Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

By mid-morning Lily was putting the finishing touches to a large rectangle of blackboard paint on the back wall of the shop. The door opened, and she called hello to Kit and Seren, but neither of them greeted her. Kit lifted a finger to his lips in a shushing motion, then pressed the button on the side of his phone to increase the volume of the chatter coming through it.

“Is that Gordon Pengelly?” Lily whispered, sure she recognised the voice.

Seren nodded. “He’s being interviewed on the radio. Mirren just messaged to tell us. We thought you’d want to listen too.”

As Kit set his phone on the counter, Lily huddled around it with the two of them, tuning in to the conversation.

“It goes entirely against the ethos of the island,” Gordon was saying in a slightly pompous tone. “We’ve always welcomed visitors to the island, whether it be day trippers or those who stay for longer.”

“Come on,” the interviewer said. “You have to admit there’s often some rivalry between born and bred Scillonians and the people who move here.”

“A friendly rivalry,” Gordon said. “We’re talking good-natured banter, nothing more.”

“What radio station is this?” Lily asked.

“The Scillies have their own radio station,” Kit replied.

“Wow,” Lily muttered, not sure how she was only just finding that out.

“The islands need more business,” Gordon continued. “It’s good for our economy. But no business in the gastronomy sector can survive the backlash from making people ill. Dante Accardi was telling me he hasn’t had a customer in weeks. Even though he’s replaced all his food supplies, people just aren’t willing to risk it. I know all of this is making Lily Larkin nervous, too.”

Lily’s eyebrows shot up at the sound of her name and she moved closer to the phone, waiting for him to go on.

“Ah,” the interviewer said, a cheerful lilt in his voice. “Our very own private investigator. Why would she be worried?”

“She’s a newcomer,” Gordon said. “If something sinister is going on, that puts her at risk. She’s also about to open an ice cream shop. Imagine if she’s the next target for this saboteur.”

“Surely not,” the interviewer said. “You couldn’t sabotage ice cream, could you?”

“I don’t know,” Gordon said. “But I know I’d be worried if I was her. I’m worried for her.”

“With any luck she’s putting her investigative skills to use to catch whoever’s trying to drive newcomers away.”

“I hope so,” Gordon said. “We need to sort this out, and soon. Everyone on our islands should feel safe. What’s been happening is entirely unacceptable. Until we get to the bottom of it, we need people to be careful.”

There was a puzzled undertone to the interviewer’s voice. “Are you saying people shouldn’t eat out?”

“No.” He sighed heavily. “We can’t give in to fear, can we?” There was a brief pause. “I’m sorry. I really don’t know what the answer is. Of course people are going to be nervous about eating out for a while. The police are working on the matter. I’m sure they’ll have answers for us soon.”

The interviewer thanked Gordon before introducing a song.

Lily looked up at Kit and Seren.

“ Are you worried?” Seren asked, while Kit took his phone and turned the radio off.

“I am now,” Lily said. “I mentioned to Gordon that I was concerned but he insisted I shouldn’t worry. Apparently he changed his mind about that.”

Seren grimaced. “You don’t think someone would try and poison your ice cream?”

“I really hope not.” Her heart was thundering at the thought of it.

“I suppose it’s good that Gordon’s spreading awareness,” Kit said. “Everyone should be a bit more vigilant.”

“There are articles in the press on the mainland too,” Seren said.

“Why?” Lily asked. “Did the police put out a statement or something?”

“I don’t know.” Seren frowned. “I thought you might know.”

Lily let out a sigh that was part growl as she pulled her phone out. “I’ll ask Flynn.”

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