Page 14 of Death on the Rocks

“Watch your footing,” he said, drawing her attention to the damp rocks, littered with seaweed. His sturdy black boot landed on a dark green clump – the kind with air pockets, which set off a stutter of popping sounds. She didn’t know the names of any type of seaweed, it occurred to her. Maybe she’d look it up later.

“Are you cold?” Flynn asked, his bulk close beside her.

“I don’t think so.” She wished her teeth would stop chattering so her voice sounded normal. “I just can’t stop shivering.”

“You had a shock,” he said.

The sound of coughing made her turn back, thinking for a moment they’d been wrong about Vinny, and he was now spluttering back to life and possibly gearing up to have another go at someone.

It was just the other police officer, sounding as though he might cough up a lung.

“Don’t you get used to seeing dead bodies?” she asked, then blinked in surprise as PC Grainger draped his big black coat around her. She hadn’t noticed him removing it, but the warmth was immediately comforting.

“Sadly, yeah.” He glanced over at his colleague. “Sergeant Proctor has the flu. He’s supposed to be off sick today, but I had to call him in. I’ve never been so thankful that this wasn’t a prank call. If I’d have got him out of bed for something that wasn’t life and death, I’d have never heard the end of it.”

Lily stared at him, waiting for him to register what he’d said. When he didn’t comment further a smile pulled at her lips, and the tremor in her voice had gone when she spoke again. “Did you just say you were happy about the dead body?”

“No.” He cast her a rueful glance. “I’m only happy it’s not my dead body being dealt with today.” He tipped his chin in greeting as the medics passed them, then indicated for Lily to continue with him.

“I take it you’re not a fan of Sergeant Proctor?” she asked.

“Other way around… he’s not a fan of mine. Give him a reason to have a go at me and he’s a happy man.”

The openness of the conversation put Lily at ease. Perhaps he wasn’t being as professional as the situation warranted, but Lily was glad of it. A normal conversation kept her mind from the dead body behind them.

“How many police are on the islands?” she asked.

“Three now, though it’s usually only two. The sergeant and a PC. This is only a temporary position for me.”

“Right.” She thought of the rumour Seren had shared in the pub. Curious, she opened her mouth to ask why it was a temporary position, but her foot hit a slippery rock and talking shifted down her list of priorities. Instinct sent her arm shooting out and she had the brief thought that taking PC Grainger down with her wouldn’t make the situation better. Except his arm was solid when her fingers wrapped around it, and he leaned in to support her with no effort at all. “Thanks,” she murmured, annoyed that she’d turned into such a stuttering, jelly-legged liability. “I’m not usually so easily shaken. Though I guess I don’t stumble across dead bodies very often.”

Her mind took her back to the last time she’d encountered a dead body. Finding her uncle had been a devastating experience, but one she thought she’d dealt with well. With hindsight, shewondered if refusing to think about it was as clever a tactic as she’d thought.

With a long stride, PC Grainger stepped from the rocks to the sand, then held a hand out to help her.

“What on earth has happened?” Mrs Miller asked, approaching them.

Alanna crowded in too. “Is that Vinny out there?”

“Yes,” Lily replied, automatically looking back to where the medics were now deep in conversation with the sergeant.

“Is he okay?” Alanna’s eyes were wide.

“I’m afraid not,” PC Grainger said, his voice soft and full of sympathy.

Chapter Ten

“Dead?”Alanna muttered for about the fiftieth time. She sat on the couch with Marc, while Lily felt dwarfed by the large armchair beside the patio doors.

After fielding questions from the group as best he could, PC Grainger had ushered them all back to the house where they’d settled in the living room. The whole thing felt like a blur to Lily and she couldn’t even guess at how much time had passed since she’d found Vinny. She’d stuck by PC Grainger, moving when he moved and not paying too much attention to the surrounding chatter. As she lifted her gaze, she caught him looking down at her. His eyes darted away and he accepted a steaming mug from Mrs Miller with a puzzled expression. Immediately, she took it from him again with a shake of the head.

“You said you didn’t want anything,” Flora murmured. “This was for Lily.”

“I’m also fine,” Lily said.

“You’ve had a shock.” There was a tremble to Mrs Miller’s hand as she gave Lily the mug. “Sweet tea. That’s what you need. Drink up.”

“How can he be dead?” Alanna screeched, looking accusingly at PC Grainger.

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