Page 19 of The Sunken Truth (Lily Larkin Mysteries #5)

Chapter Nineteen

Despite calling Jessica for reassurance that she wasn’t needed back at the shop, Lily still felt uneasy about staying away for longer. The ice cream shop felt like her baby and she got separation anxiety easily.

Maybe it was also because she was nervous about what the visit with Maria would bring, but she felt decidedly edgy as she made the short walk to Glynis’s house.

Leaving Flynn to investigate alone wasn’t easy, either.

Not because she thought he wasn’t up to the task, but because she enjoyed the challenge of unravelling these things.

It seemed she’d developed some sort of compulsive need to investigate and struggled to switch off until she figured things out.

She also worried about Flynn and his compulsive need to solve this particular mystery.

Clearly, he was feeling under pressure with the superintendent around.

It annoyed her that he felt the need to prove himself.

He was an excellent police officer and if the superintendent couldn’t see that, it was his problem.

Or it should be. The thought that he had the power to get Flynn a permanent position on the Scillies gave Lily a spark of hope that she’d rather not acknowledge.

Arriving at the cottage with its cheerful front garden bursting with brightly coloured flowers, Lily took a hearty inhale before knocking.

A moment later, Glynis opened the door and Lily tried to decide if it would be a relief if Maria wasn’t at home. Did she really want to have this conversation?

“Hello, love,” Glynis said, opening the door wider. “This is a nice surprise.”

“Is it?” Lily lifted a lone eyebrow as she stepped inside. “A surprise, I mean?”

“Maybe not that surprising,” she admitted, patting Lily on the arm. “I’ve made fresh lemonade this afternoon. Can I tempt you to a glass?”

“I’d love one,” Lily said, following her into the kitchen.

Through the back window, she spotted Maria kneeling by a flowerbed.

“She’s made the garden lovely,” Glynis said, following Lily’s gaze. “I help a little, but Maria has green fingers. Doesn’t it look gorgeous?”

“It does.” A small cast iron table and chairs sat in the shade of an umbrella, and the distinct tall purple flowers which seemed to thrive on the Scillies shot up at one side of the patio.

“What are the purple ones called again?” Lily asked.

“Agapanthus. Beautiful, aren’t they? I love how they look so delicate with their long, exposed stalk, but they’re actually very hardy.”

“They’re stunning,” Lily said.

“I’m assuming you’re not here to see me,” Glynis said.

Lily took a chilled glass of lemonade from her. “It’s always good to see you. ”

“But you want to speak to Maria?”

Lily nodded. “If she’ll talk to me.”

“Why don’t you take her a glass out and see if you can coax her into taking a break? Maybe she’ll be ready to chat. After her trip to Bristol, she seems much more relaxed.”

“I’ll give it a go,” Lily said, grateful to Glynis for giving her space to talk to Maria alone.

From the patio, Lily pondered the best approach to the conversation while Maria continued pulling up weeds, oblivious to her presence.

“Hi,” Lily said eventually, realising she could spend all day and still have no clue what she should say.

Maria sat back on her heels and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead.

“Hi,” she said, not a hint of surprise in her features. “How are you?”

“Fine.” The ease of the greeting surprised Lily. Previously, Maria had always seemed on edge around her. Maybe Glynis was right about her being more relaxed after her trip to Bristol.

“Glynis thought you might be ready for some refreshment,” Lily said, raising the glass.

Standing, Maria walked over to her. After a long sip of lemonade, she glanced in the kitchen window. “Where is Glynis?”

“She said she’d be out in a minute,” Lily lied.

“It’s warm today.” Maria pulled at her T-shirt, which clung to her midriff.

“Yeah.” Lily followed Maria’s lead and took a seat.

“I thought you’d probably show up again,” Maria said after a moment of quietly listening to birdsong.

“Really?”

She nodded. “You’re like a dog with a bone, aren’t you? ”

“I have questions,” Lily said. “And I think you might be the only person who can help me with the answers.”

“I already told you I can’t help you.” She had said that – but the other times they’d spoken she’d seemed guarded and anxious. Now, there was something different about her.

“Did you enjoy your trip?” Lily asked.

“Yes. I tied up some loose ends.”

Lily hesitated, giving her space to say more, but she kept quiet.

“I started remembering things from my childhood,” Lily said eventually.

Maria nodded slowly, but if she was curious, she didn’t show it.

A subtle approach to her questions would probably be best, but all Lily’s brain would conjure was the one blunt question that she most wanted an answer to.

“Did you have an affair with my dad?” she asked shakily.

She squeezed her eyes closed. The question was out now and she couldn’t take it back.

Suddenly, she was positive she didn’t want to know the answer.

“No,” Maria said softly. “I didn’t.”

Lily snapped her eyes open, searching Maria’s face. There was no sign that she was lying. All the other times, Lily had felt certain she’d known when Maria had lied to her.

“I remember being on Porthcressa Beach,” Lily said.

“I was young. Maybe four or five. I was with my dad, and I think we were staying with you above the shop. My memories are hazy, but I remember sitting at the table having dinner, and I remember I slept on the couch. I was with my dad, and I remember this feeling that something wasn’t right.

I think Dad had told me to keep our visit a secret.

I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone we were there. ”

Maria shook her head. “You’re remembering wrong. Sometimes the mind can play tricks.”

“The memories feel so real. I was on the beach, flying a kite and my dad was sitting next to me. I’m not sure he was paying much attention. It was windy and I remember being scared that I might fly away with the kite.”

“It was windy,” Maria said. “But there was no way he wasn’t paying attention. Sometimes I think the only thing he ever really cared about was your safety. I told him the same once or twice during arguments.”

Lily’s heart rate increased. “So it’s true. I was here with my dad. You were having an affair with him?”

“No. I told you, you’re remembering wrong.” She looked at Lily intently. “It wasn’t your dad.”