Page 53 of Artful Deceit
“No. Thanks. I think I’ll try talking to Martha again.”
“Good idea. Let me know if anything comes of it.”
She promised she would and ended the call.
Wandering across the promenade, she looked out across the sand, but Martha was nowhere in sight. She’d been there a few minutes ago.
Frowning, Lily went back into the shop and began taking the tables and chairs outside while trying to decide on the best course of action.
Maybe she could be completely forthcoming with Martha. After all, if she’d been stealing from people, she did it with good reason. It didn’t make it okay, but Lily could at least have a littlesympathy.
She could ask her outright and make a deal with her. If she handed over the rest of the stolen goods and Lily’s passports, she could keep Lily’s money. It was enough for her to start a new life. Lily could wait until Martha had left and then leave the recovered goods at the police station door. Everyone would get their stuff back, Martha would get her fresh start, and Lily could burn her fake passport and stop worrying about it being discovered.
The idea percolated as she set out the ice cream trays in the display cabinet.
A knock at the door had her looking up. Martha had a takeaway mug from Pippa’s cafe in her hand as she gingerly pushed at the handle.
“I know you’re not really open yet, but I wondered if you might have time for a little chat.”
“Come in,” Lily said. “I was hoping I’d catch you again.”
“I wanted to share my news with someone, but Saffron has already left.”
“What news?” Lily nodded at a table, and they sat opposite each other.
“I’m going to leave my husband.”
“Wow.” Lily said, trying to come up with an appropriate response while really wondering why she suddenly felt able to leave him after so many years.
“I’ve been on the phone to my sister for the last hour. She’s over the moon. She said she’s been worried about me for years, and she’s been so supportive.” Tears filled Martha’s eyes, and she pulled a tissue from her pocket. “I don’t think I’d be brave enough if it weren’t for Janet. It’s so scary to think of losing financial support. I might not have been happy with Gregory, but I always knew I had a warm house and hot meals. There’s security in that which you tend not to think about until it’s in jeopardy.”
“That’s true,” Lily said. “How will you manage financially, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“I don’t know.” More tears welled on her lower lids. “I havemy pension, which I can divert into my secret account.” She sniffed loudly. “It won’t need to be a secret any more I suppose, just my private account. He can’t touch that.”
“Is your pension enough to live on?”
“No. Not really. But my sister insisted I go and live with her. She said not to worry about money, but I’ll hate being a burden on her, so I’ll try to find myself a little job. Nothing too stressful. Maybe once I’m feeling more settled, I’ll get a lawyer and see about a divorce, and try to get what I’m owed from my marriage. That’s what Janet says I should do, but I’m just feeling too delicate at the moment to even think about it. I need to get my confidence back.”
“Yes.” Lily forced a smile, feeling once again as though she’d hit a wall in her investigation. Martha really didn’t seem like someone who’d recently come into a large stash of cash.
After checking her watch, Martha stood. “I have to get going. We’re going to spend a few hours painting on the beach.”
“That sounds very soothing.”
“Yes. Although, it won’t be the same without Saffron. She’s a bit of a funny thing, but I enjoyed spending time with her. I don’t have quite the same connection to the men in the group. Roland is nice enough, but I struggle with Silas. We don’t have much in common.” She smiled. “He’s had us in stitches though with his tree climbing. I don’t know if he thinks we can’t see him down at the end of the garden, but he’s up and down that tree like a monkey. It’s bizarre!”
“That is weird.” Lily chewed her lower lip. “Enjoy your afternoon,” she said as Martha left.
Maybe she hadn’t been barking up the wrong tree by investigating the art retreat after all. Perhaps she just hadn’t been thinking literally enough when considering which tree to bark up.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Craning her neck,Lily stared up at the oak tree by Silas’s tent and wondered how she got herself into such ridiculous situations. After another quick glance around to check the coast was clear, she reached for the first branch, which hung a little above head height. Thankfully, she had good upper body strength, or she’d never have made it up that first bit. From there, a few branches were closer together and she scrambled higher with ease.
Then she stopped to catch her breath and scan the branches. It would be quite a brilliant place to hide stuff. If it weren’t for Silas being seen climbing the tree, it would never have occurred to her to search in a tree. With no sign of anything, she suspected her theory was a little too far on the wild side, but continued higher. As the branches thinned out again, she curled her fingers into a hole in the trunk to see if she could use it to haul herself higher.
Her fingers brushed against something. Instinctively, she reached further in and fumbled around until she had a firm hold on what felt like a plastic bag.
