Page 58 of The Sunken Truth
“I’m tempted to go over and chat to Harry again.”
“If you think it’ll lead to something, go ahead. Also, when you get back to the station, can you sort out the report for Ryan Simmons? He was in here ranting about needing it for his insurance.”
“Yeah. I already did it. I just need to give it to him.”
“Good. And can you do one more thing while you’re out…”
“What?” Flynn asked.
“Could you make a quick stop at Doris Sanders’ place?”
Flynn groaned. “The cat again?”
“She just called complaining about her neighbour feeding it.”
“Because the old man fancies her and is looking to get a reaction from her. This is not a police matter.” Flynn briefly wondered how many times he’d uttered those words since he’d started working on the Scillies.
“It won’t take long. She just wants to feel heard. And you’ll no doubt get a cuppa and biscuits out of it.”
Flynn’s mouth watered as he remembered the freshly baked scones she’d given him the last time he’d visited her.
“Okay.” He turned and headed back the way he’d come. “I’m on my way.”
A smile played at his lips as he reflected on the call. When he’d first arrived on St Mary’s, he’d beensurprised by how much they communicated over their mobiles rather than using their radios.
Now, he was extremely grateful for it. If their colleagues on the mainland were privy to their conversations, they’d never live some of their exchanges down.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Pippa didn’t batan eyelid when Lily visited her in the cafe to ask if she could borrow their boat again. She merely handed over the key with a warning that there was a storm forecast and she’d need the boat back early in the afternoon so she could head back home to Bryher before it hit. Lily assured her she wouldn’t be long.
Twenty minutes later, she cut the engine as she drew up alongside the jetty on St Martin’s. She felt a swell of pride at how quickly she’d taken to manoeuvring a boat between the islands. Managing it on her own felt like an even greater accomplishment and she made a mental note to look into getting the appropriate boating license.
With the dreary weather, she couldn’t spot a soul in any direction, and the long stretch of Higher Town Bay was deserted.
The dive boat was tied up at the quay along with a few other small boats. Lily strolled towards it as casually as possible.
“Hello,” she called, without much volume.
When she got no answer, she stepped aboard, hoping togo undetected since she didn’t have a good reason to be on the boat. The forgotten sunglasses excuse would be useless here. Not that it had worked brilliantly for her in the past.
Her eyes scanned the boat, which was slightly bigger than Ryan’s. She’d guess it was newer too. Everything was neat and tidy on deck. In the wheelhouse, the pristine navigation instruments were polished to a shine.
Steps down to the cabin were noticeably wider than on Ryan’s boat and the cabin itself had an entirely different vibe. Pale leather benches offered a comfortable spot to sit, and a small galley in the corner included a glass fronted fridge with assorted drinks and snacks. Polished brass portholes let in slanted light, and the air held the scent of sunscreen and citrus-fragranced cleaner.
Once again, Lily set to work searching through cupboards, her eyes darting over a similar array of supplies as she’d found on Ryan’s boat.
A couple of lockers in the corner stood open, but the insides revealed nothing but empty coat hangers.
Voices outside made her freeze in place, and she cursed under her breath when the boat rocked. That was more than the movement of the waves.
Someone had stepped aboard.
“Don’t you dare!” a female voice called out before the boat pitched again. “If you leave now without discussing this with me, I swear to god, I will go home and look up a divorce lawyer.”
Nat’s voice,Lily was sure of it.
Softly, she tiptoed to the far end of the cabin, where a door opened to a toilet and sink. Lily pulled the door behind her but left it slightly ajar.
