Page 59 of Deep Waters

Christian loaded empty plates into the dishwasher.

“Hey, you don’t need to do that,” Arnie said. “You’re a guest. Sit back down.”

“Don’t be daft. I want to help. You should sit and let me do this.”

Arnie raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, if you insist.” He poured a cup of coffee and pulled out a chair at the kitchen table.

Christian had been up at the house for most of the afternoon with Arnie, his son AJ and AJ’s friend Karim. The two boys were now in the living room playing video games. Dominic was still at the lifeboat station for their regular Sunday training. When Christian had called earlier and discovered he wouldn’t be home, he was about to change his plans, but Arnie had insisted he come for lunch, anyway. “You’ll be doing me a huge favour,” Arnie had said, explaining that AJ had a friend staying over. “I’m desperate for some adult company.”

It had been a pleasant relief for Christian, too. With the two youngsters around, all talk of murder and suspicion had been quashed. It had allowed him to focus on something else for a few hours, even if it was school achievements and football.

When the dishwasher was loaded and the benches were all clear, he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat across from Arnie. For a famous actor, there was nothing grand or mighty about Arnie. He was a very grounded and unassuming guy.

“How is it going with Harry?” he asked. “Still good? I mean, apart from all the shit that’s going down.”

Christian snorted softly. “Great, I would say, apart from the shit. He’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met. It’s early days and I guess we don’t really know each other that well, but I have a positive feeling about him. It’s just”—he gave an exasperated sigh—“all this craziness. I can’t begin to imagine what things will be like afterwards.”

Arnie folded his arms on the table and leaned closer. “If it’s meant to be, it will be fine. I promise you, with whatever happens. Dominic and me? We didn’t get together at the best of times, either. On the night we first met, AJ and I witnessed an attempted murder, right out there on the point.” He jerked his thumb to the front window. “And a few days later, my own life was at risk. If it hadn’t been for Dominic and AJ, I wouldn’t be here now. To say we met at a bad time is putting it mildly. But it all worked out in the end. I’m sure it will for you, too.”

“You guys are perfect. I can’t see how anything could have stopped you from getting together. You were made for each other.”

“It will be the same for you and Harry,” Arnie said assuredly. “If that’s what you both want.”

Christian grinned. “I’d like that. I really would.”

Dominic came home a few minutes later. When he opened the kitchen door, a powerful gust of wind came through and it was an effort for him to close the door behind him.

“Wow,” he said, smoothing down his windswept hair. “What a day. I hope I don’t have to go back out in that.”

He came to the table and leaned over. Arnie turned and raised his head and they kissed briefly.

“There’s a plate for you in the fridge,” Arnie said. “It’ll just need heating through.”

“I’m fine for now. I think I ate my weight in biscuits down at the station.” Dominic turned to Christian. “I’m glad you’re still here. I take it you haven’t heard the latest news?”

Christian sat up straight. “What news?”

“I thought not,” Dominic said, taking off his coat. “We only heard ourselves about an hour ago. The police are looking for Reece Wallace. They think he had something to do with the murders. Well, Niko’s and Tom’s at least.”

“What?” Christian said.

Arnie turned his chair to look straight at Dominic. “Reece Wallace? The fisherman’s son?”

Dominic nodded. “That’s right. Stew Wallace’s kid.”

“But he’s only a child.”

“Eighteen.”

“Hang on,” Christian said. “Reece? I think that’s the boy who helped Harry the other day, when Tom was sick.”

“Yeah,” Dominic said. “That’s right. He did.”

“Shit,” Arnie drawled. “So why? What makes them think it’s him?”

“It’s all hearsay at the minute, but he was seen arguing with Tom outside The Lobster Pot last week. It got pretty heated, if what they’re saying is true. And Niko’s old girlfriend, Gemma, has told the police that him and Reece had fallen out over something, too.”

“It could be anything,” Arnie said. “It doesn’t make him a killer.”

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