Page 14 of The Sunken Truth (Lily Larkin Mysteries #5)

Chapter Fourteen

They timed it perfectly and arrived at the harbour to get straight on one of the inter-island ferries heading to Bryher.

From the small jetty at Church Quay, they set off walking to their destination on the northern part of the peaceful island.

Without a lot of chatter, they kept a steady pace on the narrow path that wound past stone-walled cottages.

The brisk sea breeze picked up on the track northward, carrying the scent of wildflowers that tickled Lily’s nostrils and made her sneeze a couple of times.

Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades and she cast the odd glance at Flynn, but there were no visible signs of the heat getting to him, despite his uniform.

“I think that’s the place,” he said, breaking the silence as they crested a low hill.

“Wow,” Lily whispered on an exhale.

Nestled among bracken and lonely pines, the large granite house loomed on the cliffs where the land met the sea in a glorious standoff.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a house more suited to an elderly recluse,” Flynn said, a flicker of a smile hitting his lips as they continued towards the unkempt property.

The roof was a patchwork of older and newer slate, and a thick tangle of ivy clung to one side of the house. Way above, a weather vane swayed on the chimney stack – shaped like a regal sailing ship and rusted with age.

Lily hummed thoughtfully. “It would also be suited to a horror film. Imagine it in the dark… or in a storm.”

“True,” Flynn agreed. “It has creepy vibes. Let’s see what the owner’s like.”

The chime of the doorbell was a drawn-out tinny melody that added to Lily’s notion that it was straight out of a scary film.

“This is getting creepier by the second,” she remarked, then stepped back to look up at the shuttered windows on the first floor. “Is this why you were so desperate for me to come with you – were you scared to come alone?”

In response, Flynn gave her a nudge, then straightened his spine when the door opened.

“Can I help you?”

If the tall man with bushy grey hair really was in his nineties, Lily would start to think the water on the Scillies was drugged with some anti-aging potion.

“Hi,” Flynn said. “I’m PC Grainger. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions. I’m assuming you’re Eustace Tremayne?”

“That’s me.” His eyes slid to Lily. “Are you one of those women police constables?”

“No,” she said, fighting a grin. “I own an ice cream shop.”

He tugged at the collar of his green corduroy shirt. “There used to be an ice cream shop on the promenade in Hugh Town. Lovely little place.”

“That’s my place now,” Lily said. “I reopened it. ”

“Marvellous.” His bushy grey eyebrows shifted upwards. “A seaside town needs an ice cream shop. I don’t know how it survived so long without one.”

“Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?” Flynn said again.

“Not at all. Happy to answer anything I can. What would you like to know?”

“It’s regarding the shipwreck which has been discovered at Bishop Rock Lighthouse…”

“Ah, yes. Grandpa’s ship. Wonderful man. One minor slip in judgement, but he made up for it in the years afterwards.”

Flynn jutted his chin out. “Excuse me?”

“The smuggling business. He was as straight as an arrow until then, but you know how it is… a few financial problems and he tried to take what he thought was the easy way out. He learned his lesson.” Eustace nodded incessantly. “Passed all his lessons on to me, too.”

“So you actually knew him?” Lily asked. “He was your grandfather? I thought maybe he was a more distant relative…”

“No, no. He was my father’s father. He died when I was a teenager, but he raised me until then – him and my dear grandmother. They left me this place.” He cast his eyes upwards to indicate the house.

Flynn looked about as taken aback by the information as Lily. “That’s fascinating. But I specifically wanted to talk to you about a few concerns we have. We’ve been informed that you have offered cash to anyone who brings you gold from the shipwreck.”

“Oh, why didn’t you say so! Come on in.” He beckoned them with an enthusiastic hand gesture, then turned and hurried along the hall .

After exchanging a bemused look, Flynn held out his hand for Lily to go first.

“How gallant.” She shot him a teasing smile. “Letting me go first into the creepy old house with the odd-ball old man.”

Flynn chuckled lightly as he followed her along the gloomy hallway.

“In here!” Eustace called, beckoning them into an old-fashioned country kitchen. He stood holding an envelope. “What have you got for me? Show me what you found.”

Lily’s eyes bulged as he pulled a hefty wad of notes from the envelope. “I did promise ten thousand for the gold, but if you think I’m being cheap, I’ll throw in a little more.”

