Page 19 of A Poisonous Plot

“Yeah.”

“I heard you’d been there as a kid,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road.

“Yes.” She frowned, wondering where he’d heard that, and how much more he knew about her.

It was one of the most unnerving things about living in such a close-knit community – people often knew things about her before they met her. Though, she supposed that was also partly her own fault for making such a name for herself by stumbling into investigating crimes.

“So you came back looking for the ice cream shop?” Denzel asked, the skin around his eyes crinkling.

“Yes. I had memories of it and wanted to see if it was still there.” She turned further in her seat, pulling on the seatbelt when she met resistance. “Do you remember the woman who owned it?”

“Vaguely.”

“I have a photo of her,” Lily said, pulling it out of her bag.

Denzel nodded. “That’s her.”

“Have you seen her since the ice cream shop closed?”

“Not to my recollection. You think she lives on St Mary’s, right?”

“How do you know that?”

He shrugged. “People talk.”

Lily stared out of the window at the green fields.

“It’d be strange if she was around and watching you, but keeping quiet. Why would she do that?”

“I’ve no idea.” Lily knew it sounded absurd, but her gut told her that the owner wasn’t far away. That, and the fact that she’dleft Lily a note in the shop, and then the recipes. And apparently a basket of food now, too.

“I hope it works out for you with the shop,” Denzel said wistfully as the fields on either side of the road were replaced by rows of houses at the edge of Hugh Town. “It’s the perfect spot for an ice cream shop. It’ll be good to see some bustle down that end of the promenade after the place has been in such a rundown state for so long. Odd, though, isn’t it?” His voice took on a faraway quality, as though he were thinking aloud.

“What is?”

Creases lined his brow. “That the owner wouldn’t let a local re-open the shop. There was interest in the place before you came along.”

“Yeah.” Lily rolled her eyes. “Kit Treneary wanted to buy the place. He reminds me often enough.”

“You know Kit?” Denzel paused and gave a small shake of the head. “Of course you know Kit.” He looked as though he might say more, but remained silent as he parked behind a small van. “I think this is as close as I can get,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt. “I’ll help you carry it to your door.”

“Thank you,” Lily said, hopping out to unload with him.

They were walking along the promenade with their hands full when Lily spotted Kit wandering towards them, his sandy blonde hair being ruffled by the sea breeze.

“Hey!” he called out and picked up his pace to take a shopping bag that was swinging from Lily’s finger. He frowned down at it. “I thought I was being heroic, but this weighs nothing at all.”

“It’s fresh mint for my mint choc ice cream,” Lily told him. “Nothing is heavy, but some of it’s awkward to carry. Thankfully, Denzel drove me from the garden centre.”

He smiled a greeting at Denzel and they continued three abreast along the promenade.

“If you ever need a car,” Kit said. “You’re welcome to borrow ours.”

“Ours?” Denzel said with an amused lilt.

Kit chuckled. “Obviously, no one should mention to Seren that I referred to it asourcar. It’shers. But you’re still welcome to borrow it.”

“Thanks,” Lily said. “Gordon said he can deliver in future, so I think I should be okay.”

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