Page 9 of Death on the Rocks (Lily Larkin Mysteries #1)

Chapter Nine

Lily remained a few metres from the body. Maybe she should be trying to resuscitate him, but her instincts told her it was too late for that. Perhaps she should walk up to the lane and await PC Grainger, but another instinct made her reluctant to leave Vinny alone.

Her eyes fixed on a rock pool to her left where a small fish darted around, oblivious to the tragedy which had occurred so close to it.

She glanced around several times, on the lookout for the police, but when they arrived they did so with such stealth that she only noticed the large, older police officer when he crouched beside Vinny.

His voice seemed to drift straight out to sea and she couldn’t make out the words, nor whether they were directed at her.

The fish caught her eye again and she fixed her gaze on it until it darted under a rock. Pressure on her shoulder made her flinch dramatically and she whipped around to find PC Grainger beside her.

“Sorry,” he said. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Speaking drew attention to the incessant chattering of her teeth, but she couldn’t do anything to stop the tremors in her jaw.

“I didn’t touch him. Maybe I should have.

Should I have done something? CPR or…” She trailed off, unsure what else she might have done and aware of the fact that it made little difference now.

“It’s okay,” he said. “You did the right thing.” His piercing blue eyes held her gaze for a moment before the shout from his colleague drew his attention.

The older man gave a subtle shake of his head. Coupled with his grave expression, it was clear the information he was conveying.

Vinny was definitely dead then. Having it confirmed set Lily’s teeth chattering even more violently. She wrapped her arms around herself as her whole body shivered.

“Looks as though he fell,” the older police officer said as he took a few steps towards them and pointed at the enormous boulder looming close by. “Poor bugger.” His eyes landed on Lily. “I’m sorry,” he said sympathetically.

“I don’t know him,” she said, her words garbled on her shaky voice.

“I mean I’m not with him… not friends with him.

He’s staying at the B&B so I met him. His name’s Vinny.

That’s all I really know. He’s a photographer.

” She stopped, realising she was waffling, providing information that no one had asked for.

“I was out for a jog and just saw him there.”

“You’re staying at the Miller’s place?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you know if he has family or friends with him?”

She shook her head. “He’s with colleagues. They’re here on a job together.”

“Take her up to the house and see that she gets a warm drink,” he said to PC Grainger, who remained solidly by her side. “Take a statement if she’s up to it. You’ll need to break the news to…” He sighed as his gaze shifted over Lily’s shoulder. “Or maybe not.”

Following his gaze, Lily spotted the small crowd which had gathered up on the lane beside the police car and an ambulance which had just pulled up. The Millers stood with Marc and Alanna. A couple of medics spoke to Rodney before setting off across the beach.

“Come on,” PC Grainger said, close to Lily’s ear. “Let’s get you back to the house.”

She flicked her eyes back to Vinny, only moving when PC Grainger gently tugged her elbow.

“Watch your footing,” he said, drawing her attention to the damp rocks, littered with seaweed.

His sturdy black boot landed on a dark green clump – the kind with air pockets, which set off a stutter of popping sounds.

She didn’t know the names of any type of seaweed, it occurred to her. Maybe she’d look it up later.

“Are you cold?” Flynn asked, his bulk close beside her.

“I don’t think so.” She wished her teeth would stop chattering so her voice sounded normal. “I just can’t stop shivering.”

“You had a shock,” he said.

The sound of coughing made her turn back, thinking for a moment they’d been wrong about Vinny, and he was now spluttering back to life and possibly gearing up to have another go at someone.

It was just the other police officer, sounding as though he might cough up a lung.

“Don’t you get used to seeing dead bodies?” she asked, then blinked in surprise as PC Grainger draped his big black coat around her. She hadn’t noticed him removing it, but the warmth was immediately comforting.

“Sadly, yeah.” He glanced over at his colleague.

“Sergeant Proctor has the flu. He’s supposed to be off sick today, but I had to call him in.

I’ve never been so thankful that this wasn’t a prank call.

If I’d have got him out of bed for something that wasn’t life and death, I’d have never heard the end of it. ”

Lily stared at him, waiting for him to register what he’d said. When he didn’t comment further a smile pulled at her lips, and the tremor in her voice had gone when she spoke again. “Did you just say you were happy about the dead body?”

“No.” He cast her a rueful glance. “I’m only happy it’s not my dead body being dealt with today.” He tipped his chin in greeting as the medics passed them, then indicated for Lily to continue with him.

“I take it you’re not a fan of Sergeant Proctor?” she asked.

“Other way around… he’s not a fan of mine. Give him a reason to have a go at me and he’s a happy man.”

The openness of the conversation put Lily at ease. Perhaps he wasn’t being as professional as the situation warranted, but Lily was glad of it. A normal conversation kept her mind from the dead body behind them.

“How many police are on the islands?” she asked.

“Three now, though it’s usually only two. The sergeant and a PC. This is only a temporary position for me.”

“Right.” She thought of the rumour Seren had shared in the pub.

Curious, she opened her mouth to ask why it was a temporary position, but her foot hit a slippery rock and talking shifted down her list of priorities.

Instinct sent her arm shooting out and she had the brief thought that taking PC Grainger down with her wouldn’t make the situation better.

Except his arm was solid when her fingers wrapped around it, and he leaned in to support her with no effort at all.

“Thanks,” she murmured, annoyed that she’d turned into such a stuttering, jelly-legged liability.

“I’m not usually so easily shaken. Though I guess I don’t stumble across dead bodies very often. ”

Her mind took her back to the last time she’d encountered a dead body. Finding her uncle had been a devastating experience, but one she thought she’d dealt with well. With hindsight, she wondered if refusing to think about it was as clever a tactic as she’d thought.

With a long stride, PC Grainger stepped from the rocks to the sand, then held a hand out to help her.

“What on earth has happened?” Mrs Miller asked, approaching them.

Alanna crowded in too. “Is that Vinny out there?”

“Yes,” Lily replied, automatically looking back to where the medics were now deep in conversation with the sergeant.

“Is he okay?” Alanna’s eyes were wide.

“I’m afraid not,” PC Grainger said, his voice soft and full of sympathy.