Page 21 of Dead in the Water (Lily Larkin Mysteries #4)

Chapter Twenty-One

On the daybed at the front of the boat, Kerry lifted her oversized sunhat to peer out at Lily. “It’s all a lot of scaremongering, this nonsense about skin damage. The vitamin D is good for you. And the sun will do far less damage than the chemicals in that sunscreen.”

“I burn easily,” Lily said, continuing to rub lotion into her legs. “And being burnt to a crisp is painful. Also, red isn’t really my colour.”

“You should gradually build a tan,” Kerry said. “That’s the best way. Milk white isn’t your colour either.”

“I’m not milk white.” Maybe she was currently, but that was only a result of being a little too liberal with the sunscreen.

Also, because she was beside Kerry, who was showing off her deep bronze tan in a leopard print swimsuit.

Lily had opted to remain in her shorts and T-shirt, mostly because of Russell and his leery gaze.

“Where are you going?” Kerry sat up and looked questioningly at Vic, who headed towards the galley steps.

“For a nap,” he grumbled. “If that’s all right with you?”

Kerry sighed. “We’ve just dropped anchor. Joyce and Keith are making lunch. Why don’t you wait and eat?”

“Not hungry,” he muttered, then disappeared below with his laptop tucked under his arm.

“He won’t sleep,” Kerry said, settling back down with her hat shielding her eyes. “He’ll be working down there. The man never stops.”

“He’s not retired?” Lily asked.

“In theory,” Kerry said. “He passed the business over to our sons, but he can’t let go of it.

Which is convenient for my lazy children who are happy to act incompetent so Vic continues to do most of the work.

” Her head whipped to Russell who lounged at the side of the boat.

“See if Joyce needs help with the food. I’ve no idea what’s taking her so long. ”

“Here’s a crazy idea,” he drawled. “Why don’t you help her?”

“I’m entertaining our guest.” She waved a hand in Lily’s direction.

“I can see if Joyce needs help,” Lily said, happy to have a reason to escape Kerry for a few minutes.

“Stay where you are,” Kerry barked. “Russell will go.”

Lily was already up and moving. “I need to nip to the toilet, anyway.”

In the galley, a platter of sandwiches sat on the table, but there was no sign of Joyce or Keith. Venturing along the hallway, she reached the toilet door, but paused at the sound of voices. Unable to make out the words, she crept along until she was right outside Joyce and Keith’s door.

“I would just like it if you could stick up for me now and again,” Joyce said. “You watch Kerry boss me around and you do nothing.”

“I keep telling you not to let her boss you around. Of course she continues when you always do what she says. If you’d stand up to her now and again, she’d treat you differently.”

“The last time I tried being assertive you didn’t back me up. It’s made me a little apprehensive.”

“Well, it wasn’t really appropriate for you to suggest we swap cabins with Joseph so soon after Lisa died. Your timing was off, that’s all. You should have waited a while.”

“It’s ridiculous that he had the biggest room for himself while we were cramped in here.”

Lily leaned closer to the door as the voices stopped. It took her a moment to realise it was because Joyce had started crying.

“I can’t believe I’m speaking badly about him when he’s dead,” she said, her voice muffled by her tears.

“But I’ve just been sleeping so badly and I’m not thinking straight.

I know it shouldn’t matter, but you heard Russell at breakfast yesterday, saying he’s going to move into Joseph’s cabin once James clears it out.

” Her voice rose in pitch. “You should have said something yesterday. Nipped the idea in the bud. I can’t believe you just kept quiet. ”

“You didn’t say anything either,” Keith said wearily. “He was only suggesting it, anyway. It wasn’t a firm plan. We can tell Russell he can’t have the cabin if you’re so set on it.”

“I couldn’t say anything yesterday. Everyone would think I was being insensitive again. Kerry and Vic are still annoyed with me for suggesting we swap with Joseph.”

“It’s a hassle to move cabins though,” Keith said. “And we really should try to keep Russell sweet until the yacht is officially his. If he backs out, we’re a bit stuck, aren’t we? Difficult to go off on our trips without someone to skipper the boat.”

“I just wish it could have been Joseph.”

“He didn’t want to travel any more. Besides, it’s better for us financially to have Russell as an owner. You know this.”

“I know,” Joyce said quietly.

