Page 32 of The Sunken Truth
Lily exchanged a puzzled glance with Flynn.
“Are you unsteady on your feet or something?” she asked. He hadn’t seemed to have any mobility problems that she’d seen.
“No, thank goodness. I’m ninety-seven though, so who knows how many breaths I have left in me. I want to take my last one here, at home. Not going out often seems like a good way to swing the odds of that in my favour.”
“Oh,” Lily said dumbly. “I see.”
“When you spoke to the people at the dive schools,” Flynn said. “Can you remember exactly who you spoke to?”
“Yes. The two owners, of course. What’s-his-name – Harry – he marched me straight out of his office. Said it wasn’t in the spirit of things and wasn’t interested in hearing a word about it.”
“So you didn’t speak to anyone else there?”
“His wife was with him, but she didn’t say much one way or another. Not that she could get a word in with her husband being so fired up. Then I went over to visit Ryan. He was much more welcoming. Made me a cuppa and we had a good long chat.”
Flynn cast Lily a sidelong glance that was full of suspicion. “Did Ryan seem open to your request?”
“Hard to say. He said he’d keep it in mind, but I suspect he was only humouring me. People often do. They think I don’t notice, or maybe they think I’m stupid because I’m old. Who knows? Anyway, he cheerfully told the people working for him I was offering cash for gold… I got the impression he didn’t believe for a minute there was gold to be found, so I don’t think he was really taking me seriously. Plus, I heard them all laughing when I left. They probably think I’m deaf.”
“Who was there with Ryan?”
“A couple of young fellas. One of them had a funny accent. Australian, I think. The other one is local… Maggie Telford’s grandson, I believe. He must be about thirty. I remember chatting with his grandmother in the pub the day he was born. Feels like yesterday. She was so excited, bless her. Ginger lad. His name will come to me…”
“Benji?” Lily suggested.
Eustace nodded. “That sounds right.” He gestured at the table. “Don’t be shy around the biscuits. They need eating.”
“Thank you.” Lily reached for one, but Flynn stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“We need to get going,” he said, smiling at Eustace. “Thanks for the refreshment, and for talking to us. I do need to insist that you stop offering rewards for salvaged items. And if anything comes your way, please report it. Everything needs to go through official channels.”
“Yes, okay. I may have got a little carried away. I’d be down there diving the wreck myself if I could.”
“There are a few historians due to arrive on the island,” Flynn said as he stood. “I imagine they’d be keen to speak to you if you’re interested.”
“I’d be delighted. Let them know where I am and send them my way.”
He walked them out and Flynn thanked him again before he closed the door behind them.
“Have you just put me on a diet?” Lily asked before they were even through the garden gate. “Why couldn’t I have a biscuit?”
“I was doing you a favour. When he said they needed eating, I suspect they needed eating about a decade ago.”
She grimaced. “He really seems to believe all that stuff about the gold.”
Flynn pulled his phone from his pocket as they walked along the narrow, sand-strewn path.
“Where are we heading now?” Lily asked. “Out to the dive site again? You said you wanted to figure out who cut the air hose, didn’t you?”
“The sergeant messaged to say they’re closing the site to the public.” His eyes scanned the phone screen. “It’s a protected area now.”
“So we won’t find the dive boatsthere?”
He shook his head. “I guess they’ll either be heading back to base or moving elsewhere for a regular dive session.”
“Are they both based on St Mary’s?”
“Ryan’s place is. Harry’s is on St. Martin’s.”
