Page 7 of A Poisonous Plot

“If the owner was somehow connected to my parents – if she knew them – and she knew me when I was a kid… she doesn’t want to know me now. So while it would be satisfying to figure out who she is, I suspect it would also be really unsatisfying in another way.”

Flynn stretched his leg out under the table so his leg rested against hers. “She wanted you to have the shop,” he pointed out.

Lily smiled sadly as she shrugged. “It doesn’t make sense. And I want it to make sense, but I think it might drive me crazy trying to figure it out.”

“Do you know what might help?” Flynn said, feeling the warmth of her leg against his.

“What?” she asked, with a hint of an eye roll.

“You should open the shop. Being busier will help take your mind off it.” He sat up straighter and immediately regretted it when his leg was no longer touching hers. “You could put the photo of the owner up on the wall, and frame the article about the fire… you never know, that might get people talking. Someone might remember something helpful.”

“Maybe,” Lily said, but he suspected her smile was all for his benefit. She just didn’t like to thwart his enthusiasm. “Tell me about your day,” she said, in that relaxed way of hers.

He smiled in response because they really had this routine perfected now. She asked about work, and he regaled her with overly dramatic stories about rural policing. It was a test of his imagination to put a humorous spin on his uneventful days, butit had the effect of making his working days easier since he often found himself conjuring entertaining interpretations of the most mundane tasks ready for when he spoke to Lily.

He had an anecdote about a dispute over a property border ready for her, but he didn’t even get a word out before they were interrupted.

“Hi, Ted,” Lily said, glancing up as the lobster fisherman wandered over to them. They’d got to know him well when his stepson had gone missing, and he’d subsequently been helpful with renovating Lily’s new place.

“I was just thinking about you,” he told Lily. “Do you have a date for opening the shop yet?”

“We were just discussing it,” Flynn replied for her. “We were thinking of the weekend after next. Saturday would be good, I think.”

“Perfect.” Ted grinned. “I’ll get Rhys to finish the posters, and we can start spreading the word.”

“I didn’t agree to that,” Lily snapped at Flynn. “I need to wait and make sure I’m prepared for the hygiene inspection.”

“No, you don’t. Besides, that could be months away.” Flynn caught Ted’s eye. “Tell Rhys to go ahead with the posters. If he emails them to me, I’ll organise getting them printed.”

He could feel Lily glaring at him.

“I can organise getting them printed,” she said.

“I’m sure youcan,” Flynn agreed. “I’m just not sure youwill.”

“Are you nervous?” Ted asked Lily. “There’s no need – not given how delicious your ice cream is.”

Flynn nodded. “This is what I keep telling her.”

“I’ll make sure I keep the day free so I can help if you need me to…” Ted trailed off as his gaze snagged on the photograph on the table. “Is that another photo of the owner of the ice cream shop?”

“It’s just a slightly better version of the picture we already have.” Lily seemed to hold her breath while Ted picked the photo up to scrutinise it. “What is it?” she finally asked, an edge to her voice that had Ted looking as though he’d been snapped out of a trance.

“Nothing,” he said apologetically. “I was only thinking that it looks as though she didn’t want to have her photo taken. The way she has her head tilted so her face is in shadow.”

“Yeah.” Lily took the photo back. “It would be helpful if we had a clear photo of her. And a recent one.”

Ted gave her a sympathetic smile. “Anyway, should I tell Rhys to finish up the posters? Is it a definite for two weeks from now?”

“It’s a definite,” Flynn said, before Lily could protest.

Ted stepped out of the way when the waitress appeared with their dinner, then told them to enjoy their food and left them alone.

“I didn’t agree to opening on the Saturday,” Lily said sulkily, once the waitress had moved away.

“I’ll be there with you,” he said. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. If anything, you should be excited.”

She blew out a breath. “You’re right.”

---