Page 43 of Death on the Rocks (Lily Larkin Mysteries #1)
Chapter Forty-Three
It occurred to Lily that PC Grainger had meant it in an official sense when he’d said he’d call her. Really, he’d probably meant that someone would be in touch – not necessarily him, and not necessarily soon. That didn’t stop her from checking her phone regularly over the course of the day.
Over lunch in the pub she’d told Seren and Kit – and a few others – about the events of the morning. When Kit had to get to work, he insisted on taking Lily with him.
She felt like a VIP sitting at the front of the electric train with him.
His charisma, combined with his extensive knowledge of the islands, turned what she expected to be a cute tour of the island into a riveting hour that went by in a blink.
It was a testament to how excellent he was at his job that he could keep Lily’s attention so effortlessly given all that was going on in her head.
“That was exactly what I needed today,” she said at the end of the tour. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He hopped out of the train, then turned back to her. “By the way, was my mum useful with her information about the owner of the ice cream shop?”
“She remembered the name of the owner so that was really helpful.”
His smile was full of warmth. “So you found what you were looking for?”
“I don’t know.” She pressed her lips together. “I’m not sure what I was looking for. And I’m not convinced there was anything to be found.” But maybe that was exactly the answer she needed so she could start making plans for her future.
A small boy appeared beside Kit’s legs, interrupting them. “Can you make me a balloon animal?” he asked. Kit had promised them to anyone who wanted one at the end of the tour.
“What’s your favourite animal?” Kit asked.
“A sloth.”
Kit smiled lightly. “Do they look anything like giraffes?”
“No,” the boy said.
“How about if you squint? I’ll bet they look like giraffes then.”
The boy stared up at Kit. “I don’t think so.”
“I’ll leave you to it,” Lily said, exiting the train and walking around the front of it. “Thanks again for the ride, and for lunch… and everything.”
“I should thank you,” he said. “For keeping us all safe with your detective work.”
“I didn’t really do anything.”
“Are you kidding? Marc would have got away scot-free if it weren’t for you. You were amazing.”
“Thank you,” she said, despite feeling that he was giving her too much credit.
In a display of affection that she was getting used to, he opened his arms and wrapped her in a hug. Not the perfunctory kind, but a tight embrace that felt as though he was in no rush at all, despite the queue of children that had gathered behind him.
When they broke apart, Lily felt a hollowness in her stomach.
She barely knew Kit, so she knew it wasn’t really saying goodbye to him that was the issue.
It was that she suddenly felt her life was full of goodbyes and she was sick of it.
Tomorrow she had to go back to her cold, empty flat and her empty life. The thought filled her with dread.
“If you can’t make a sloth,” the boy said loudly, “can you make a hermit crab? I really like them too.”
Kit grimaced in Lily’s direction. “I reckon I can make a sloth after all.” He flashed Lily a wink and pulled a long yellow balloon from a container in the train.
Smiling, Lily backed away. Once again, she checked her phone, but there was still nothing from PC Grainger. With nothing else to do, she headed back to the bed and breakfast, feeling suddenly exhausted.