Page 29 of Dead in the Water (Lily Larkin Mysteries #4)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lily wasn’t surprised to see Glynis walk into the shop in the middle of the afternoon.

What surprised her was the anger that bubbled up in her.

With all her investigating, she’d put her conversation with Maria out of her mind, but now it came back to her in a rush – along with the notion that Glynis had known all along that the owner of the shop was living under her roof.

“I came yesterday.” The small smile did nothing to disguise the guilt in Glynis’s eyes. “Jessica said you were out somewhere.”

Lily nodded. “I had a few things to do.”

“Jessica seemed to have everything under control. It’s good that you have some help around here.”

“She’s great,” Lily said with a forced smile.

Glynis dropped her voice to a whisper. “You’re upset with me, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” There didn’t seem to be any point in denying it.

“Can we talk for a minute?” Glynis asked, tipping her head towards a lone table at the side of the room.

With a resigned sigh, Lily led the way.

“You knew all along, didn’t you?” she asked, when they were seated opposite each other. “You knew Maria owned the shop and you kept it from me. Even when I asked you outright if you knew anything about the owner.”

“I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, but it wasn’t my secret to tell.”

“Didn’t you feel bad spending so much time here? Or did you only come here to spy on me and report back to Maria?”

“Absolutely not. To start with, I was just intrigued to meet you, but then…” She reached over and placed her hand over Lily’s. “I’m very fond of you, and Flynn too.”

A lump formed in Lily’s throat at the sound of her name and Flynn’s so casually put together.

“And if I ever reported back to Maria it was because I was trying to convince her to introduce herself to you. I thought if I told her things about the shop, she might get curious enough to make herself known to you.”

“She doesn’t seem at all interested in the shop,” Lily said.

“No.” Glynis squeezed Lily’s hand and released it. “It’s a shame. I thought she’d come around eventually. I can’t figure out if she’s worried about it being stressful to be involved in running a business, or if she doesn’t want to be reminded of the past. She won’t speak about it much.”

Lily inhaled through her nose. “I thought she might have known my parents, but she says she doesn’t.”

“I’m sorry you were disappointed when you spoke to her,” Glynis said. “And I really hope you’ll forgive me for keeping quiet.”

“I’m sure I’ll get over it.” It was the best Lily could manage, and it was the truth. The reason she felt so betrayed was because she was so fond of Glynis. Which also meant she was unlikely to hold a grudge for long.

“I saw Flynn earlier,” Glynis said.

Curiosity sparked in Lily. “Did you?”

“Just walking up from the harbour. He seemed a little out of sorts. Especially when I mentioned you confronting Maria about the shop.”

“I hadn’t told him,” Lily said, chewing on her bottom lip.

“I gathered that. He implied that you and he had had a falling out of some sort.”

Lily scrunched her nose. “Did you say he was at the harbour?”

“Walking back from there, yes.”

“Was he working?”

“He was in uniform. Why?”

“I just wonder why he was at the harbour. Was it something to do with the man who died?”

“I’ve no idea.”

“Where was Flynn going when he left you?”

Glynis blinked slowly. “He didn’t say.”

“Back to the station?”

“He didn’t look as though he was going in that direction, but I really couldn’t say. Why don’t you call him and find out his whereabouts for yourself?”

“I can’t,” Lily uttered.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m angry with him.”

“Talk to him. I’m sure you can sort things out if you just chat everything through and are honest with each other about your feelings.”

“I was,” Lily practically growled. “I told him I wanted to go on a proper date.”

Glynis’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh.”

“Yeah. He stood me up and doesn’t want to rearrange. He only wants to be friends.” She jutted her chin out. “Do you have any handy advice for me now?”

“I don’t.” Her forehead tightened in a frown. “I’d probably continue being angry if I were you. In fact, I’m angry now too.”

Lily released a breath. “Do you want an ice cream?”

“I’m still being careful with what I eat. Nothing too rich.” She stood and wrapped Lily in a hug. “I’m sorry again about Maria.”

“It’s okay,” Lily said, her annoyance at Glynis dissipating quickly. “Are you feeling better?”

“I’m a little stronger every day.”

“That’s good to hear.” Lily walked her to the door and stepped out into the sunshine with her.

She stayed there as Glynis ambled away, basking in the warm rays and fixing her attention to the beach where families played on the sand. A boy and his dad threw a frisbee between them and the simple joy on the boy’s face was infectious.

