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“But that makes no sense. Why wouldn’t they want me to know who they are?”
“I can’t say.”
“There must be a reason.”
“I’m sure there is,” he said, retreating from the stairs when it became clear she wasn’t going up there.
“I have to go or I’ll miss the ferry,” she said, annoyed by the whole situation.
“That’s a no to the offer then?” he asked, not seeming to care either way.
“Of course it’s a no. In which world was it ever going to be anything else? This is the most bizarre thing that’s happened to me in a long time. Which is saying something, considering I spent the last week accidentally solving a murder.”
“I heard about that,” Mr Greaves said with a small twitch of his lips. “Maybe that’s why the owners offered you this place. Perhaps they thought you’d be a good addition to the island.”
“Don’t you even know their reasoning?”
“I only know what I need to know,” he said. “Which usually isn’t a lot.” While he crossed the shop floor, Lily stopped to look around one last time. As her eyes swept the room, they snagged on something on the counter and she moved instinctively towards it.
“What’s this?” she asked with a frown.
“What?” Mr Greaves asked with his hand on the door.
“There’s an envelope with my name on it.” Staring at the swirly writing sent her heart into overdrive.
“I’m no detective,” he said. “But I imagine it’s a letter for you. Open it and find out.”
“Did you put it here?” she asked, head snapping up.
“No. I don’t know anything about it.”
“Does the owner live on the island? Did they leave me this note?”
“As far as I’m aware, they don’t live here.” His brow crinkled as though he were also confused. “But nothing would really surprise me at this point.” He opened the door and Lily caught the sound of Kit firing questions at him before the door closed behind him.
Hesitantly, she picked up the envelope and slid her finger under the flap.
There was a single sheet of paper inside, folded in half.
Lily’s breath caught in her throat as she opened it. The words sent a chill rippling up and down her spine.
I hope you can finally find a home here.
They hadn’t signed their name, but had added three kisses.
Lily only tore her gaze from the page when the door eased open again.
“Everything okay?” PC Grainger asked.
Slowly, she shook her head. “It seems I still have a mystery to solve.”