Page 28 of Dead in the Water

Lily ignored the sarcastic remark. “Do you have anything else useful to tell me?”

“One woman kept flirting with me, which was a little disturbing since she’s about twice my age and her husband was with her.”

“Do you know their names?” Lily asked.

He shrugged again. “I heard the guy who died was called Joseph. I don’t know about the rest of them.” He turned andlooked towards the door. “Come with me,” he said, sliding off the stool and striding across the room.

“Where are we going?” Lily asked as they walked back up to the reception area which was now empty except for Oscar, who stood at the computer.

“Look up the guests,” Sean said, sidling up beside Oscar. “The friends of the dead guy. We need their names.”

A small smile tugged at Lily’s lips. He might be annoying, but he was useful.

“We can’t give out guest information,” Oscar protested. “It’s confidential.”

“We only want their names.” He nudged Oscar aside and tapped on the keyboard. Then he glanced up at Lily and tipped his chin in a beckoning gesture. “There are photos of them as well. We take copies of the passports.”

“You aren’t allowed back here,” Oscar said when Lily walked around the desk to join them.

“I’m only having a quick look.”

“Why have you got your phone out then?” he asked in a panic. “You can’t take photos of the information.”

“I’m not.” She patted his arm. “Just making a note of their names.”

“This is the one who kept flirting,” Sean said, bringing up the photo of the slightly glamorous woman with red hair who’d been uncomplimentary about Lily’s coffee. “Kerry Cooper,” Sean announced. “She has an annoyingly loud laugh.”

“Keep your voice down,” Oscar said, glancing nervously around.

After scrolling some more, Sean brought up a picture of Kerry’s husband, Vic. The larger, bald guy.

“Here’s the other couple,” Sean said. “Joyce and Keith Hughes. I liked them. Quiet and polite, but friendly.”

“What about the other guy?” Lily asked.

“Oh, yeah.” Sean brought up another page with Russell Hart’s information and photo. “He drank like a fish and tipped generously. I’d like more customers like him. I’m not sure I trust anyone who’s that flashy with money, though. If anyone killed the guy, my bet would be on him.”

“Shh!” Oscar hissed.

Lily stared at Sean. “Really?”

“No.” He laughed. “I was joking. And I don’t actually think anyone committed murder at the harbour.”

She had the names at least, Lily consoled herself. Even if she hadn’t got any other new information.

“Thanks,” she said, walking out from behind the reception desk.

“I can tell you something fishy…” Sean leaned on the desk, his upper body sprawling across it. “On the second night, when they came into the bar, they came without the dead guy.”

Lily gritted her teeth at the lack of respect in his tone. “Where was Joseph?”

“Went to bed early, I think. His friends were plotting to ditch him and head off down to Spain without him. I thought they were just talking about leaving him behind.” He grinned. “But I guess they could have been alluding to more sinister measures.”

Lily glared at him. “This isn’t a joke.”

“Sorry,” he said, chuckling. “It just sounds far-fetched that they’d kill him. They’re just normal people, not killers.” A jolt of laughter burst out of him, and his eyes slid to Oscar. “Can you imagine that mousy little lady killing someone in cold blood?”

“Did they really talk about leaving Joseph?” Lily asked, frowning at Sean.

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