“We don’t have anything for you,” Flynn said. “I’m here to tell you that you can’t offer people money for the goods on the boat.”

“I think you’ll find that according to maritime law, the goods on the boat were the legal property of one Captain William Tremayne.

As his closest descendant and heir to his estate, that property would now fall to me.

” He raised a hand. “I know what you’re going to say…

that he wasn’t the legal owner of illegally smuggled gold.

You’d be right, of course. Which is why I intend to turn the gold in to the proper authorities. ”

“I don’t understand,” Lily said. “You want it brought to you, so you can hand it in and claim the reward money?”

“No. I don’t give two hoots about the money, as I told the divers I spoke to.

If reward money comes through they can have that too.

What I want is to be listed as the finder.

The Tremayne name should continue to be attached to anything that’s written about the Isles Fortune in the history books… and in the museums.”

“Right.” Flynn pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, do you actually believe there’s gold down there? ”

“I know there is. And I can tell you how it came to be there…” He clapped his hands together.

“First, I’ll make a pot of tea. Why don’t you go through to the sitting room.

The fire is on in there. Warm yourselves and then I’ll tell you the whole tale over a cuppa.

” He pointed to a door at the end of the kitchen and Lily trailed Flynn through.

“Why does he have a fire burning when it’s twenty-something degrees out?” she asked in a hushed whisper.

“Because he’s completely off his rocker, that’s why. I can’t believe we’re having a serious conversation about smuggled gold.”

“It’s kind of cool.” Lily dropped into a wingback armchair and immediately felt lost in it, so switched to sit on the couch beside Flynn. “I can only hope that the next part of the story involves pirates.”

Flynn lowered his head to his hands. “Please don’t joke. It wouldn’t actually surprise me. How long do you think this swashbuckling sea adventure is going to take?”

“I think he’s quite a sweet old man,” Lily said. “Old people are entertaining.”

Flynn rolled his eyes.

The grandfather clock in the corner of the room ticked loudly while they waited for Eustace to join them. When he did, it was with a tray holding a dainty tea set and a plate of biscuits.

“Where was I?” he asked, pouring the tea with steady hands.

“I think you were going to tell us about the gold,” Lily prompted when he passed her a cup and saucer.

“Ah, yes. Unfortunately Grandfather got himself in a bit of trouble. He generally transported silks and other material. But during the Boer War down in South Africa – you’ll know about that, I assume? ”

Lily inwardly grimaced. Presumably her education in a string of international schools had been different to Flynn’s, so maybe he knew about it, but she had no idea. If she asked for a history lesson, they may be there all day. Instead, she gave a small nod. Flynn did the same.

“The discovery of gold down there caused a lot of problems,” he said gravely. “Man tends to succumb to greed, doesn’t he? We see it repeatedly in history books. Anyway, I’m afraid my grandfather was having some financial difficulties and decided to do something immoral…”

“And illegal?” Flynn said quietly.

“Yes, yes, I suppose.” Eustace sat back in the armchair, his cup and saucer balanced on the arm. “Anyway, it didn’t do him any good in the end. Made it all the way back here, only to sail into a storm on the last stretch.”

“The boat sank in the storm,” Lily murmured.

Eustace lifted the cup to his lips. “And the gold with it,” he said before taking a sip.

“Were there any casualties?” Flynn asked, reaching for a biscuit.

“Thankfully, no. Everyone on board made it into the lifeboat.”

Lily frowned. “Did any of them take any gold with them?”

Maybe it was just her, but she imagined that if it looked as though the ship was going to sink, she’d probably grab a handful of gold on her way out.

“In the chaos, they were only concerned with getting out alive.”

“You’d think the gold could have been salvaged later,” Flynn said. “If everyone knew about the gold, why didn’t they go looking for it afterwards?”

“That’s the thing,” Eustace said. “Officially, the ship was carrying silk. Grandfather couldn’t exactly announce his true cargo, what with it being immoral…”

“And illegal,” Flynn added again, then grimaced as he took a bite of the chocolate digestive.

“Yes, that too,” Eustace agreed dismissively. “Apart from that small deviation, he was an extremely honourable man.” He took another sip of his tea.

“It’s so strange to think that there’s been a load of gold hidden at the bottom of the sea for all those years,” Lily said.

