Page 13 of The Sunken Truth (Lily Larkin Mysteries #5)
Chapter Thirteen
Lily had just finished setting up the shop with Jessica when Glynis arrived.
She smiled at the rosy-cheeked octogenarian. “Every time I see you now, you look more like your old self.”
“It’s amazing how long it takes to recover from poisoning at my age,” she said, taking a seat at a table inside the door.
“I’ll try to avoid getting ill again. It’s no fun.
But you’re right, I’m feeling fit again.
The weather helps too, I suppose. Puts a glow on my cheeks and makes it more appealing to be out and about. ”
“I’m glad to see you looking so well,” Lily said. “Can I tempt you to an ice cream?”
“You can indeed. And do you have a few minutes to sit and chat?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll get the ice cream,” Jessica called from behind the counter. “What flavour would you like, Glynis?”
“You choose for me, love. But only a small scoop.”
“Coming up. ”
Lily took the chair opposite Glynis. “I assume you want the latest gossip about the shipwreck?”
“Oh.” Her eyes sparked with surprise. “Go on then!”
“Wasn’t that what you wanted to talk about?” Lily caught the hesitation in Glynis’s features and released a sigh. “Maria’s back, isn’t she?”
“Yes. She arrived back yesterday.” Glynis leaned onto the table. “I feel like a terrible gossip.”
Lily shook her head. “I appreciate you letting me know.”
“I don’t mean now. Before. All the things I told you about Maria. It wasn’t my place. Especially as I don’t even know if the things I told you were true.” She leaned back in her seat when Jessica brought the ice cream.
Lily was grateful that Jessica moved away again immediately, leaving them to talk privately. “I won’t ever tell her what you said to me,” she insisted.
“Even so. I spoke out of turn.”
“It was helpful. And it sparked some memories for me, so I can speak to Maria without dropping you in it. I can question her about what I remember.”
“Is it to do with what I said about her having a relationship with a married man?” she asked. “Do you think he was connected to you?”
Lily nodded.
“Your dad?”
“Maybe,” Lily said, hating the thought of it and desperately wanting it to not be true.
“And you remember some of this?”
“I was the kid on the beach that you saw. I’m certain of it. I remember flying my kite, just like you said.”
“Are you sure the memory is real? Sometimes the mind can play tricks and create memories from something you’ve heard. ”
“I don’t think that’s the case,” Lily said. “When I think about it, it feels as though I’m there.”
“With your dad?”
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 not leaving 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.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Her eyes slid to Flynn. “Wait, is that legal? I probably need to officially employ them, right?”
“You should keep a record of what you pay them, but I don’t think it’s complicated to hire casual staff. Ask your accountant.” He gave a dismissive, one-shouldered shrug. “Anyway, it sounds like Jessica has everything under control. Which leaves you free to come with me.”
“I don’t know.” She was actually desperate to go with him, but she’d also been planning on visiting Maria later. If she was going to skip out on work, it should probably be for that.
“You have to.” Flynn clamped his hands on her shoulders and gave her a playful shake. “You know I’m useless without you.”
“There is that,” she said, amused.
The weight of his hands on her shoulders made the thought of investigating with him even more appealing. Since their chat about keeping their relationship purely platonic, there’d been a distinct lack of physical contact between them. It felt good now. Probably a little too good.
“Okay,” she said. “I’m in.”
“Have fun,” Jessica said. “And don’t rush back on my account. I’m happy to close up if you’re not back. ”
“I’m sure we won’t be that long,” Lily said, then slipped into the back to grab her bag. “Call me if you need me,” she told Jessica before following Flynn out into the bright sunshine.
“First stop eccentric recluse?” Lily asked. “He lives on Bryher, right?”
“Yep.” Flynn’s excitement was almost palpable.
“It’s good to see you so enthusiastic,” she said. “There’s a different energy to you when you have proper policing to do.”
“It’s not just that,” he replied. “This is my chance to prove to the superintendent that I’m good at my job.”
Lily frowned. “You don’t need to turn detective for that. You are good at your job.”
“He doesn’t see that. If I can figure this out, I might win him over. I’m sure the sergeant thinks the same – he specifically asked me to look into this alone. And when the superintendent questioned it, Sergeant Proctor told him I could handle it.”
“Of course you can handle it,” Lily said, then paused. “Does Sergeant Proctor know you were going to get me to tag along?”
“I imagine he knows me well enough to figure that one out.”
Lily grinned and quickened her pace to keep up with Flynn’s excitable tempo.