Page 28 of The Sunken Truth

Lily tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling for a moment. That was the part she couldn’t swear to. When she thought about it, she had a feeling it was her dad, but in her memory she couldn’t see him. Just had a notion he was there beside her.

“I think so,” she finally said.

There were other memories, too. Just snatches of moments – but she was certain she’d been there as a child, staying with Maria in the flat above the shop.

The only way she’d know for sure was to ask Maria. Not that she was expecting her to be overly forthright – she hadn’t been so far. But maybe now that Lily had more to go on, she might tease something out of her. Or at least glean something from her reaction.

“Anyway, what’s this about the shipwreck?” Glynis asked. “Have you been out to see it?”

“Yes. Yesterday and today. I dived down to it.”

“Tell me all about it,” Glynis said eagerly. “I hear it’s haunted!”

Lily laughed, then launched into a full account of her dives, including the drama from that morning.

“Another mystery for you to investigate,” Glynis said, when Lily told her about the cut air hose.

“I don’t think so.” Lily chuckled. “I’m keeping out of this one. I am glad there were no casualties this morning, though. It was a little nerve racking.”

“People are funny, aren’t they?” Glynis mused. “Talk of gold and treasure and suddenly they’re all pirates!”

An hour later, Lily was serving ice creams to a mother with three children and looked up to see Flynn walking into the shop with a spring in his step and a sparkle in his eyes.

“What are you so happy about?” she asked him once she handed over the change.

“Life,” he replied with a twitch of an eyebrow. “How do you feel about joining me on a little mission?”

“What kind of mission?” She moved away from the counter, leaving Jessica to serve the next customer.

“An investigative one. What else?” Flynn took her elbow and steered her into the back room. “The sergeant wants me to question that Eustace guy who claims he’s connected to the captain of the shipwreck. Then I need to see if I can figure out who cut Ryan’s air hose.” He beamed at Lily. “I need you to come and help me.”

“I can’t,” she said, glancing around him into the shop. “It’s busy.”

“Come on!” he coaxed. “Don’t tell me you’re not intrigued by all of this?”

“I am, but I can’t just drop everything and leave Jessica alone when the shop is busy.”

“She won’t mind.”

“Maybe I can join you later, when things have quietened down here.”

“Just ask Jessica,” he said. “Please! I need you.”

“No, you don’t. You can question people alone.”

“But it’s more fun with you.” He ducked back out into the shop and rounded on Jessica. “You don’t mind if I steal your boss for a while, do you?”

“Not at all,” she replied immediately. “Are you off for another diving trip?”

“No,” Lily said, glaring at Flynn. “And I’m notleaving you alone when the weather is so nice and the shop will be busy all day.”

“I’m fine,” Jessica said. “I can message Rhys and tell him to come and help me. He helped me the other week when it was busy.” She grimaced. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want you to think I can’t manage and never leave me alone again.”

“I don’t mind you asking Rhys to help, or one of your other friends. You just need to tell me so I can pay them.”