Page 5 of Dead in the Water

“I feel as though you’re putting it off.”

She shook her head. “I’ve also been busy with the shop.”

“And part of you is scared of what you might find out when you speak to her?” he suggested gently.

“Iwilltalk to her. But I could be completely wrong about her. Her wearing a necklace like the one in the photo of the ownercould be a coincidence. I’m sure lots of people have necklaces with an anchor pendant.”

“Maybe.” He moved to get more drinks. “You should talk to her and find out for sure. The suspense is killing me.”

“I will,” she said, a faraway look in her eyes.

“You okay?” he asked, sitting back beside her.

“Yeah. Just tired. I think I’ll eat and run.” Mischief flashed in her eyes. “I realise it’s pretty rude of me after you went to so much effort.”

He smiled at her teasing, but his jaw tightened. Why hadn’t he gone with his gut and cooked something?

The answer was obvious and had everything to do with the fact that he was leaving in a couple of months. No matter how much he’d like there to be something more between them, it was unrealistic to think they could be anything more than friends.

While munching on the rest of the pizza, his mind took him back to a conversation he’d had with the sergeant a few weeks ago. He’d told Flynn he’d be happy for him to stay on the Isles of Scilly for longer if he wanted to. Flynn hadn’t known what to say.

Since then, the conversation popped into his head regularly. Mostly when he was around Lily.

With the idea floating around his head once again, he waited until Lily left before sending the sergeant a message.

Realistically, he didn’t even know if it was a possibility for him to stay longer. It wasn’t as though it was the sergeant’s decision.

There was no harm in asking him to look into it, though.

After pressing send, Flynn flopped back onto the couch, trying not to pay any attention to the knot of tension that had gathered under his sternum.

Chapter Three

With the rainfinally stopping and the sun appearing, Lily hoped the shop would be busier again. She propped the door open to set up the tables outside. The space was limited, but she could manage three small tables without causing issues with access on the promenade.

She was on her way back inside when she spotted a familiar face ambling in her direction. Lily smiled at Glynis automatically. Then she remembered her suspicions. If Mariawasthe owner of the ice cream shop, then Glynis surely knew that, and had kept the information from Lily.

She reminded herself that she didn’t know anything for sure. And that Glynis was recovering from her hospital stay and didn’t need unnecessary stress. It was the first time Lily had seen her out in a month.

As someone who’d always been so fit and full of vitality, it was tough to see Glynis looking frail. Shuffling slowly along the promenade, she looked every one of her eighty-six years.

“Hello,” Lily said, greeting her with a gentle hug. “It’s good to see you up and about.”

“Thank you, dear.” She patted Lily’s cheek with an affection that made Lily’s heart ache. Could she really have been deceiving her the whole time they’d known each other?

“How are you feeling?” Lily asked.

“I have to say I’m not feeling particularly fit. I was getting cabin fever, though. And I think I need to push myself if I ever want to get back to my previous fitness levels.”

“How do you feel about an ice cream?”

Glynis made her way to a chair at the front of the shop and accepted Lily’s help in lowering her into it. “I’m afraid my appetite is still pathetic. I’ve only been managing very bland food.”

“I’m sure you’ll bounce back soon. The fresh air will be good for you.”

“That’s what I think.”

“Do you want a coffee?”

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