Page 73 of Artful Deceit

Flynn’s chest tightened, and a lone teardrop splashed onto his boot.

“The two of you were pretty close, weren’t you?” Dr Redwood said.

“Yeah,” he managed. “We got on well.”

“Someone needs to tell his wife. Where’s PC Hill?”

“He’s been on holiday for a week. He heard about the sergeant from control and messaged me to say he was on his way to the airport. I need to update him.” His fingers went to his radio. “I need to update them all.”

“I can speak to his wife, but I think it will be better coming from you, since you were with him.”

His throat clogged again at the thought of that grim task. “Maybe I should wait for PC Hill. He knows her better.”

“Don’t risk her hearing from someone else,” Dr Redwood said kindly. “Besides, you’ll be able to relate to her better.”

“How so?”

“She’ll probably blame herself too.”

He nodded once but couldn’t quite bring himself to move. “We just let Len Marrack out on bail for burglary,” he said, then attempted to make a mental list of what needed to be done. Heheaved in a breath as he thought about Lily waiting at the station. “I have to interview someone at the station. And I don’t know what happens now… I guess PC Hill will be acting sergeant until they find a replacement. There’s so much to do.”

“You can manage it. Just deal with it how the sergeant would. But first, you need to speak to his wife.”

He sucked in a breath and attempted to pull himself together. “I need to nip back to the station. Then I’ll go and speak to her.”

After thanking the doctor, he walked outside in a daze.

He could do this, he told himself as he focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

He was fairly sure he wasn’t about to deal with things the way the sergeant would. But he hoped the sergeant would understand his actions regarding Lily.

He was fairly sure he wouldn’t be surprised by them.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

As the minutes ticked by,Lily had the increasing notion that something wasn’t right. What could have kept Flynn and the sergeant away for so long?

“Flynn’s leaving next week,” she said, breaking the silence.

Maria nodded. “I heard. Glynis is worried it’ll be hard for you.”

That felt like a massive understatement. “I keep thinking something will happen and he won’t have to leave, but there’s only a week to go, so I’m not sure how much longer I can keep my head in the sand.”

“Are you and him together?”

Slowly, Lily nodded. “He thinks we can have a long-distance relationship, but I’m not sure they ever work out.”

“I expect it’ll be tough, but if you love each other, you’ll make it work.”

“Did you love Derek?” Lily asked, not disguising the hint of bitterness in her words.

“Yes,” Maria said quietly.

“Do you think he loved you?”

“I like to think so.”

“That disproves your theory then.”