Page 5 of Death on the Rocks (Lily Larkin Mysteries #1)

Chapter Five

In three strides, Lily crossed the room and yanked the door open, putting an end to the banging.

“What are you doing?” she asked, glaring at Vinny.

His cheek twitched and he looked slightly disconcerted, as though he’d expected her to be intimidated. “Have you seen my camera? Someone stole it.”

“Maybe you’ve just misplaced it,” she suggested.

“It’s a bloody big camera. It’d be hard not to spot, and we’ve looked everywhere.”

“I haven’t seen it,” she said. “But I’ll keep an eye out.”

He stuck his arm out, blocking her attempt to close the door. “If you don’t know anything about it, you won’t mind me taking a quick look around in here.” It wasn’t a question and he didn’t wait for a response as he barged past her.

It took a moment for Lily to find words, but when she did, they were slow and full of venom. “You need to get out, right now.”

“After I’ve had a quick check.” He went to her open suitcase and rummaged through it, slinging a few items of clothing around as he did.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Lily shouted. “Get out of my stuff and out of the room.”

“I need the camera.” Like a man possessed, he flung open the wardrobe doors, only to find it empty.

When he moved to the desk and pulled out one drawer after another, Lily’s anger levels went through the roof, then spiked when his eyes landed on the photo in the centre of the desk. “Cute picture,” he drawled menacingly.

“If you touch anything else in here, I’ll break your arm.” He’d crossed a line the moment he’d entered her room and she’d struggle to control her rage for much longer.

His grin was of the taunting variety as his hand moved purposefully to the photo. Slowly, he held it up in front of him. “What were you going to break? My arm, was it?”

Lowering her gaze, she shook her head. She caught his cocky expression in the second before she lunged at him.

The photo fluttered to the floor when she grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm behind his back. He yelped like a puppy who’d had their tail stepped on.

If she twisted any further, she’d no doubt hear the crack of bone or tendons or both.

“I told you not to touch my stuff,” she whispered in his ear before releasing him with a shove.

He clutched his arm to his chest.

“Is everything all right in here?”

Lily’s gaze snapped to the door and the police officer, who was taller up close.

“I heard raised voices,” he said, with a subtle tilt of the head.

“That psychopath just attacked me.” Vinny pointed at Lily – an unnecessary gesture since there was no one else around. “Almost snapped my arm. You need to arrest her.”

The officer looked bored. “So you don’t want to report your stolen camera but you’d like to press charges for assault?”

“Yes. I bloody would.”

“You’re claiming she assaulted you?” His gaze travelled over Lily and she forced herself not to fidget under the scrutiny of his bright blue eyes.

“You must have seen her,” Vinny snapped.

“Me?” He blew out a breath. “I just heard shouting and came to investigate. I’m happy to take a statement, though.”

Lily opened her mouth to object, but he spoke over her.

“Firstly, I need to know whose room this is.” His features were neutral as he looked at Lily and then at Vinny.

“It’s my room,” Lily stated. “And he––”

The officer cut her off. “So she invited you in here?” he asked Vinny.

“Well, I… um…” Vinny’s cheeks flushed a deep red. “I wanted to look for my camera,” he spluttered.

The officer’s eyes narrowed as he looked questioningly at Lily. “I didn’t catch your name…”

“Lily,” she told him. “Lily Larkin.”

“Lily said that was okay?” he went on, his gaze back to Vinny. “She agreed you could come in here and look for your camera?”

While Vinny did a perfect goldfish impression, Lily suppressed a grin.

The police officer gave a subtle shrug. “Because if you entered her room without permission, I’m not sure your accusation of assault is going to hold up. Especially as it’s going to be your word against Lily’s.”

“You must have seen her?” he said, a definite edge of panic in his voice.

“I didn’t see anything. I just heard shouting and came up here to find you uninvited in this woman’s room. Now, I’m wondering if Lily would like to make a complaint about you…” His gaze slid to her.

“I just want him out of my room,” she said.

“I’m going,” Vinny huffed.

The officer stood aside, then watched Vinny cross the landing.

“Thank you,” Lily said.

Again, the officer shrugged, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

It wasn’t just that he looked bored by his job, Lily realised. He looked like someone who was bored by life. Like he was going through the motions without taking any real interest in anything.

“Does this work?” he asked, tapping the lock on her door.

“Yeah.”

“Make sure you use it. And if he gives you any more trouble, call the station.” He pulled a card from one of many pockets in his black stab vest.

Taking it, she looked for his name, but it only contained the address and phone number for the Isles of Scilly police station. “Thanks… officer…?”

“It’s PC.” His small smile brightened his features. “Flynn Grainger.”