Page 48 of Artful Deceit

“That seems like a decent motive.”

“Yes. But it doesn’t feel right. She’s so meek and mild. I can’t imagine her turning to crime, no matter what the motive.”

“What about that scruffy-looking fella?”

“Silas. He’s an oddball, but I searched his tent and found nothing.” She sat up straighter. “I guess the person I’m most suspicious of is Saffron.”

“The hippy woman?”

Lily chuckled. “Yeah. She’s changed her plans and is leaving tomorrow on a yacht. She got a job working as a nanny. Out of the blue, apparently. And I was thinking that if you were shifting stolen goods off the island, leaving on a private boat would be the easiest way to do it, wouldn’t it?”

“The harbour master will keep an eye on private boats coming and going…” His voice trailed off, and he tilted his head.

“What are you thinking?” Lily asked.

“I’m thinking about my encounter with that hippy lady this morning.”

“What encounter?”

“I sell things, don’t I? Sometimes people ask me to sell items for them, and we split the money. Other times, people just giveme their junk because they don’t want the hassle of disposing of it.”

“So?”

“Sometimes I sell stuff on the mainland, but I also sell things locally, on these online community groups.”

“Are you going to get to the point anytime soon?”

He rolled his eyes. “Saffron bought a suitcase from me this morning.”

“A suitcase?”

“Yeah. She said hers was worn out, and she needed an upgrade, but the one I sold her was pretty worn too.”

Lily frowned, thinking. “Maybe she didn’t need a new case, just an extra one…”

“She would if she were leaving with more than she arrived with,” Len agreed with a slow nod.

“That seems as though it would be worth checking.”

“I’d say so. Did she tell you what time she was leaving tomorrow?”

“No, but I have her phone number, and she seems to think we’re firm friends, so I don’t think it would seem odd if I asked her.”

“Do that. Then let your copper friend know where to find her…”

“Yeah.”

“Or I can give Sergeant Proctor a call if you’d rather?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll be seeing Flynn later anyway, so I’ll talk to him about it.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

In a sleep-deprived trance,Flynn didn’t notice the sergeant enter the station late in the afternoon until he was all the way inside.

“I spent an hour wandering the town, but it’s all quiet,” the sergeant mused, easing into the chair behind the other desk. “Maybe our thief is having a day in bed after their nighttime activities.”

“Lucky him,” Flynn said through a yawn. “It’s odd though, that they didn’t actually commit any crimes yesterday evening.”