We present an extract from The Nowhere Girls, the new mystery novel by Carmel Harrington.
Two little girls are found alone at Pearse Station in Dublin, and their mother vanishes without trace. Twenty-five years later, journalist Vega reopens the mystery and uncovers twists she never saw coming...
1 December 1995
The stationmaster took a moment to readjust his tie before stepping back onto the bustling platform. He was late returning from his lunch break for the first time in his forty- year career at Pearse railway station. However, today was a special occasion. President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, had addressed eighty thousand people at College Green. The stationmaster hadn't planned to attend the event, but as the commuters arrived early in the morning, waving Irish and American flags, he became swept up in their excitement.
It had proved to be one of the best decisions of his life. Thanks to his last- minute dash to join the well- wishers at College Green, he had shaken the President’s hand. Humming 'The Star- Spangled Banner’, the stationmaster placed his arms behind his back and commenced a regular patrol up and down the platform, his eyes darting from side to side to ensure all was well. His forehead creased when he noticed something amiss.
Two little girls sat holding hands on a bench near the public toilets, a battered brown suitcase at their feet.
Their matching lilac floral smocked dresses with starched white collars, reminiscent of a bygone era, caught his eye. You didn’t often see children wearing dresses like these any more. The smaller of the two was sucking her thumb. Her hair was so blonde it was almost white. The poor mite seemed no older than a toddler. The elder girl, with dark brown hair, regarded him warily. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she draped a protective arm around her little companion. He observed their long braids, tied with lilac ribbons. These girls were well cared for, he decided. So why were they on their own?
He stepped closer and cleared his throat. ‘Hello.’ He gestured towards his uniform and added, ‘I’m the stationmaster here. Where are your mammy and daddy?’
They watched him silently, their eyes wide with distrust. The younger of the two buried her face in the elder girl’s chest.
He maintained a gentle voice and crouched low. ‘It’s going to be all right. Don’t worry. I’m here to help.’
The younger child began to cry and burrowed deeper into the embrace of the elder girl, who bravely responded, ‘Our mother told us to stay here. So we have.’ Her jaw tightened as she glared defiantly at the stationmaster, prepared to stand her ground should he insist that they move.
He nodded approvingly. ‘You’re right to follow your mammy’s instructions. How old are you?
‘I’m four, and my sister is just three,’ the dark- haired girl replied, her eyes darting around the platform as she searched for her mother.
So, they were sisters, the stationmaster thought, despite their different colouring. It was clear he needed to gain the trust of the elder girl. ‘I bet you’re a brilliant big sister, looking after the little one. I want to help you find your mammy. How about I make an announcement and ask her to come to my office? We’ll have you back with her in no time.’
The girl didn’t respond, shrinking back from the question. So he set that aside for a moment and asked instead, ‘Can you tell me what your mammy is called?’
She examined him from head to toe, weighing up whether to trust him. Finally, with a sigh, she replied, ‘She’s called Star.’
‘That’s a lovely name. And what’s her surname?’
The girl shrugged, biting her lip.
‘That’s all right. Do you know where you live?’
‘We live in the woods. Mammy says it’s in the middle of nowhere.’
As she spoke, the strangest sensation washed over the stationmaster. He felt a shiver of unease run down his spine and shuddered inexplicably.
Whatever was happening with these girls, his gut instinct warned him that they were in a whole world of trouble.
The Nowhere Girls is published by Headline
