Page 69 of The Sunken Truth
After a brief conversation with his colleague, Flynn kept quiet as they walked hurriedly back to the quay. Worry lines were etched on his brow and his frown deepened when his phone rang just as they were getting onto the boat.
“Did you find him?” he asked, while Lily hesitated to start the motor, assuming he wouldn’t be able to hear over the noise of it. He explained what they’d found, then pressed a finger to his temple as he listened to his colleague. “I really need to speak to him,” Flynn said eventually. “Can you take him back to the station? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“What’s happening?” Lily asked when he ended the call.
“PC Hill found Kurt boarding the ferry. He admits finding the cigar box and taking it to Eustace but not to cutting the hose.”
“That’s what you thought would happen.”
“Yeah.” Flynn massaged the back of his neck. “He also says his mum is dying and that’s why he’s in such a rush to get back to Australia.”
Lily grimaced and started the engine.
“If I’ve got it wrong about him, I’m going to feel terrible about holding him up.”
It wasn’t only waylaying Kurt that would be an issue if Flynn had got things wrong. This was his last shot at impressing the superintendent. The thought of failing weighed heavily in his stomach as they made their way back to St Mary’s.
Glancing at Lily, he caught the small smile which lifted her lips. Apparently, piloting a boat gave her a buzz. The first time they were out on the boat together, he’d been eager to have a go at skippering it himself, but couldn’t bring himself to ask for a turn when Lily looked so content at the helm.
Watching her, his worries dissipated, and he drank in the curve of her lips and the light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks.
Too soon, they were back at Porthcressa Beach. Reality rushed back in while they pulled the boat onto the sand.
“What if he denies everything?” Flynn asked, scraping a hand through his hair. “What if I mess up the interview with the superintendent watching?”
“You’ll be fine.” Lily’s hand on his forearm was more reassuring than any words. “You’re great at your job. Stop letting the superintendent get in your head.”
“I can’t help it. Also, I don’t think interviewing suspects is my greatest strength.”
“You did well with Eustace,” she said, as they walked up the beach. “It was impressive that you got him to tell you who gave him the box. There’s something about your tone that makes people feel they can’t keep things hidden.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t overthink it,” Lily said. “Just keep asking questions until you hit on the right one. And call me as soon as you get a chance. I’ll be dying to hear how it goes.”
“I will.” He stopped on the promenade. “Thanks for all your help with this.”
“It’s been fun.”
He smiled and some of his tension left him. “It has been fun.” At least the time he’d spent with Lily had been.
She hesitated for a moment before giving him a brief hug and wishing him luck.
Chapter Thirty
At the station,PC Hill sat at the larger of the two desks in the reception area. Opposite him, slouched in the chair and with an ankle propped up on his opposite knee, Kurt looked equal parts cocky and pissed off.
“Are you the reason I’m not allowed to leave the island?” he asked Flynn, eyes flashing with irritation. “I have a flight out of Heathrow tomorrow so I need to get back to the mainland today.”
“I’ll be happy to let you leave once you’ve answered some questions and convinced me you had nothing to do with Ryan’s air hose being cut.”
“Great,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. “I had nothing to do with it.”
PC Hill stood and moved out from behind the desk. “The interview room is free if you want to chat to him back there. Or if you think it won’t take long, you can chat to him here…”
Flynn hesitated. In his previous experience of policing, he’d always use a private room, but things were different in rural policing, and he knew exactly what PC Hillwas hinting at – Kurt would feel more at ease sitting out here. He’d be more likely to let his guard down in the informal setting.
“I think we’re fine here.” Flynn slipped into the chair PC Hill had vacated. “I don’t think it’ll take long.”
