Page 59 of A Poisonous Plot

“Is he?” Lily asked. “Or is he creating a panic which will deter people from moving to the Scillies?”

“You sound insane,” Sally said, eyes flashing with anger. “I think it would be better if you leave. And given what you’re insinuating, I’m not sure it’s going to work out for us to continue to supply you with produce for your ice cream.”

“Okay,” Lily said, backing up. She might have gone too far, but she also knew that her investigations would always make people ill at ease.

She suspected that the more uneasy people were with her questions, the closer she was getting to the truth.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Out in the car park,Denzel hauled bags of soil from a trolley into the back of his truck. Directly in Lily’s path, it would be awkward to ignore him. Not that she wanted to. While she felt as though she was turning people against her at every turn, she could at least clear the air with him.

“Hi,” she said, stopping beside the trolley.

He gave her a cursory glance and tipped his chin, but didn’t pause in loading his truck.

“Mirren explained everything,” Lily said, filling the uncomfortable silence.

Again, he only acknowledged her with a quick flick of his chin.

She wasn’t sure what else to say. She could apologise, but she wasn’t convinced she owed him an apology.

“Okay, then,” she muttered as she set off again.

She was all the way to the other side of the car park when the crunch of tyres on gravel made her stop and turn.

Denzel’s window rolled down as he slowed beside her. “Need a lift?” he asked.

Suspicion swept up Lily’s spine, and she glanced around while she stalled for a reply.

“I was stressed the other day,” he said, rubbing at his jaw. “Which is no excuse – I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.” He caught her eye and lifted an eyebrow. “I’m sorry.”

“Okay,” Lily said, nodding her acceptance.

“Do you want a lift home?”

She shrugged before deciding she didn’t need yet another trek across the island.

“Kit thinks he’s done something to offend you,” she stated bluntly, while she pulled the seatbelt around her.

“What?” His features crinkled in concern as he looked across at her. “Why?”

“Because when he invites you over to his place, you make excuses.”

He pulled out onto the road and kept his eyes fixed ahead for a moment. “I make excuses because I’m in a relationship with his mother and he doesn’t know. It’s a little uncomfortable.”

Lily nodded. “He thinks you just got fed up with him asking for help with his DIY projects.”

“I enjoy helping him with his renovations.” A muscle twitched in his jaw.

“Maybe you should tell him that.”

He leaned onto the steering wheel. “I can’t. Not until Mirren tells them what’s going on between us. Every time I see Kit, or his brothers, I feel deceitful. I’ve known them since they were kids and this whole situation feels extremely awkward.” He slowed at a junction and glanced up and down the road before pulling away again. “Which is why I got so het up when you were quizzing me.”

“I can see that now.”

“It wasn’t only that.” He cast her a sidelong glance. “I was also annoyed with you for questioning Arthur.”

“Nobody seems to like me questioning Arthur,” she said with a sigh.

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