Page 91 of Dead in the Water

“The obscene amount of tips.” He pointed at the jar on the counter which was currently serving as a paper weight to a pile of crisp twenty-pound notes.

Lily put her coffee aside and reached for the money, flicking through the notes. “There’s five hundred quid here! He must have only asked for ice cream to distract me.”

“Who?”

“Russell. He just called in on his way to the airport. He complimented me on my investigative skills.”

“That’s a very generous compliment,” Flynn said, eyes on the money.

“Flipping heck.” Lily shook her head. “I’ll give half to Jessica as a thanks for all her efforts.”

“I guess he wanted you to have the money.”

Lily shrugged. “Jessica will appreciate the bonus.”

“I’m sure she will.”

Lily shoved the money into her pocket as the bell sounded.

“Morning,” Lily said as Glynis walked in.

“Hello.” She had a healthy glow back in her cheeks. “I hear you’ve been up to your usual tricks?”

“Yes,” Lily said flatly.

Glynis cocked her head. “You’re still annoyed with me, aren’t you?”

“I’m not annoyed with you. Mostly, I’m just tired. And I’m annoyed because I don’t think Maria was honest with me.”

“About knowing your parents?” Glynis asked.

Lily chewed her bottom lip. “I think she’s hiding something. I don’t know what.”

“Maybe you could help with that,” Flynn said, cocking his head.

Glynis looked at Lily, but she was just as puzzled by the comment.

“Tell her everything you know about Maria,” Flynn went on. “You knew her when she first opened the shop, didn’t you? Tell Lily everything you can remember about her. Maybe you know something that could help.” His gaze fell to Lily and he winced. “Sorry…”

She shook her head, eyes locked with his. “You’re right. I do want to find out everything I can.”

Chapter Forty-One

For a moment Glynismerely frowned at the suggestion of spilling information about her friend. “I don’t know what there is to tell,” she said eventually. “And I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable telling you what I do know.”

“There must be something,” Lily said. “Why didn’t it work out for her with the shop? From what I hear, the ice cream shop did well back then. Why did she leave?”

Glynis pulled out the chair closest to her and folded her hands in her lap. “Personal reasons, which aren’t for me to speak about.”

“Please tell me.” Lily gazed pleadingly at Glynis as she hurriedly took the seat opposite her. “I know it sounds crazy, but I think there’s something she doesn’t want me to know and I need to know why.”

Glynis stared forlornly at her hands. “You have to understand that what I know about her situation back then is what I’ve pieced together from the odd comment or bits of cryptic conversations. She’s not someone who opens up. She’s never outright told me the whole story.”

“Just tell me what you do know.”

“It has to stay between us?” Glynis said.

While Flynn joined them at the table, Lily nodded readily.

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