Keith’s voice increased in volume, making Lily back away from the door and hurry back to the toilet. She caught sight of Keith stepping into the hall just as she slipped inside.

In front of the mirror, she released a breath and rubbed at a smear of sunscreen on the bridge of her nose.

What had Keith meant about it being a financial benefit for them if Russell bought the boat?

Automatically, she pulled her phone from her pocket.

Flynn had messaged, asking how she was. There was also a message from Kit to say he’d just called into the shop, but Jessica had everything under control and had declined his offer to help.

Quickly, she thanked Kit, then went into the message thread with Flynn.

Her thumb hovered over the keypad.

She wanted to tell him where she was and what she’d learned. But a solid lump of anger wedged itself under her sternum. She put her phone away quickly.

It wasn’t as though she’d ignore him indefinitely, but right now she had enough on her plate.

For the sake of appearances, she flushed the toilet, then ran the water in the sink before stepping back out into the hallway.

In the galley, Keith smiled at her before disappearing outside with a fruit salad.

“Can I help at all?” she asked Joyce.

The mousy woman glanced up from adding cherry tomatoes to the platter of sandwiches. “You could carry the plates up. I’m afraid it’s not a particularly exciting spread, but it’s something to nibble on.”

“It looks great to me,” Lily said, picking up the plates and heading back outside.

The conversation over lunch was mundane.

They talked about the weather and the wildlife – with Keith occasionally spotting some sea bird and then passing around a pair of binoculars.

Only Joyce seemed to share his enthusiasm.

The rest of them dutifully looked, but didn’t put much effort into feigning interest. Kerry even rolled her eyes from time to time.

When they lifted the anchor and set off back to the harbour, Lily looked around the group on deck.

Maybe she was way off the mark in thinking Joseph’s death was anything other than an accident.

It didn’t seem plausible that any of the people sitting in the sunshine with her could have had a hand in it.

The wind picked up and she secured her hair in a ponytail, then tilted her face to the sun and soaked up the tranquillity of her surroundings.

“What time is James arriving?” Kerry asked Joyce loudly, breaking the peace.

Joyce turned her wrist to check her dainty watch. “In about an hour.”

“Are you going to meet him when he lands?” Kerry said.

“No.” Joyce shook her head. “The police sergeant is going to meet him. I think he’s going to take him straight over to see Joseph’s body.”

A hush fell over them and Lily stared at the harbour as it came into view.

“Did you remember to reserve a place for James at dinner tonight?” Joyce said, looking at Kerry.

“I thought you were making the reservation,” Kerry replied. “Also, didn’t James say he wouldn’t eat with us?”

“He might change his mind.” Joyce shifted in her seat. “You didn’t make the reservation?”

“I’ll do it when we get back to the hotel,” Kerry said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It’s fine.”

“I already did it.” Russell momentarily looked over his shoulder at them. “I assumed Kerry would forget.”

Kerry’s amused smile suggested she wasn’t offended by the remark. “We should have asked Lily for advice about somewhere different to eat. Dining at the hotel is getting a little dull.”

“I’m probably not the best person to ask,” Lily said. “The pubs serve good food, but other than that, I don’t eat out much. I had lunch at the hotel once, in the conservatory restaurant. That was nice. I’ve never eaten in the hotel’s main dining room, though I’ve heard good things about it.”

“That’s where we’re eating tonight,” Russell called over his shoulder. “You should join us. I guess we’ll have an extra place if James isn’t coming.”

Joyce shuffled in her seat again. “He might change his mind and want to join us.”

“Doubt it,” Vic said. “He’s a quiet lad at the best of times. I can’t imagine him wanting to go out to dinner after viewing his dad’s body.”

“I’ll ask him all the same,” Joyce said.

“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” Lily said, though she’d actually like to meet James.

Keith’s eyes slid to Lily. “James might like to meet you,” he said slowly. “You did speak to Joseph right before he died.”

“Did you?” Kerry jumped in.

Lily nodded. “Just briefly. He was watching the sunset outside the ice cream shop.”

“Oh.” She pulled her chin in, looking a little put out.

“Come for dinner,” Russell boomed, slowing the boat as they entered the harbour.

Lily did a quick sweep to gauge reactions, but as far as she could tell no one seemed openly against it.

She nodded. “If you’re sure that’s okay.”

With a few murmurs of agreement, they settled her evening plans.