Eustace nodded. “On a clear night, when the moon is full, you can see the moonbeams strike the gold and bounce right back up to dance above the surface of the water. A wonderful sight it is.” He sighed wistfully. “Though I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it for many years.”

Flynn balanced his half-eaten biscuit on the edge of his saucer and placed it back on the table. “That’s all fascinating. But if I could get back to the point of our visit. Would you mind telling me who you’ve offered a reward to?”

“Yes, of course. I didn’t realise it would be a problem.

I only mentioned it at the dive schools.

Went along to both places the day before yesterday for a quick conversation.

” He smiled at Lily. “I’m not actually a recluse, as some people say.

I go out now and again. It just feels increasingly risky the older I get. ”

Lily exchanged a puzzled glance with Flynn.

“Are you unsteady on your feet or something?” she asked. He hadn’t seemed to have any mobility problems that she’d seen.

“No, thank goodness. I’m ninety-seven though, so who knows how many breaths I have left in me. I want to take my last one here, at home. Not going out often seems like a good way to swing the odds of that in my favour.”

“Oh,” Lily said dumbly. “I see. ”

“When you spoke to the people at the dive schools,” Flynn said. “Can you remember exactly who you spoke to?”

“Yes. The two owners, of course. What’s-his-name – Harry – he marched me straight out of his office. Said it wasn’t in the spirit of things and wasn’t interested in hearing a word about it.”

“So you didn’t speak to anyone else there?”

“His wife was with him, but she didn’t say much one way or another. Not that she could get a word in with her husband being so fired up. Then I went over to visit Ryan. He was much more welcoming. Made me a cuppa and we had a good long chat.”

Flynn cast Lily a sidelong glance that was full of suspicion. “Did Ryan seem open to your request?”

“Hard to say. He said he’d keep it in mind, but I suspect he was only humouring me.

People often do. They think I don’t notice, or maybe they think I’m stupid because I’m old.

Who knows? Anyway, he cheerfully told the people working for him I was offering cash for gold…

I got the impression he didn’t believe for a minute there was gold to be found, so I don’t think he was really taking me seriously.

Plus, I heard them all laughing when I left. They probably think I’m deaf.”

“Who was there with Ryan?”

“A couple of young fellas. One of them had a funny accent. Australian, I think. The other one is local… Maggie Telford’s grandson, I believe.

He must be about thirty. I remember chatting with his grandmother in the pub the day he was born.

Feels like yesterday. She was so excited, bless her. Ginger lad. His name will come to me…”

“Benji?” Lily suggested.

Eustace nodded. “That sounds right.” He gestured at the table. “Don’t be shy around the biscuits. They need eating. ”

“Thank you.” Lily reached for one, but Flynn stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“We need to get going,” he said, smiling at Eustace. “Thanks for the refreshment, and for talking to us. I do need to insist that you stop offering rewards for salvaged items. And if anything comes your way, please report it. Everything needs to go through official channels.”

“Yes, okay. I may have got a little carried away. I’d be down there diving the wreck myself if I could.”

“There are a few historians due to arrive on the island,” Flynn said as he stood. “I imagine they’d be keen to speak to you if you’re interested.”

“I’d be delighted. Let them know where I am and send them my way.”

He walked them out and Flynn thanked him again before he closed the door behind them.

“Have you just put me on a diet?” Lily asked before they were even through the garden gate. “Why couldn’t I have a biscuit?”

“I was doing you a favour. When he said they needed eating, I suspect they needed eating about a decade ago.”

She grimaced. “He really seems to believe all that stuff about the gold.”

Flynn pulled his phone from his pocket as they walked along the narrow, sand-strewn path.

“Where are we heading now?” Lily asked. “Out to the dive site again? You said you wanted to figure out who cut the air hose, didn’t you?”

“The sergeant messaged to say they’re closing the site to the public.” His eyes scanned the phone screen. “It’s a protected area now.”

“So we won’t find the dive boats there?”

He shook his head. “I guess they’ll either be heading back to base or moving elsewhere for a regular dive session.”

“Are they both based on St Mary’s?”

“Ryan’s place is. Harry’s is on St. Martin’s.”

“Maybe we should go over to St. Martin’s. Even if they’re not there, we can have a snoop around and see if we can find anything.”

“We’re not actually allowed to do that, you know?”

She flashed him a smile. “That doesn’t usually stop me.”