Page 13 of Deep Waters

“What the hell is going on in this town?”

As the fire blazed and crackled in the hearth and the storm continued outside, no one offered any answer.

Chapter Five

Christian woke to the sound of seagulls squawking right outside his window. As his heavy head swam into focus, he heard the engines of boats in the marina and traffic on the bridge that joined the north and south banks of the town. Dull grey light diffused the room. He shuffled across the bed and fumbled for his phone on the dresser. It was twenty-five to eight—later than he expected.

He could thank the whisky for that. After saying good night to Harry when they left the pub, he’d come back to the hotel and had another two glasses while scribbling the details of the day in his notebook, his ideas and impressions of what had happened. He had spent some time scrolling through the Facebook page for Nyemouth. Unsurprisingly, the double murders were the only subjects up for discussion. There were no names given to either victim. Their families were at least granted that much respect, but the theories that were dispatched were outrageous. None of the people who posted seemed in possession of the actual facts, but that didn’t stop their speculation. Christian had given up around two when he’d finished his drink, brushed his teeth and crawled into bed. He must have gone out in an instant.

He had slept solidly all the way through and, surprisingly, given everything he’d experienced the previous day, there had been no nightmares. He wondered whether Harry had been so lucky.

Harry. What an exceptional young man. He had proved himself in every way yesterday, rising calmly to the challenges they faced. He was quite a hero to Christian.

It had seemed there was a spark between them, too. When they had been in The Fisherman’s Arms, the connection had deepened, and it seemed almost certain that Harry wanted to end the difficult day in Christian’s bed. And Christian would have welcomed him. He had sworn off casual encounters with men he barely knew, but last night he would have made an exception. They had needed each other, maybe only for a few hours, but it would have been enough.

Harry was far too young for him. Any other time, Christian would have kept well away, but after what they had been through, the difference in their ages seemed irrelevant.

News of the second murder had dampened the flames between them, extinguishing any notions of romance in a second.

Christian groaned and pulled the covers over his shoulders.

When he closed his eyes, Harry was there—those warm brown eyes, full of wisdom beyond their years, the dark-blond hair, sexily dishevelled when he took off his cap and ran his fingers through it. How marvellous it would be to feel his body in bed right now, the naked heat of his skin pressed against Christian’s back, his erection pressing to the cleft of Christian’s arse. Christian squirmed and tugged at his balls.

Stop it.

He must forget all about it. They’d shared a moment, and it had passed. They didn’t take the chance when they’d had it and now it had gone.

He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. Nyemouth. He’d come here looking for ideas for a book and found a double murder.

Last night, he’d told Harry he had no intention of writing about Niko’s death. Maybe he’d believed it himself at the time. What kind of writer would he be if he ignored a story he had played such an active role in? He had to use this experience in some way. It was true that he had no interest in writing a journalistic, true-life account, but he might never be so closely embroiled in a story again. This was an opportunity he couldn’t waste.

To do what? He had no idea.

He’d come to do research, and that’s exactly what he would do. What that research would turn into was a question for another time.

Christian flung back the covers and sprang out of bed, a man with a purpose. The day ahead was clear. He was having dinner with Dominic and his family tonight, but other than that, he had nothing planned. His story was out there. It was up to him to go out and find it.

He strode naked to the window and pulled open the curtains. It was a dull, drizzly morning. The storm had passed, and the water in the harbour was as still as a mirror. Christian opened the sash window and stuck out his head, inhaling the briny air. On the opposite bank, farther downriver, was the lifeboat station. The large front doors were open, but it was too far away to recognise any of the figures outside.

He leaned even farther out, craning his neck. Harry’s boat would be docked somewhere here on the north bank. There were a lot of vessels in port, and he couldn’t make outThe North Staramong them. Harry had told him he would spend most of the morning on the boat. Once they were given the go-ahead from the police, he and his dad wanted to clean everything down. Christian had been due to go out on another sightseeing trip with him this morning, but they had postponed that to later in the week. Right now, Christian wasn’t sure he wanted another day at sea.

A seagull swept past the window. Christian wondered if it was the same one that had woken him up.

He pulled back into the room and lowered the sash, leaving a six-inch gap for fresh air.

It was time for action.

* * * *

At the Seagull Café, Christian ordered a large decaf latte to go and stepped to the end of the counter while he waited for it to be made. The café was almost full, with the majority of customers tucking into full breakfasts or bacon sandwiches. Christian had little an appetite yet, though he realised he’d barely eaten at all yesterday. Maybe later, after the coffee, he would stop somewhere for brunch. Right now, he was eager to get started.

For now, that meant listening.

When he was eavesdropping on the surrounding conversations, there was only one topic of discussion—murder.

“Natalie said it was like something from a horror film. He was laid out in the sitting room like a victim inScreamorHalloween. There was blood everywhere, she said.”

“You can’t see anything this morning. There’s one of those forensic tents at the front of the house.”

---