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“Tempting as it is, I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
She pouted. “It’s fun to break the rules sometimes, isn’t it?”
“Sometimes,” he agreed. “But sometimes it gets you into more trouble than it’s worth.”
That he knew all too well.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Oscar’s housewas on the north-east corner of the island, meaning Lily got to walk a different path than she was used to. Not that the view was much different since she could still only see a few metres ahead. Stone walls ran alongside the narrow lane and beyond them green fields were just visible. Now and again, the verge would offer a smattering of wild flowers, but since Lily wasn’t someone with a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature, she gave them little notice. Besides, she had too much on her mind to pay attention to her surroundings.
Nearing the house, she pondered what she’d say if faced with Oscar’s parents, but her worries were unnecessary since she spotted him walking out of the house as she approached it.
He had his hood up and didn’t spot her as he hurried along the lane ahead of her.
Lily called out to him, then broke into a run to catch up with him when he turned.
“What are you doing here?” He glanced around shiftily.
“Looking for you. I was worried about you after I saw you at the hotel.”
“I’m fine,” he said impatiently. “How did you even know where I live?” He shook his head. “It doesn’t even matter. I’m on my way to meet someone. I can’t stop, I’m afraid.”
“Wait.” Lily put a hand on his arm to stop him. “I was worried about your friend, too. I got the impression Alanna might have upset her.”
“I’ll check on her, but I’m sure she’s fine.” Tugging his arm away, he set off at a brisk pace which Lily struggled to keep up with.
She wasn’t sure what she was expecting to gain from following him, nor how long she intended to keep it up. Given the way he kept glancing back at her, she didn’t think he’d put up with it for very long.
“What are you doing?” he asked, finally swinging around.
“I don’t know.” She fought off a laugh at her own terrible investigative skills. Covert operations clearly weren’t her strong suit. She rubbed her hand across her forehead. If she was going to get to the bottom of what was going on, maybe the covert approach wasn’t the best way to go about things, anyway. “I know about the camera,” she blurted out.
He eyed her with a mix of distrust and suspicion. “What are you talking about?”
“I found Vinny’s camera in the shed. I know it didn’t just get lost. Someone took it.”
“It was lost.” He swallowed hard. “I found it in the garden this morning. Mr and Mrs Miller took it to the police.”
“You’re lying,” she said. “Yesterday it was in the shed, not lost in the neighbour’s garden.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just found it in the neighbour’s garden today.”
She might have believed him, but he couldn’t stand still and had guilt written all over his face.
“Look,” she said, taking a softer tone. “I don’t care that you stole the camera, but I need to know where the memory card is.”
“What memory card?” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed again.
“The one with the naked photos on it.”
The fact that he didn’t look surprised by the statement told Lily that he knew exactly what she was talking about.
“How do you know about that?” he asked.
“I found the camera in the shed yesterday and looked through the photos.”
“Why were you even in the shed? No one goes in there except me.”