Page 42 of Artful Deceit
Martha frowned when Lily sat down. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but why did you want to see Roland?”
“She probably wants to see his sketches too,” Saffron said, her eyes on her phone as she scrolled away. “All his secrecy around his charcoal sketches makes them very intriguing.”
Lily took a sip of coffee to avoid having to answer and was grateful that Roland chose that moment to appear. His brow was furrowed even before he clapped eyes on Lily, but he looked even more unsure of himself then.
“I didn’t hear you arrive,” he mumbled.
Lily rose from her chair. “Could I have a word with you? In private.”
“Let him show us his sketches first,” Saffron said, rubbing her hands together. “Don’t keep us in suspense any longer.”
Roland hugged a sketchbook to his chest. “I didn’t realise there’d be someone else here.”
“Don’t be shy,” Martha said. “I’m sure they’re brilliant.”
He pulled out a chair. “I’ve never shown them to anyone. I don’t know if they’re any good. I just really enjoy it.”
“Show us!” Saffron demanded while Lily sank back onto her chair.
“It’s only a few drawings,” he muttered, setting the book on the table. “It’s silly, really.”
As he opened the first page, Saffron and Martha leaned in to look.
“Oh, it’s not silly at all,” Saffron crooned. “They’re really good. I knew they would be.”
“They are,” Martha agreed. “You have a real talent with charcoal.”
“Show us some more,” Saffron said, indicating he should turn the page with a flick of her hand.
“They’re gorgeous,” Martha breathed. “How can you capture so much depth and emotion in black and grey?”
“Thatisgood,” Lily said, leaning close to admire the sketch of moonlit clouds.
“Thank you.” Roland turned the page again, keeping his fingers at the very edge to avoid smudging.
The next picture showed the rough outline of a cottage beside the sea.
“You definitely found your speciality,” Saffron said, as he turned the page to a picture of another remote cottage.
“I found a positive side to insomnia, that’s for sure.”
Lily closed her eyes briefly as her mind whirred. “You do these at night?”
“Yes. I did a few sketches of the moon when I first arrived here, and I enjoyed it. Then I sketched a little house bathed in moonlight, and I got a bit obsessed.”
“They are really good,” Lily agreed as he continued to turn the pages of his sketchbook.
“I’d like to say it keeps me out of mischief.” Roland smiled gently. “But last night I made a few dogs bark, so I probably annoyed the owners. I also found I have to be careful not to trigger security lights. If I get too close, the whole place lights up and I lose the ambiance.”
Lily rubbed her forehead. Apparently, Roland had no idea what a fuss he’d caused last night.
It seemed Lily had been wrong about him.
With the feeling she’d forgotten something important, she stayed fixed in her seat for a moment.
Her heart rate increased as she remembered the conversation she’d overheard about Len Marrack transporting goods off the island. When she’d seen Roland last night, she’d put all her suspicions about Len aside, but what if she’d been on the right track with Len?
She checked her watch. The ferry was due to leave in twenty minutes.
