Page 63 of Artful Deceit

“What are you selling today?” he asked, smiling at the window cleaner and tipping his head at the large box he wheeled along.

“Pressure washer,” he said, smiling widely. “Always wheeling and dealing, I am!”

“It seems like it.” Flynn told him to have a good day and continued to the station.

“You look confused,” the sergeant said when he walked inside.

He didn’t speak as he continued to puzzle things out in his mind.

“Flynn!” the sergeant snapped.

“Sorry. I just had a thought.”

“And that was a bit too much exertion, was it?”

Flynn chuckled. “Have you got a screwdriver?”

“There’s a toolkit in the back. Why?”

“Because I suspect Gideon Rowe had nothing to do with the thefts. I think someone planted the necklace at his place so we’d focus on him. In the meantime, the actual thief can move the stolen goods off the island while we’re busy looking at Gideon.”

“And you need a screwdriver, because?”

“I need to take a pressure washer apart to prove my theory.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Hazy clouds dilutedthe sunlight as Lily lifted the tables and chairs outside to set up the shop. She should probably go for a run, but was lacking motivation. Besides, her injuries from the previous day were a good enough excuse to avoid physical activity for the day.

She’d expected to wake stiff and sore, but it wasn’t as bad as she anticipated. Long trousers and a shirt covered most of it, and the few scratches along her jaw and neck weren’t as dramatic once she’d cleaned them.

When Kit waved at her from the end of the promenade, she set off wandering in his direction. She only spotted Seren when she got close, tucked away on a bench seat of the little electric tourist train.

“Morning!” Kit called, pausing in wiping down the train, which already looked polished to a shine.

“Hi,” Lily replied with significantly less enthusiasm.

“Are you okay?” Seren asked. “What happened to your face?”

“I had a little run in with a tree.”

Kit gave a speedy shake of his head. “You did what?”

“Never mind,” Lily said with a flick of her hand. “It’s fine.”

Seren and Kit exchanged a look.

“Is everything okay with you?” Seren asked.

“Yeah,” she replied automatically, though that was pretty far from the truth. Since the police hadn’t found the stolen goods at Gideon’s place, she had the feeling she’d never see her backpack or its contents again.

All she could hope for now was that whoever took it had thrown the passports away without paying them any attention. She’d have to apply for a new passport, but that wasn’t a huge deal.

“You look stressed,” Kit said. “Is this to do with a certain police officer and his imminent departure?”

She sighed. At least the lost backpack had taken her mind off that issue. “Let’s not talk about that.”

“He’ll be back to visit.” Kit slung an arm around her shoulder and gave her a side hug, which aggravated her wounds and made her wince slightly. “And we’ll be here to look after you.”