Page 41 of Artful Deceit
She could see him, though.
His beanie was pulled down to his eyes, but the pointy chin, accentuated by a goatee beard, was very familiar.
As recognition hit her, she moved around the house and up to the lane. She’d lost sight of him, and suddenly she didn’t care about waiting for Flynn. She burst into a run and tore down the road, only to reach a fork just after the bend. He could have gone one of three ways, and she couldn’t see anyone in any direction. At a noise behind her, she turned and waited for Flynn.
“What did you see?” he asked, quiet but breathless.
“A man. He seemed to be sizing up that cottage down there, but the security light came on and he scarpered. I don’t know which way he went.”
“He?Did you get a good look at him?”
“Not really. It was definitely a man. He had a hat on, and I think he had a beard.” She was certain it was Roland but couldn’t say that since it would mean explaining how she knew Roland. That was a can of worms she’d rather keep closed. “I think he might have gone that way.” She pointed along the lane, but it was merely her best guess since it was the most direct route to the art retreat.
“Let’s go then,” Flynn said. “We’ll stick together.”
Lily nodded, and they set off at a jogagain.
Maybe Roland hadn’t gone directly back to the retreat, or maybe he’d seen them and hidden. Maybe it hadn’t been him at all. Either way, they didn’t find anyone. After two hours of roaming, and no more sightings from the Trenearys or anyone else on the island, they finally gave up.
“I’m so tired,” Lily said, her muscles and her mind screaming at her for rest.
Flynn nodded. “This really wasn’t the physical activity I had in mind for tonight.”
“I enjoyed the night anyway,” she said through a yawn.
“Not as much as you’d have enjoyed all the sex I had planned.”
“You’re very confident, Flynn.”
“Yep.”
Laughing, she veered into him and stayed glued to his side as he draped an arm around her shoulders and planted a kiss on the side of her head.
Chapter Twenty
It was almostfour in the morning when they finally fell into Flynn’s bed. Exhausted, Lily curled into Flynn’s side and was asleep within minutes. It only felt like a few more minutes before she was awake again. Flynn had already left for work, despite it only being half eight. The desire to turn over and go back to sleep was hard to ignore. Only the thought of paying Roland a visit – and retrieving her passports – got Lily moving.
She splashed water on her face and pulled her hair into a ponytail before leaving the flat. This time, she didn’t need a plan to scout out the art retreat. She’d simply demand to speak to Roland alone and convince him to give up her passports. She could bribe him with the promise of keeping her money.
Not that she intended to let him get away with his crime spree – as soon as she had the forged passport safely back in her possession, she’d report him to the police. Without her passports there was nothing to connect her to the backpack. She could deny any knowledge of it.
It wasn’t as though she needed the money. If she never saw it again, so be it.
“Morning!” Saffron called when Lily stepped into the guest accommodation at the art retreat.
“Hi,” Lily replied, moving to join Saffron and Martha in the kitchen.
Saffron patted the seat beside her. “It’s so nice of you to visit me again.” The wink she gave her exuded mirth, and Lily squirmed inwardly at the thought that she really believed she was involved in a fling with Roland.
“Is Roland here?” Lily asked, deciding she didn’t have time to worry about what anyone thought. She only wanted her passports back.
“You just missed him,” Martha said. “He’s gone for a shower.”
Glancing back along the hall, Lily contemplated barging in on him in the shower. Maybe catching him off guard wouldn’t be a terrible thing. She wasn’t keen to see him naked, though.
“He’ll be back soon,” Saffron said. “He’s promised to show us his sketches. There’s coffee in the pot if you want some.”
“Thanks.” She poured herself a mug, unsure whether caffeine was a great idea given the amount of adrenaline pumping through her system.
