Page 16 of Dead in the Water (Lily Larkin Mysteries #4)

Chapter Sixteen

Kit Treneary stepped out of the Cookie Jar with a croissant in one hand and a takeaway cup in the other. He smiled widely when he spotted Lily, but his cheerful demeanour faded almost immediately.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. Are you angry with me?”

Puzzled, she opened her mouth to ask why she’d be angry with him, but stopped herself.

“Because you’ve been gossiping about me?” she asked, affecting a serious tone.

“Not gossiping, no… just…”

“Talking about me behind my back and telling people my private business?”

“On second thoughts, I think I prefer to say gossiping. But I didn’t really think it was a secret, and I wasn’t saying anything bad. Plus, I have bets with my brothers about…” His eyes flashed with panic and his words trailed away.

“Kit!” Lily glared at him. “You have bets with your brothers about me?”

“Sort of… but not really because no one will bet against you and Flynn getting together.”

“They probably should have done,” Lily mumbled.

“I’m sorry. I promise it won’t happen again. What can I do to make it up to you?”

“Nothing,” she said, falling into step beside him.

“I’d buy you breakfast, but I’ve got a train trip in an hour and I have a couple of things to do before then.”

An idea swirled in Lily’s mind and she stopped short. “Maybe there is something you can do…”

“What?” He took a large bite of his croissant as he turned back to her.

“Could I come on the train with you?”

“Yes,” he said, words muffled as he chewed. “Why the sudden urge for a tour of the island?”

“Can I bring friends…” She winced and corrected herself. “Acquaintances.”

“Yeah.” He arched an eyebrow. “Has this got anything to do with that guy who died?”

“I’m not sure I can share that information with you.”

“I promise not to tell anyone… apart from Seren. I can’t not tell Seren.”

“I was chatting with two of the man’s friends yesterday and they’re at a loose end. They can’t leave the islands for a few days and don’t know what to do with themselves. I think I might suggest a train tour.”

“And you need to escort them?”

She smiled lightly. “Maybe I’ll take the opportunity to ask them a few questions.”

“Are you thinking the guy didn’t just fall down the steps?”

Flynn’s words came back to her, suggesting she was just looking for a distraction from her own problems. “I don’t know. I have the urge to dig around a bit, that’s all.”

“I guess it can’t hurt. I might see you later then.” He took a few steps backwards. “Make sure you’re a few minutes early. You’re welcome to a free ride, but I can’t boot people off for you if the train is already full.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Backtracking, she got herself a coffee from the cafe and had a quick chat with Pippa while she was in there. Jessica was just arriving when she reached the ice cream shop.

“How would you feel about me leaving you alone again for a while today?” she asked, opening the door and holding it for Jessica.

“That’s fine.”

“Really?” Lily let the door swing behind her. “If you’re uncomfortable with it, you can say so.”

“I love it,” Jessica said beaming. “I mean, it’s cool when you’re here too, but I really like the feeling that I’m in charge. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

“I’m glad you enjoy it.”

“You can leave me to take care of the place whenever you want. That’s why you hired me, isn’t it?”

Lily nodded. To start with, she’d been thinking about needing help when it was busy, but it felt good not to be tied to the place every minute of the day.

“What have you got planned for today?” Jessica asked.

“Nothing definite yet.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Can you start setting up? I need to make a phone call. I’ll come back and help you after that.”

She wasn’t even in the flat yet when Oscar answered her call. “Are you at the hotel?”

“Yes.”

Letting herself into the flat, she headed for the kitchen. “If I call the front desk, can you be the one to answer the phone?”

“Why?”

“Can you? Are you near the reception?”

“I could, but why?”

“I’ll call in one minute. Just make sure you answer and I’ll explain then.”

It took a minute for her to find the number for the hotel. Oscar answered quickly, his tone suddenly much more formal.

“Hello,” Lily said, stifling a smile. “Friends of mine are currently staying at the hotel and I need to speak to them urgently. Could you please put me through to their room? It’s a Mr and Mrs Hughes. Joyce and Keith.”

