Page 35 of Death on the Rocks (Lily Larkin Mysteries #1)

Chapter Thirty-Five

THURSDAY

Once again, Lily skipped Mrs Miller’s breakfast. She’d woken with no appetite and felt utterly flat. The temptation to remain in the bed's warmth was hard to resist, but she forced herself up. Movement would make her feel better. Or so she hoped.

With the house filled with the bustle of everyone getting ready to leave, she ventured out for fresh air. Crossing the quiet lane, she looked out over the beach. Bathed in sunshine, the stretch of sand was bright white and the water beyond glimmered gloriously.

Even the stunning view did nothing to stir Lily’s mood, or lift the tiredness she felt deep in her bones.

Every night she seemed to sleep worse and worse, and she knew that the lack of rest was affecting her ability to think straight.

Perhaps that was why she kept getting swept up in her wild goose chases.

On the path that hugged the top of the beach, she made her way up the steady incline until she reached the clifftop.

Cautiously, she made her way towards the edge, stopping before she got too close.

Even with a few metres between her and the ledge she felt a queasiness at the thought of falling.

It was hard to imagine anyone wanting to get any closer.

Vinny must have done, though. She took another tiny step, imagining him in his last moments.

He’d been here. Right where she was. Another few steps and his life had been snuffed out.

Just like that. Her heart beat faster as she took another step and then one more.

Her head spun and every instinct told her to retreat as she jutted out her chin, then stretched her spine to peer over the edge.

In her mind’s eye, she imagined him taking one last step. Just one misstep and it was all over. He’d have dropped straight down the bare rock face.

Lily’s brain even conjured the thud of a body hitting the rocks after the short plummet.

With a quick intake of breath, she stumbled backwards and out of harm’s way. But her heart wouldn’t settle and her mind was reeling. She let out a curse and the sound of her own voice seemed to startle her into action.

Something didn’t make sense.

She wasn’t sure, though. She needed to check from a different angle. Her legs had already burst into a jog.

A couple of minutes later, she was back on the beach and running across it to reach the rocks at the base of the cliff. Pausing, she tried her best to approach in the same way she’d done when she’d found his body.

Because she needed to remember exactly where he’d been.

It took her a few minutes of studying the rocks, waiting for her memory to stir. But then she was there, in the exact spot she’d been when PC Grainger had arrived, looking at the exact spot where Vinny’s body had lain.

The scene was tranquil now, with no sign of what had happened less than a week ago.

It was all still there in Lily’s head, though.

There for her to study and analyse until she was certain she had everything straight.