Page 23 of Beneath the Quiet

“Hello, Katie. How are you?”

“Good.”

“Aren’t you off to school today?”

Katie nods. “I am, but Dad asked me to get him a coffee and a chicken sandwich before he takes me.”

“Okay, I’ll just grab that for you, and then you can get on your way.” Roísin reaches for a pair of tongs and slides the glass pane to take out the sandwich, then shuts it again. With an ease I admire, she wraps the sandwich and then moves to the coffee machine.

Roísin raises her eyebrows. “Does he want his usual, pet?”

Katie pushes up on the soles of her shoes, then back down. “Yes, please.”

She huffs, deep frown in place. “Can’t you persuade him to try something less boring than plain black coffee?”

I chuckle low, not the least bit surprised Roísin asked her that. She seems unable to let go of her tendency to change the minds of her customers, because she does the same to me each time I come in. She’s hell-bent on convincing all her customers to switch up their coffee routines regularly.

“You know Dad.”

She sighs, the resigned timbre in her voice unmissable and cheerful at the same time. “I do, indeed.”

Roísin grins at me, then at Katie. The girl glances over her shoulder and smiles at me. It’s so catchy that my smile widens, sharing the good mood she’s put me in.

“My dad likes his coffee simple,” she tells me.

“I gathered.”

“Here you go.” Roísin places a lid on the large to-go cup and puts the sandwich in a bag. “Tell your dad that I’ll put it on his monthly invoice, okay?”

“Okay, I will.” Katie pauses, then turns back to me before leaving. “You’re the new detective, aren’t you? Maeve?”

I blink, surprised she knows my name already. “Yes, I am.”

She holds her hand out for me to shake. Her grip is firm for such a young child. There’s something about the shape of her nose and straight chin that’s familiar to me, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

“I’m Katie.”

“Nice to meet you, Katie.” I tilt my head in question. “Does everyone know my name now?” I joke, but nerves dance in my belly.

She shakes her head. “I don’t think so, but my dad says he knows you. Aidan Lynch?”

Oh, gosh. Aidan’s daughter.

“We’ve met. Once or twice.”

Katie smiles at me again and releases my hand. “Dad told me that you’re friends now. I hope you like Cloonmara.”

“I do.”

It’s not a lie even though I haven’t fully made up my mind if I like it enough to stay.

“Good.” She takes the bag and coffee with a soft wave. “If you want, you can come by the farm some time, and I’ll show you all our animals.”

“Oh, um…”

“I’ve got to go,” Katie interrupts, “or I’ll be late for school. Bye!”

Roísin lifts her chin and then shakes her head. I swivel mine towards her, the movement so quick that I almost get whiplash.