“Lily!” Oscar hissed.

“Please. I need to speak to them and I don’t want to trudge all the way up there.”

“What do you want to talk to them about?” he said, his voice a hushed whisper. “You can’t just call and start interrogating them?”

“I’m way more subtle than that. Besides, I saw them yesterday and we chatted so it won’t seem weird. It’s to do with what we talked about. I promise they won’t think it’s odd that I’m calling, and I definitely won’t interrogate them.”

“You’re going to get me into trouble. I need this job.”

“I promise you won’t get into trouble. Please, just do this one thing for me. I’ll owe you a favour, which you can call in at any time.”

He hesitated. “Fine. Hang on. I’ll put you through to their room. I don’t even know if they’re there, though.”

“Thank you,” she said, before a ring tone sounded in her ear. It took a while before the male voice answered with a questioning hello.

“Is that Keith?” Lily asked.

“Yes.”

“This is Lily. We spoke yesterday. I own the ice cream shop.”

“Hi,” he said, a puzzled ring to the lone syllable.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I keep thinking about you and what a difficult time it must be for you and your wife.”

“Thank you,” he muttered.

“I know you said you were feeling a little lost with what to do with yourselves, and I don’t know if this interests you, but I just realised I have free tickets for the tourist train which runs around the island.

It’s one of those things that I always put off doing, what with me living here…

” That was a lie – she’d been on it a few times.

“I wondered if you’d want to go with me.

I hear it’s a lovely trip, and it might be a nice way to take your minds off everything. ”

She gritted her teeth and sank into a chair as she waited for a response.

“That’s very thoughtful. Hang on a second and I’ll see what Joyce thinks.”

Lily listened to his muffled voice as he relayed the invitation to his wife. From what she could make out, Joyce declined, but Keith was pretty firm in coaxing her into it.

“That would be lovely.” His voice came clear in her ear again. “What time is the tour?”

“There’s one in an hour,” she said. “Or one this afternoon.”

After another hushed conversation, they settled on the afternoon trip and arranged to meet at the ice cream shop. It was actually easier to go in the afternoon – it gave Lily time to help Jessica set everything up and make sure everything was under control with the shop.

With an influx of customers over lunchtime, the time went quickly and before she knew it, Lily was standing outside waiting for the Hugheses.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Lily said as they approached in matching waterproof jackets which were unwarranted for the weather.

Unless Lily had missed something and was underdressed in her jeans and T-shirt.

“It was good of you to think of us,” Joyce said, her voice so quiet that Lily had to strain to hear. “I think it’s probably a good idea to get out and do something.”

Keith nodded gravely. “Sitting around the hotel isn’t doing us any good.”

“Would you like an ice cream for the trip?”

They exchanged a look before shaking their heads in unison.

“Maybe afterwards,” Joyce said. “It’s not long since we ate lunch.”

“Let’s get going then.”

When they reached the little electric train at the far end of the promenade, Kit was busy chatting with a family with two excited kids. He gave her a nod of acknowledgement and she took Keith and Joyce to the back of the train, taking the seat behind them and hoping no one took the spot beside her.

“Is it a guided tour?” Joyce asked, twisting to look back at Lily.

“Yes. Kit talks about the history of the islands and points things out along the way. I’ve heard it’s very good.”

“It must be nice to run your own business,” Keith said. “Having the freedom to plan your day is such a luxury.”

“It is,” Lily agreed, thinking how lucky she’d got with the ice cream shop. Her thoughts drifted to Maria and the conversation she needed to have with her.

A moment later, Kit’s voice came over the speaker system on the train, shifting her thoughts back to the present.

For the next half hour, she tried to keep her focus on Kit’s tour. It was slightly difficult when he paused the train to point out the police station and speak about the police force on the Scillies.

Her heart pounded at the thought that Flynn was probably inside the small building and might step out at any moment. Given the way things were between them, she wasn’t keen to see him.

Which also felt weird.

That, and the fact that she knew she’d been unreasonable. She was angry with him for cancelling their date and didn’t know how to be around him now.

