Page 49 of Artful Deceit
“By the sounds of it, they didn’t have the chance – what with you and Lily chasing around, and half the island awake and keeping watch.”
Flynn yawned again. “It still feels a bit off to me.”
“You don’t think it was the thief?”
“My gut says no.”
“Just someone out for a midnight stroll?” the sergeant asked, scepticism clear in his tone.
“I dunno,” Flynn said.
“You look done in,” the sergeant said. “Go home and get some sleep.”
“Do you want me patrolling tonight?”
“No. It’s definitely my turn. And I promise not to leave my phone downstairs when I go to bed tonight.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “I still can’t believe I did that. I always have my phone by my bed. Every single night. I put it there on autopilot. I’ve no idea what happened last night.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Flynn leaned back in his chair. “And I’m happy to patrol again tonight… I’d just need to get a power nap in first.”
He fully expected the sergeant to turn him down and was a little concerned when he looked thoughtful. Flynn actually wanted to spend the evening with Lily. Although, at the rate he was yawning, he was probably only fit for sleep. He could have a nap, though. He’d be fine after a nap.
“No,” the sergeant said eventually. “You need a night off. Thanks for the offer.”
“Are you still not feeling well?” Flynn asked.
“I feel as though I could do with a holiday. Maybe I’m just envious of PC Hill. A break sounds pretty good.”
Flynn was working up the energy to leave, but paused. “My flight is booked for next Saturday.” It felt surreal that he’d be leaving in barely more than a week.
The sergeant nodded. “You said. Are we going to have drinks before you leave? Seren was saying something about organising a do in the Mermaid Inn…”
Flynn shook his head. “She mentioned it to me, but I told her not to bother. I don’t want any fanfare. The thought of leaving is hard enough as it is. I’m still hoping the powers that be will decide I’m needed here long term.”
“I do think I’m making headway,” the sergeant said. “It’s not going to happen before the end of next week, though.”
“Yeah, I know. I’d just rather we save the drinks for when I’m back here with a permanent job on St Mary’s.”
The sergeant nodded sagely. “I like the sound of that.”
Twenty minutes later, Flynn grumbled to himself when he pushed open the door of the ice cream shop and got no resistance. The sign was turned to closed, and the place was empty.
“Hi,” Lily called from the back room.
“You should lock the door,” he said, the words coming out more harshly than he intended. “There’s a criminal on the loose in case you haven’t heard.”
Given the mess on every available work surface in the back, it appeared that Lily was at various stages of making several batches of ice cream.
“You look worn out,” she said, ignoring his nagging.
“You look busy.” He frowned at the chaotic room. “I was hoping we could grab dinner and chill out for the evening.”
“By chill out do you mean pass out on the couch, because that looks about all you’re fit for.”
He dragged a hand through his hair. “How do you look so perky? You can’t have got much more sleep than me.”
“No, but you also haven’t had much sleep for a few nights in a row.”
“True. Why are you making so much ice cream? I thought things had been quieter?”
