Page 42 of She Saw What He Did

‘I bet you don’t get it,’ teased Daniel.

She so hated her brother and poked out her tongue. The tide was coming in and luckily it had washed up her dolly, for it now lay discarded on the wet sand. She leant down to pick it up and stopped as her eyes feasted on something more interesting. She’d already collected several unusual shells.

‘Come on, Sarah,’ called her mother.

Sarah licked the salt from her lips and watched as the water drifted out to reveal what looked like someone’s toes. But they couldn’t be, could they? How could someone’s toes get in the water? Carefully she picked up the dolly and hugged it to her. She was about to turn back and hurry after her mother when she realised that it was indeed toes, for she could now see the legs above it. The water drifted out some more and Sarah gingerly moved closer. Then she saw it. The body was blue and stiff. For a second Sarah stared at it, puzzled, before realising it had no face. That’s when Sarah screamed, and the rest of the beach went silent. The only sounds were Sarah’s high-pitched screams and the wailing of the seagulls.

*

‘A body has been washed ashore at Newlyn Beach,’ said Weis dryly. ‘We’ve just got word. It might not be your bloke. Forensic team are on it. The skull has multiple fractures and there was evidence of severe blows to the face from a blunt object, so that matches what your photographer woman claimed.’

Ellen fought back her excitement. The chances are it was someone else, but all the same…

‘I thought you might want to come down, be part of the action,’ said Weis.

Ellen thought she heard a whisper of respect in his voice. Ellen hesitated.

‘I’m sure much isn’t going to happen on the islands while you’re gone. If there should be another murder we can always send you back by helicopter,’ Weis laughed, sensing her hesitation.

Ellen sighed.

‘Yes, I’ll come. I’ll see if Bert can fly me to Porthaven.’

‘Great. I look forward to seeing you. I’ll have someone meet you. Let me know your ETA.’

Ellen replaced the receiver. Scott looked at her wide-eyed.

‘What’s up?’ he asked. ‘Why are you going to Porthaven?’

‘A body has been washed up on Newlyn Beach.’

‘They think it’s ours?’ he said, surprised.

‘They’re not sure. I ought to go.’

She picked up the phone and called Peter.

‘A body was washed up on Newlyn Beach,’ she told him.

‘Seriously?’ he asked.

‘I have to go there. I’m phoning Bert straight after you.’

‘Well good luck. Excitement at last,’ he said, and she could picture him smiling at the other end.

‘It might not be him. I need to go and see.’

‘I know. I hope for you it is. That will show that Colin Weis not to be so arrogant.’

She hung up and called Bert. It took a while for him to answer and she could tell by his voice he had been asleep.

‘You want to go now?’ he asked, surprised.

‘They’ve found a body on Newlyn Beach,’ she said.

Bert instantly became alert.

‘Crikey, that’s a turn up for the books. Roy said, he thought …’

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