Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Lily called Flynn for an update on Gordon the following lunchtime. Apparently, he’d left the hospital early in the morning and was recovering well.
“I think I’ll pay him a visit,” Lily said, pacing her living room as she spoke into the phone.
“Maybe you should just leave things alone for now,” Flynn suggested. “You’re opening the shop tomorrow afternoon. You should focus on that.”
“I can’t.” She threw her hand out in exasperation. “How can I concentrate on anything when there’s a criminal loose on the island? I need to figure out who it is before they strike again.”
“We burned the plant but sent the plant pot over to the mainland for forensic testing. There’s a chance we can get fingerprints from it.”
“Only a slim chance,” Lily muttered. “Because they probably used gloves and even if they didn’t, their fingerprints need to be in your database in order for us to know who did it.”
“Yeah,” he said. “But there’s still a chance that it will lead to something.”
“If not, we’re just sitting around waiting for them to strike again.” She banged her fist on the back of the couch. “I’m going to visit Gordon. I need to do something.”
“We’ve already spoken to him at length, but he’s ranting a lot. The sergeant isn’t inclined to act on what he’s saying.”
Lily stopped her pacing. “So Gordon has a theory?”
Flynn hesitated for a moment. “He’s pointing the finger at Arthur.”
“Previously, he was adamant it couldn’t be anything to do with Arthur.”
“I know, but after his experience with the plant, he’s changed his tune. He thinks it’s all down to Arthur, but he has no proof, and the sergeant still won’t hear a bad word said against Arthur.”
“I’m definitely going to speak to Gordon,” Lily said, already shoving her feet into her trainers by the door. “I’ll talk to you later,” she said before she ended the call.
After a brisk walk across the island, she was disappointed to find the gate to the garden centre closed and a sign on it announcing it wouldn’t be open again until Monday. She should really have expected that. Sally would be taking care of Gordon until he was fully recovered.
She lingered by the gate, glancing around. Gordon’s house was next door to the garden centre – he’d pointed it out to her when she’d first met him. She didn’t hesitate long before setting off down the drive to the quaint cottage.
Uncertain of the reception she’d receive, she was relieved when Sally answered the door with a smile.
“I was just thinking about you,” she said, stepping onto the doorstep and pulling the door behind her before wrapping Lily in a hug. “To start with, I owe you an apology,” she said when she released a slightly dazed Lily. “I was rude the last time we spoke. Honestly, I really believed it was nonsense that someone was deliberately poisoning people, and I was upset with you for thinking it could be someone at the garden centre.” She heaved in a ragged breath. “Now, I understand you were just trying to keep people safe.”
Lily opened her mouth to speak, but Sally continued before she could get a word out. “I’m so grateful to you for helping my dad. Sergeant Proctor explained how you’d given first aid and called for help.” She squeezed Lily’s hand. “I love Arthur to bits, but he’s useless in a crisis.”
Lily had to agree with her there. The only thing Arthur had been interested in was the plant. She liked to think that if she hadn’t been there, he’d have done more to help Gordon, but she couldn’t swear to it.
“How is your dad?” Lily asked.
“Driving me crazy!” Sally’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. “He’s clearly exhausted, but he’s ranting about needing to find the person who put that plant in his office.” She rolled her eyes. “All he actually needs to do is rest, but he won’t listen to me.”
“Is he up to visitors?” Lily asked.
“Yes! Sorry, I should have invited you in. Come on, I’ll put the kettle on and you can say hello – give me a bit of respite from listening to him.”
“I think I’d be baying for blood too,” Lily said, stepping into the long hallway behind Sally.
“Finally!” Gordon’s voice drifted from a room to the left. “Someone who might listen to me. It’s very good of you to call over, Lily.”
“Go in,” Sally said as she set off to the kitchen at the end of the hall. “I’ll join you in a minute. Do you want tea or coffee?”
Lily hesitated, still not feeling overly trusting. “Just a glass of water, please.”
“I hear I owe you a debt of gratitude,” Gordon said, when she walked into the small living room to find him sitting in an armchair with his bandaged arm resting in his lap. Given his pale skin and slumped posture, he looked as though he’d be better off in bed.
“It was nothing,” Lily said, but felt her stomach roll at the thought of his blood all over her hands. “I’m glad you’re okay. I thought you’d need to stay in the hospital for longer.”
“He should have done,” Sally called from the kitchen. “The stubborn mule went against the doctor’s advice.”
“There was no need to stay longer,” he insisted, though his shaky voice hinted that even speaking was an effort. “I’m more comfortable at home.”
“How’s your arm?” Lily asked.
“It’s just a cut,” he said with a dismissive wave of the hand.
“It was a deep cut,” Lily said. “You should take it easy.”
“It’s this tiredness that’s the worst of it,” he grumbled. “Sally insisted on closing the garden centre for a few days, so I feel absolutely useless.”