“You’re looking cheerful!”

The voice drew Lily’s gaze to Seren, striding towards her.

“Just enjoying the sunshine.” Her smile faltered. “I have a bone to pick with you.”

Seren winced. “What have I done now?”

“Flynn was lurking outside my place when I got home from dinner last night.”

Surprise flashed in Seren’s eyes. “I told him to give you space. He promised he only wanted to know you were okay.”

Lily glanced into the shop, eyes landing on Jessica chatting with a family at the counter. Then she tipped her head and wandered towards the beach with Seren.

“I should have known you were asking where I was for him. I’d been ignoring his calls and messages.”

“And I should have known he would have ignored me and gone to track you down.”

“It’s okay.” Lily paused to remove her shoes and socks when Seren slipped her sandals off. “I’m not actually annoyed with you. We can both be annoyed at Flynn instead.”

Seren gave a non-committal grunt. “I’m struggling to be annoyed with him in this instance.”

Lily cast Seren a sidelong glance – an action that sent strands of hair whipping across her face as the wind caught it. “I thought you’d told him to give me space. I assume you hadn’t intended him to track me down when you told him where I was?”

“No, but it’s also hard to be angry with him about it.”

“Why?”

Seren slowed her steps. “He was really concerned about you last night. It totally freaked him out, not knowing where you were and if you were okay?”

“I’m an adult. There wasn’t any need for him to worry just because I ignored his calls for a day.”

A rumble of laughter erupted from Seren. “That may be true for most adults, but you going off radar is definitely cause for concern. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but you’re pretty good at getting yourself into dubious situations.”

“Yeah, okay, maybe. But it’s not like it’s dangerous or anything.”

“Not so far. But you can see why Flynn would worry.” Seren stopped and turned to Lily. “He was so worried.”

Lily glanced up and down the beach, focusing for a moment on the salty air. “I should probably have just messaged him and told him I was okay, but I was annoyed with him.”

“I think you have every right to be annoyed with him,” Seren said as they set off back the way they’d come.

“But after seeing him last night, I really don’t think he called off your date because he doesn’t have feelings for you.

I think the guy is genuinely terrified of getting his heart broken by you. ”

Lily shifted her shoes from one hand to the other. She’d said the same to Flynn – that he was a coward.

“I feel the same,” she said eventually. “And I think he made things easier for me when he cancelled our date.”

“How so?”

“It’s easier to be angry with him than to think about him leaving. I don’t want to think about that.”

“Because you’re terrified too?”

Lily nodded. “I feel sick whenever I think about it. So I just avoid thinking about it.”

“Maybe he’ll decide to extend his stay here,” Seren said eagerly. “I’d actually be amazed if he doesn’t. He probably just needs a bit of time to make that decision. I guess it’s a big deal for him career-wise.”

“Can we change the subject, please?” It really was making her feel queasy. “How come you’re not at work?”

“Because once or twice a week I get a day off,” she said mockingly. “Today is one of them.”

“Got anything nice planned?”

“We’re having dinner with Mirren later. That’s about it.” She dropped her sandals at the top of the beach and pushed her feet back into them. “How was your sailing trip yesterday, by the way?”

“Fine.”

“You didn’t find out anything interesting about the friends of the dead guy?”

“I found out some interesting stuff, but I’m not sure any of it is relevant to Joseph’s death.

” She took a seat outside the shop and brushed the sand from her feet.

“There is something that I can’t work out…

can you think of a reason it would be financially beneficial for the rest of them to sell Joseph’s share in the boat? ”

“I don’t think so. Unless they were selling part of their share in it, too.”

Lily shook her head. “I don’t think that’s the case. And from what I can gather, the guy who wants to buy the boat was trying to buy it for less than it’s worth. Could that benefit the others?”

“I can’t see how.”

“It’s probably nothing,” Lily said, putting her socks on.

“And they’re leaving tomorrow, so I guess I won’t find out anything else.

” She pushed her feet into her shoes. “There’s also a possibility I was only looking into it as a distraction from all this stuff with Flynn.

” An image of Joseph came into her head.

“No, it wasn’t only that,” she said, correcting herself.

“He was a nice guy, and I just wanted to be sure there was nothing more to his death.”

“And?” Seren said, taking a seat too. “You’re sure it was an accident?”

