene Dunbar.'

‘I told you on the phone that she's in meetings all day,' Mona said.

‘We still need to talk with her. Otherwise I'll have to get an arrest warrant for her.'

‘I'm only doing my job.' Mona's lips turned downward. She wiped crumbs from her mouth, smearing her bright red lipstick, then balled up crusts in tin foil and threw them into a bin behind her. Was it lunchtime? Lottie felt she could eat the crusts herself.

‘Maybe I can help you, if you tell me what it is you want to know. I emailed over everything you asked for yesterday.'

‘Thanks for that, but I want to talk to Irene.'

Sighing loudly, Mona pressed a button at the side of her glass prison. ‘This way.'

She tapped in a code on a keypad and led them down the short corridor. She knocked, and when there was no reply, she opened the door. The office was empty.

‘Oh, Irene must have left.'

‘Wouldn't you know if she had?'

‘Not necessarily. She often leaves by the rear exit.'

‘You said she had meetings all day. Here or elsewhere?'

‘Phone meetings. She's trying to rally the board, because there will be fallout. You know. Because Aneta worked here.'

‘And don't forget, Mona, two other murder victims and a missing woman had connections here too.'

‘That's not public knowledge.'

‘Not yet,' Lottie said, trying to stem her growing annoyance at being given the runaround. ‘Where would Irene go?'

‘I honestly don't know. I can give you her home address and mobile number.'

‘Thanks.' Lottie looked to Boyd. He didn't seem to have anything to add, so she asked, ‘What are the fees like here?'

‘The day care is covered by the health service, and they subsidise a portion of the costs for residents if they undergo means-testing.'

‘You don't necessarily have to be wealthy to be admitted, then?'

‘Not really, though we have a waiting list.'

‘Would Laura Nolan and Shannon Kenny have qualified for the subsidy?'

‘I'd have to check.'

‘I'm sure you've looked at their files since my visit yesterday.'

‘Right. Okay. Laura and Shannon's stays were subsidised.'

‘What about John Morgan?'

‘His fees were paid in full.'

‘And do you know why Aneta wanted to work here?'

‘No.'

‘She seemed to walk into a job the minute she arrived in Ireland. Is that usual?'

‘There is a vetting process all employees have to go through.'

‘But Aneta bypassed that,' Lottie said, reading between the lines.

‘I don't know anything about hiring staff. Someone must have put in a word for her.'

‘Who would that be?'

Mona dropped her head. ‘All I know is that Irene would insist on a warrant for that kind of information.'

‘Do you really want to work for a woman like that?' Boyd asked.

‘She's a great boss. Built up this place single-handed over the years. You know it burned down about thirty years ago? Irene saved it from ruin. She fundraises and fills out tons of grant application forms. She's done nothing wrong.'

Lottie stood at the window of Irene's office. She noticed a worker driving a sit-on mower on the lawn.

‘The day Aneta had her breakdown, for want of a better word, there was an event here for financial donors. How did that work?'

‘They had a meal, then a guided tour. We were trying to attract new funding.'

‘Do you have the names of those who attended?'

‘Their photo was in the local paper, but I'll get you the list.'

‘Do you know what exactly happened with Aneta that day?'

Leaning her hands on the back of the visitor chair, Mona took a deep breath. ‘The donors came into the common room to view it. There were only a few people there, all of whom had given consent. Then suddenly, Aneta started shaking violently, as if she was having a fit. She was a blubbering mess and nothing we did could stop her crying. I was about to follow the touring party but came back to help. I didn't know what else to do, so I got someone to bring her to Irene's office to wait for her there.'

‘Did Aneta say anything about what had sparked it?'

‘She could have, but she was speaking in Polish.'

‘Who was in the party that had just left the room?'

Mona bit her lip. She starting listing names, then stopped. Lottie recognised a few of them. Local business people. ‘Go on.'

‘We also had family members visiting.'

‘Who?' She glimpsed Boyd idly flicking through the manager's desk. Mona didn't seem to notice him.

‘You already know Gordon Collins was there.' The receptionist twisted her hands into each other and bounced on her heels like a child who'd done something wrong and been caught out. ‘He'd been talking to John Morgan.'

‘Collins wasn't family.'

‘I know that. You're confusing me. He's a donor.'

‘Back to family members… Why were they there?'

‘Just visiting.'

‘Who were they?' Lottie was sure Mona was holding something back. ‘I'm sure you've checked it out.'

‘Okay, okay. Laura Nolan's mother was here that day.'

‘Diana Nolan?' Boyd looked up as he lifted a letter-opener.

Mona took a step towards him. ‘Don't touch anything on the desk, please. But yes, Diana Nolan.'

‘Did Aneta interact with her?'

Mona gave a wry laugh. ‘I don't know. You're persistent. You've got more out of me than I meant to say.'

‘One final thing. Were any of Shannon Kenny's family here? She has a brother, George.'

‘I met him once or twice. But on that day I don't think he was here.'

Lottie had one last glance out the window. The guy on the lawnmower had disappeared. ‘Why are you having the grass cut in January?'

‘What?' Mona frowned at her like she was mad. ‘What has that got to do with anything?'

‘I was just wondering,' Lottie said.

Even Boyd gave her a funny look then.