Page 13 of Death on the Rocks

“A guy staying at the Miller’s place.”

“Old?”

“No. Young. Twenties, I guess. Maybe thirty.”

After another coughing fit, the sergeant shook his head. “People don’t just die around here.”

“Maybe someone should have told him that.” Impatiently, Flynn stepped around him to get in the car. “Are you coming?”

“Dispatch said it wasn’t an emergency call… someone called the station?”

“Yeah.” He paused with the driver’s door open. “So?”

“Probably a prank call. We don’t get deaths around here. At least not outside of the old people’s home.”

“Well, I need to check it out,” Flynn growled, conscious of the fact that a young woman was out there, freaking out about finding a corpse on her morning run. “Are you coming?”

With a derisive snort, he lumbered into the passenger seat. “This better be legit. If you’ve got me out of my sickbed for a bloody prank call, it’ll be you for the morgue.”

Flynn started the engine, choosing not to think about the fact that his superior had essentially just asked him to hope for someone’s death.

Chapter Nine

Lily remaineda few metres from the body. Maybe she should be trying to resuscitate him, but her instincts told her it was too late for that. Perhaps she should walk up to the lane and await PC Grainger, but another instinct made her reluctant to leave Vinny alone.

Her eyes fixed on a rock pool to her left where a small fish darted around, oblivious to the tragedy which had occurred so close to it. She glanced around several times, on the lookout for the police, but when they arrived they did so with such stealth that she only noticed the large, older police officer when he crouched beside Vinny. His voice seemed to drift straight out to sea and she couldn’t make out the words, nor whether they were directed at her.

The fish caught her eye again and she fixed her gaze on it until it darted under a rock. Pressure on her shoulder made her flinch dramatically and she whipped around to find PC Grainger beside her.

“Sorry,” he said. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Speaking drew attention to the incessant chattering of her teeth, but she couldn’t do anything to stop the tremors in her jaw. “I didn’t touch him. Maybe I should have. ShouldI have done something? CPR or…” She trailed off, unsure what else she might have done and aware of the fact that it made little difference now.

“It’s okay,” he said. “You did the right thing.” His piercing blue eyes held her gaze for a moment before the shout from his colleague drew his attention.

The older man gave a subtle shake of his head. Coupled with his grave expression, it was clear the information he was conveying.

Vinny was definitely dead then. Having it confirmed set Lily’s teeth chattering even more violently. She wrapped her arms around herself as her whole body shivered.

“Looks as though he fell,” the older police officer said as he took a few steps towards them and pointed at the enormous boulder looming close by. “Poor bugger.” His eyes landed on Lily. “I’m sorry,” he said sympathetically.

“I don’t know him,” she said, her words garbled on her shaky voice. “I mean I’m not with him… not friends with him. He’s staying at the B&B so I met him. His name’s Vinny. That’s all I really know. He’s a photographer.” She stopped, realising she was waffling, providing information that no one had asked for. “I was out for a jog and just saw him there.”

“You’re staying at the Miller’s place?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you know if he has family or friends with him?”

She shook her head. “He’s with colleagues. They’re here on a job together.”

“Take her up to the house and see that she gets a warm drink,” he said to PC Grainger, who remained solidly by her side. “Take a statement if she’s up to it. You’ll need to break the news to…” He sighed as his gaze shifted over Lily’s shoulder. “Or maybe not.”

Following his gaze, Lily spotted the small crowd which had gathered up on the lane beside the police car and an ambulance which had just pulled up. The Millers stood with Marc and Alanna. A couple of medics spoke to Rodney before setting off across the beach.

“Come on,” PC Grainger said, close to Lily’s ear. “Let’s get you back to the house.”

She flicked her eyes back to Vinny, only moving when PC Grainger gently tugged her elbow.

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