“I guess we can’t ever be sure,” she replied, while probing her insides for her gut reaction. “I wish I’d spoken to Joseph’s son. That was mostly why I went for dinner with them last night. I thought I might get to meet him.”

“Has he left again already?”

“No, but I also don’t want to thrust myself on him.”

“That’s not like you,” Seren said.

Lily rolled her eyes, but her voice was serious when she spoke. “I was actually desperate to speak to him, but if it turns out that Joseph’s death was just an accident, then suggesting otherwise with no evidence would be incredibly insensitive.”

“I was only teasing.” Seren gave Lily’s arm a squeeze. “Of course you don’t want to cause him any unnecessary upset.”

“I wish there was a way I could speak to him though.” She genuinely couldn’t think of a way to approach him which wouldn’t seem intrusive. A shadow fell over them, breaking her from her thoughts. She looked up at Sean. “You’re exceptionally good at sneaking up on people.”

“I can’t help it.” His smile was part smirk. “Next to two beauties like you, I’m practically invisible, I’m sure.”

“You need to update your chat up lines,” Seren said. “I swear you’ve been using the same ones since we were fourteen.”

“Do you know each other?” Lily asked.

Seren nodded. “We went to school together.”

“I’ve got something for you,” he told Lily, then drew his hand from behind his back to produce a bottle of wine.

“Thanks,” she said, a quizzical lilt to her voice.

“At three hundred quid for the bottle you may want to save it for a special occasion.”

“No!” Lily’s eyes widened. “Did you steal this?”

“You drank it last night, remember?”

“Except I didn’t.” She stared at him. “Why did you put such expensive wine on the bill?”

“It’s what he’d been ordering during his stay. He expected me to give you that.”

“What were you actually drinking?” Seren asked, peering at the bottle when he set it on the table.

“Non-alcoholic wine. I wanted to stay sober while Russell got drunk.”

“You’re sneaky,” Seren said. “I like it.”

“Thanks again for walking me home,” Lily said to Sean.

“No worries.” His eyes sparkled as his lips stretched into a smile. “You do owe me a drink, though, remember?”

She twisted her lips, then reached for the bottle on the table and held it out to him. “There you go.”

“No!” Seren hissed. “That’s a crazy expensive bottle of wine.”

“Save it for a special occasion,” Lily said to Sean.

“Not sure when I’ll have one of those.” His lips twitched at the corners. “Although, if someone as lovely as you would agree to go on a date with me, I’d call that a special occasion.”

“I’d call it a miracle,” Seren muttered.

Lily frowned, taken aback.

“Come on,” Sean coaxed. “We’d have fun.”

“You’re asking me on a date?”

“Yeah. I think we have chemistry.”

“Oh.” Lily didn’t dare catch Seren’s eye. “I’m flattered, but I’m not dating at the moment.”

“Seeing someone?”

Her stomach dropped. “No, but … it’s complicated.”

“Got it.” He pointed a finger at her and held her gaze. “If it’s ever not complicated, just let me know.”

“I will.”

He set the wine back down. “You should keep that.”

“Thanks,” she said as he backed away.

“That was interesting,” Seren said once he was out of earshot.

“He’s not the friend you’ve been wanting to set me up with, is he?”

“No.” She grimaced. “Give me more credit than that.”

“Sean seems okay.”

“He’s a good guy at heart, I guess. But he’s kind of an acquired taste.” Seren lifted her face to the sun. “So what’s your next move with the yacht people? Will you track down the guy’s son?”

“And say what?”

“I don’t know. Just do your investigating thing…”

“I think I’ve hit a dead end with this one.” Lily stood and glanced inside. “Besides, Jessica is probably sick of me dashing off and leaving her alone.”

“That’s what you’re paying her for.” Seren stood too. “Don’t forget your wine.”

“Do you want it?”

“It’d be wasted on me.” She put it in Lily’s hand.

“Me too. I’m more likely to drown my sorrows with it than save it for a special occasion.”

“At least you’ll be drowning your sorrows in style.” Seren smiled and called goodbye as she wandered away.

Looking down at the bottle, Lily felt an overwhelming surge of self-pity. What with the situation with Flynn, and the disappointing conversation with Maria, things definitely hadn’t been going her way recently.

There was also her fruitless investigation.

She had no shortage of reasons to drown her sorrows.