Page 10 of Dead in the Water

“That’s lovely.” Standing, Lily stacked her chair onto the one Joseph had vacated. “I hope you enjoy catching up with your family tomorrow.”

Joseph looked deep into her eyes. “It was great talking to you. You made me see things more clearly.”

“I barely even said anything.”

“Just talking it through helped me get things straighter in my head.” He picked up the chairs from the next table. “Let me help you.”

“You really don’t need to,” she said, manoeuvring the chairs through the doorway.

“It’s the least I can do. Then I’m going to call my son and make sure they have nothing planned for tomorrow. I really have my heart set on playing trains with Thomas.”

Once they’d got the tables and chairs inside, Lily wished Joseph well and watched him wander away. He didn’t get far before she heard the gentle sound of his laughter as he chatted on the phone.

Nice man.She felt a pang of sadness about his wife.

Hopefully, spending time with his grandson would bring him the peace he needed.

Chapter Five

When Jessica came burstinginto the shop on Monday morning, Lily was standing on a chair to update the menu on the blackboard.

“You’re early,” she said, then checked her watch. “Really early.”

“I know. I’m not here yet.”

Lily lifted her eyebrows. “Weird, because it definitely seems as though you’re here.”

“I’m not here to work. I was out for a run, but I went past the harbour. Have you heard what happened?”

“No.” She wiped the board, erasing the apple pie flavoured ice cream which they’d run out of yesterday. “What happened?”

“I don’t know, but the police are down there and there’s an ambulance. I heard someone died.”

Lily had raised her blackboard pen, but paused. “Seriously?”

The door swung open again and Seren rushed in. “Someone died!” she shrieked. “It’s horrible. Did you hear?”

“I’m just hearing now,” Lily said, stepping down from the chair. “What happened? Do you know who it is?”

“It’s not a local. A visitor. I was talking to Zack Wheeler, the fisherman. He found the guy early this morning – floating inthe water by the bottom of the harbour steps. Blood on the back of his head. He thought it looked as though the poor fella had slipped down the steps, cracked his head on the way and ended up in the water.”

Stunned, Lily walked out from behind the counter. “That’s terrible.”

“I can’t believe it,” Jessica said, heading for the door. “I’m going to finish my run and get showered. I’ll see you in an hour.”

She’d only just disappeared from view when the bell over the door jangled again. Pippa from the cafe a few doors down wandered in.

“Have you heard what happened?” she said quietly.

Seren nodded. “I was talking to Zack. He found the body.”

“It’s horrible.” Pippa’s face was pale and her eyes sorrowful. “Some of his friends were in the cafe this morning. This poor woman, Joyce, was distraught. I think it was putting off my other customers, but I could hardly ask her to leave.”

“The guy was here on holiday, right?” Seren asked.

“Yes.” Pippa pressed a hand to her chest. “This was their first stop on a sailing trip down to the Mediterranean.”

Lily felt the blood drain from her face. “Friends who own a yacht together?”

---