Leaving the police station behind, she was lulled by the sound of Kit’s voice as he talked so passionately about the islands.

Listening to his tour felt fresh every time. There was always some new titbit she learned, and a different joke he’d throw into his repertoire. It made sense, she supposed – if he spouted the same script for each trip it would be boring for him as well as the passengers.

“It’s fascinating,” Keith said, turning as Kit slowed the train at the Northern tip of the island for a ten-minute stop for photographs.

A small, appreciative smile hit Joyce’s lips. “I didn’t expect it to be so informative.”

“The view from here is fantastic,” Lily said. “It’s such a clear day today.”

Finally, they ditched their coats, leaving them on the train as they walked with Lily to the headland to take in the view over to Tresco and Bryher.

“It could be the Caribbean, couldn’t it?” Keith said. “It’s so tropical. Look at that water, Joyce. The colour of it is unbelievable.”

“It’s beautiful,” she agreed weakly, but kept her gaze fixed on the ground.

“We should get a photo of us with that view in the background.” Keith held out his phone for Lily. “Would you mind?”

“Not at all.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Joyce croaked out before walking purposefully away from them.

Keith caught Lily’s eye and gave her an apologetic shrug before following his wife.

Hanging back, Lily did her best to appear absorbed with the view while surreptitiously straining to hear their conversation.

“Everything feels wrong,” Joyce said tearfully. “It doesn’t seem fair that we should enjoy this when Joseph can’t. Don’t you feel guilty getting on with life as though nothing happened?”

“There’s not much else we can do but get on with life.”

“I don’t understand you,” Joyce shot at him. “How are you so calm?”

Keith stepped closer to his wife, bowing his head and speaking so close to her ear that Lily had no hope of hearing his words.

“We should have been more supportive of Joseph…” Joyce’s words were difficult to make out and Lily took a subtle step closer to the couple. “…I feel as though we let him down.”

Keith put a hand on her back and led her further away as he whispered to her. With the extra distance between them, Lily gave up on her attempts to eavesdrop.

Instead, she switched to contemplating Joyce’s words, but even with her investigator hat on, nothing seemed suspicious. She sounded genuine in her remorse.

Lost in thought, Lily forgot she was still holding Keith’s phone until it vibrated in her hand. Fighting the urge to look only lasted for a moment, then she discreetly tilted the phone in her hand to view the screen.

A message from Kerry glowed in the centre of the screen.

Good that you managed to get Joyce out of the hotel, hopefully a change of scene will calm her down. Maybe we can even convince her to go along with …

That was all of the message that was displayed on the screen. Curiosity pricked at Lily, but there was nothing she could do to get to the rest of the message.

“Sorry,” Keith said, marching towards Lily, with Joyce’s hand clasped in his.

“It’s okay. I was just enjoying the view.”

“I’m afraid Joyce is struggling. We both are. Losing a close friend so suddenly is a lot to deal with.”

“I can’t imagine how you’re feeling,” Lily said, handing Keith’s phone back. He didn’t check the screen, but slipped it straight into his pocket.

“I’m sorry,” Joyce said to Lily. “I’m afraid I’m not great company.”

“You don’t need to be. I only thought it might take your mind off everything. I’m sorry if it’s too much for you.”

Joyce sighed. “It was a lovely idea. And I think it was good to get out of the hotel for a while.”

“Makes the time go a little quicker if nothing else,” Keith said as they started back towards the train.

When they got close, Lily broke away from them and made a beeline for Kit.

“Am I forgiven?” he asked, leaning casually against the front of the train.

“I suppose.”

He cast a glance in Joyce and Keith’s direction. “Have you found out anything interesting?”

“Not really.”

“That’s probably a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Maybe.” Once again, Lily thought about Flynn’s notion that she was looking for a distraction. “I might be reading too much into things. If you’re looking for something, you tend to find things, but maybe they don’t really mean anything.”

The message she’d read was probably completely innocent.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“No, thanks.” She patted Kit’s arm and wandered back to take her seat.

Maybe instead of involving herself in other people’s business, she should focus on her own problems.