‘Good idea. Let’s sit over here, it’s really dark this side. I’ll be able to see her coming from this window.’
The stone floor wasn’t the most comfortable of spots and the wind was whipping around them, the draught racing in from the doorway and from the gaps in the crumbling brickwork. Erin put a protective arm around her niece.
As the wind picked up some more, it carried a light mist of rain with it. The sky above them darkened again and within a few minutes, drops of rain were falling. Fortunately, Erin and Sophie were protected by what was left of the roof, while Kerry was standing by the window, keeping a look out for Roisin.
It was then he saw her. Her head appeared first over the top of the hill, bent down, shielding the rain from her face and, as she neared, Kerry could tell it was definitely Roisin. However, she wasn’t alone.
‘What the hell?’ said Kerry.
Erin stood up and came to peer over his shoulder.
Chapter 40
I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing. I take a quick look at Kerry’s face and all I can see is anger. I don’t blame him. For me, the surprise isn’t that much of a surprise. They say a leopard never changes its spots. It’s certainly true in this case. Jody Wright may have had me fooled for a while, but not any longer.
I beckon Sophie to me and whisper to her to stay very still and very quiet. ‘Don’t worry,’ I say in her ear. ‘Me and Kerry will look after you. You’re safe with us.’
I can see through the doorway into the main room as Roisin and Joe come into the house. She pushes a wet strand of hair from her face.
‘You’ve got to stop this now. If you don’t, I will,’ Joe is saying. ‘You can’t let Marie Hurley go to prison. And as for taking Sophie Keane, for feck’s sake, Roisin, that’s kidnapping and I’m now a party to it.’
‘Man up, for God’s sake,’ says Roisin. ‘To tell the truth, I’m past caring. Maybe I really will disappear and then the Hurleys will get what’s coming to them.’
This time it’s me who is held back. Kerry grips my hand. They haven’t noticed us here, pushed back in the shadows. They are too busy arguing. Jody puts a carrier bag down on the floor beside the campfire.
‘You can do what you like, but I’m taking that child back to her mother,’ he says.
‘And you’ll be charged as an accessory,’ says Roisin.
‘Like you, I really don’t care. What I care about is doing the right thing.’
‘You didn’t worry about that the night of the accident,’ says Roisin.
‘I was a kid then. I’m not now. I’m a father myself. This is all wrong. You hear me? All wrong.’
At this point Kerry moves out of the shadows.
‘Funny,’ he says, ‘I was just thinking the same thing.’ He steps into the main room and I follow, keeping Sophie close to me.
Roisin gives a small scream of alarm. Jody swears.
‘Jesus! What the feck are you doing there?’ he cries.
‘Again. I was just thinking the same thing,’ says Kerry. He moves into the centre of the room. His jaw is set tight and I can see him clenching and unclenching his fists.
‘Oh and look who’s with you! It’s Mammy Erin,’ says Roisin. Her ability to regain her composure amazes me. ‘Might have known your sidekick would be with you, Kerry.’
‘Now we’re all over the shock of seeing each other,’ says Kerry, his voice like steel. ‘Perhaps you can explain what’s going on.’
‘Oh, please, Kerry,’ says Roisin. ‘Don’t be so hick and naive.’
‘Leave it out,’ says Joe. He’s keeping a wary eye on Kerry. I think he must recognise the anger that’s bubbling away just under the surface. I’m not sure how long Kerry will be able to contain the rage.
‘Shut up, Joe,’ says Roisin. ‘You’re such a wimp. Frightened of upsetting your cousin now. First it was your wife, then it was her,’ she waves a hand in my direction, ‘and now it’s Kerry. Grow some balls, man.’
‘I didn’t want to get involved in this,’ says Joe, turning to Kerry. ‘I’ve just this minute been trying to talk her out of it. I was saying this has gone too far and has to stop.’
‘Shut the fuck up, Joe,’ snaps Kerry. Joe looks at me. If he thinks he’s getting some sort of support or empathy, then he can think again. Roisin sits down on an upturned milk crate in front of the hearth with a total look of nonchalance. God, I want to slap that unconcerned, superior look right off her face.
‘What exactly did you expect to gain from all this?’ I ask. ‘Taking Sophie. Have you any idea what Fiona is going through right now? Not to mention that my mother is currently under arrest for your murder. And have you not stopped to think about your own mother?’