Page 47 of Dead in the Water

In the galley, a platter of sandwiches sat on the table, but there was no sign of Joyce or Keith. Venturing along the hallway, she reached the toilet door, but paused at the sound of voices. Unable to make out the words, she crept along until she was right outside Joyce and Keith’s door.

“I would just like it if you could stick up for me now and again,” Joyce said. “You watch Kerry boss me around and you do nothing.”

“I keep telling you not to let her boss you around. Of course she continues when you always do what she says. If you’d stand up to her now and again, she’d treat you differently.”

“The last time I tried being assertive you didn’t back me up. It’s made me a little apprehensive.”

“Well, it wasn’t really appropriate for you to suggest we swap cabins with Joseph so soon after Lisa died. Your timing was off, that’s all. You should have waited a while.”

“It’s ridiculous that he had the biggest room for himself while we were cramped in here.”

Lily leaned closer to the door as the voices stopped. It took her a moment to realise it was because Joyce had started crying.

“I can’t believe I’m speaking badly about him when he’s dead,” she said, her voice muffled by her tears. “But I’ve just been sleeping so badly and I’m not thinking straight. I know it shouldn’t matter, but you heard Russell at breakfast yesterday, saying he’s going to move into Joseph’s cabin once James clears it out.” Her voice rose in pitch. “You should have said something yesterday. Nipped the idea in the bud. I can’t believe you just kept quiet.”

“You didn’t say anything either,” Keith said wearily. “He was only suggesting it, anyway. It wasn’t a firm plan. We can tell Russell he can’t have the cabin if you’re so set on it.”

“I couldn’t say anything yesterday. Everyone would think I was being insensitive again. Kerry and Vic are still annoyed with me for suggesting we swap with Joseph.”

“It’s a hassle to move cabins though,” Keith said. “And we really should try to keep Russell sweet until the yacht is officially his. If he backs out, we’re a bit stuck, aren’t we? Difficult to go off on our trips without someone to skipper the boat.”

“I just wish it could have been Joseph.”

“He didn’t want to travel any more. Besides, it’s better for us financially to have Russell as an owner. You know this.”

“I know,” Joyce said quietly.

Keith’s voice increased in volume, making Lily back away from the door and hurry back to the toilet. She caught sight of Keith stepping into the hall just as she slipped inside.

In front of the mirror, she released a breath and rubbed at a smear of sunscreen on the bridge of her nose.

What had Keith meant about it being a financial benefit for them if Russell bought the boat? Automatically, she pulled her phone from her pocket. Flynn had messaged, asking how she was. There was also a message from Kit to say he’d just called into the shop, but Jessica had everything under control and had declined his offer to help.

Quickly, she thanked Kit, then went into the message thread with Flynn.

Her thumb hovered over the keypad.

She wanted to tell him where she was and what she’d learned. But a solid lump of anger wedged itself under her sternum. She put her phone away quickly.

It wasn’t as though she’d ignore him indefinitely, but right now she had enough on her plate.

For the sake of appearances, she flushed the toilet, then ran the water in the sink before stepping back out into the hallway.

In the galley, Keith smiled at her before disappearing outside with a fruit salad.

“Can I help at all?” she asked Joyce.

The mousy woman glanced up from adding cherry tomatoes to the platter of sandwiches. “You could carry the plates up. I’m afraid it’s not a particularly exciting spread, but it’s something to nibble on.”

“It looks great to me,” Lily said, picking up the plates and heading back outside.

The conversation over lunch was mundane. They talked about the weather and the wildlife – with Keith occasionally spotting some sea bird and then passing around a pair of binoculars. Only Joyce seemed to share his enthusiasm. The rest of them dutifully looked, but didn’t put much effort into feigning interest. Kerry even rolled her eyes from time to time.

When they lifted the anchor and set off back to the harbour, Lily looked around the group on deck. Maybe she was way off the mark in thinking Joseph’s death was anything other than an accident. It didn’t seem plausible that any of the people sitting in the sunshine with her could have had a hand in it.

The wind picked up and she secured her hair in a ponytail, then tilted her face to the sun and soaked up the tranquillity of her surroundings.

“What time is James arriving?” Kerry asked Joyce loudly, breaking the peace.

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