Page 90 of Dead in the Water

She glanced at his luggage. “Are you going home?”

“Yes. I’m on my way to the airport, but I wanted to stop by and say farewell, and thank you.”

“Thank you for what?”

He slipped his hands casually into his trouser pockets. “Joseph and I were never the greatest of friends, but he was a decent guy. He didn’t deserve what Vic did.”

“No. He didn’t.”

“Have you ever thought about becoming a private investigator?”

“It’s crossed my mind once or twice,” she said with a small smile. “Are your friends going home too?”

“I thinkfriendsis entirely the wrong word. Vic’s on his way to the mainland with a police escort. As far as I can gather, he’ll be held until trial. I’m hoping he goes to jail for a very long time.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Joyce is at the hotel, crying into Keith’s shirt, and I imagine Kerry is frantically trying to find someone to skipper the boat back to St Ives. They’ll have to sell it now. Or she’ll need to find some other mug to seduce.”

“You won’t work things out with her?”

“She was using me all along. Honestly, we weren’t even well suited but I was lonely and liked the attention. I can’t believe I fell for her flattery.” He shook his head. “I’ve never had any luck with relationships. Lesson learned – apparently I’m destined to be alone.”

“I’m sorry if this is blunt, but why wouldn’t you pay Joseph the price he wanted for the yacht? James said you offered him more in the end…”

“I was being generous with the offer I made James because I felt bad for him.”

“But if you could afford it, why wouldn’t you offer Joseph the same?”

“Because he wanted to get out the same as he’d paid in. Boats lose value, so in my opinion it wasn’t worth that and what I offered him was fair. Especially considering the issues that come from owning a yacht with other people.” He pulled his shoulders back. “There are times when I’m happy to throw money around, but in business I’m ruthless. I was looking at it as a business transaction I guess.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” Lily said. “Couldn’t you have just bought your own boat?”

“Yes, but I don’t like being alone. I enjoyed being part of their group. Seems stupid now.”

“I reckon you just picked the wrong group,” Lily said, feeling sorry for him, and also feeling bad that she’d used him too.

“Any chance of a scoop of your cherry chocolate ice cream to see me on my way?”

“Of course.” She loaded up a cone and passed it over. “On the house.”

“Thank you,” he said, winking. “If I’m ever back here, I’ll call in for an ice cream.”

“I’d be happy to see you,” she said and wished him safe travels.

The door had barely closed behind him when it opened again. Flynn was in uniform and his smile was full of mirth as he wandered in with a coffee for her.

“You’re the talk of the town again this morning. I suspect ice cream sales will be up today. People will be coming in just to hear about your latest adventure.”

“Lovely,” she said sarcastically.

“You should be proud. Vic might have got away with it if it weren’t for you.”

“I don’t think so. You weren’t far behind with the investigation. You’d have figured it out.”

“Not as quickly as you.”

She shrugged. “I heard Vic is on his way to the mainland.”

“Yes. PC Hill is escorting him.” He passed her takeaway mug over the counter. “Who’ve you been fluttering your eyelashes at?”

“What?”

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