“You should concentrate on resting,” Lily said, lowering herself onto the threadbare couch.
“I’m not sure how that’s possible when there’s someone terrorising islanders.” He sat forward in his chair. “I hate to say it, but I’ve been very disappointed in Sergeant Proctor. I always thought he was an asset to the community, but he seems to have dropped the ball on this matter.”
“How so?” Lily asked.
Sally walked in and set a glass of water on the coffee table in front of Lily.
“Please don’t start on this again,” she said, taking a seat beside Lily. “Sergeant Proctor is taking the matter seriously. The only reason he isn’t following up with your demands is because your wild allegations are entirely wrong. That’s obvious to everyone except you. Once this poison is out of your system and you’re back to your usual self, you’ll see that you’re not thinking straight.”
Gordon ignored her and instead fixed his eyes on Lily. “Realistically, there are only a handful of people who can wander into the office unnoticed.”
“I wanted to ask about that,” Lily said, leaning forwards. “Where was the plant when you arrived?”
“Just sitting on my desk.”
“There was no note or anything? It was only the plant?”
He nodded. “I didn’t think much of it. Sometimes Arthur brings in plants he’s either grown or ordered. He likes to tell me all about them and will leave them in my office if he arrives at work before me.”
“And he arrived before you yesterday?”
“Yes. He was out watering plants when I arrived.”
“Was anyone else around?”
“No. We weren’t open yet and no one else was working.”
“What about deliveries? The food for the cafe?”
“They hadn’t arrived yet,” Gordon said.
“So what happened exactly when you arrived at the garden centre?”
He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “I said hello to Arthur, then went into the office. I noticed the plant straightaway, but like I said, I didn’t think it overly unusual so I sat down to drink my coffee and check my emails. But the plant was taking up too much space on the desk so I stood up, intending to move it to the floor. My arm snagged on a branch, or so I thought. I remember a sharp pain and I looked down to see blood on my arm.” He shrugged. “Next thing I knew I was waking up in hospital feeling as though someone had sucked every ounce of energy from me.”
“When I found you,” Lily said slowly. “I called Arthur into the office and he seemed genuinely surprised by the plant.”
“He would, wouldn’t he? It was all an act. He must have put it there. Who else could have done it? And after all the research he does for his blog, it makes some sense that he’d get it into his head to try out some of these poisons.”
“Dad!” Sally chastised. “You’re being unfair.”
He held his hand up to silence her and kept talking. “I realise no one wants to say it, but everyone was concerned about how Arthur would manage after his mum died. We all wondered if he could cope with living alone.”
“He’s fine,” Sally muttered. “He’s perfectly competent. Maybe people were concerned about him, but he’s surprised everyone.”
“I’ve noticed changes in him recently,” Gordon told Lily. “It’s hit him hard to think that Sally will move to the mainland permanently. He was always very fond of her, but he’s become a little obsessed. I think he’s infatuated with her. He was upset that she couldn’t find a job and stay on the island.”
“No, he wasn’t,” Sally retorted. “He’s happy for me because he knows moving to Bristol is what I want.” She smiled at Lily. “He jokes about coming to visit me if I don’t come back often enough. Not that he would – he never leaves the islands.”
“I’m telling you,” Gordon said. “Something’s been off with him recently.”
Sally glared at him. “And I’m telling you that you’re being ridiculous.”
“Can you talk to him again?” Gordon said, eyes fixed on Lily. “If he is behind all of this, I’m sure you can figure it out.”
“That’s actually not a terrible idea,” Sally said wearily. “You could talk to him so you can rule him out of your investigation.”
“I’m definitely going to keep looking into it.” Lily slapped her palms on her thighs and stood up. “I’ll leave you to rest,” she said, noticing that Gordon had sunk back into his chair and looked wiped out.
He thanked her for visiting and Sally walked her to the door.
“I can’t believe what he’s saying about Arthur,” she whispered on the doorstep. “I don’t understand where it’s all coming from. He’s also talking about firing him. It’d crush Arthur if he lost his job.”
“What did he mean about people being unsure if Arthur could cope with living alone?”
Sally’s eyes narrowed. “Arthur is autistic,” she said plainly. “I guess some people thought that meant he wouldn’t manage to live independently.” She gave a lopsided smile. “He has his foibles, but don’t we all? And I’m not saying it was an easy adjustment for him when his mum passed away, but losing a parent is difficult for anyone.”
“His dad isn’t around?” Lily asked.
“He died a few years before his mum, so life hasn’t been easy for him, but he has his routines and his garden. And he has a community of people who support him. He thrives here, but I hate to think how hard it would be for him to lose his job.”
“Don’t worry,” Lily said. “Once I figure out who’s behind all this, Arthur’s name will be cleared and your dad will realise he made a mistake. I’m sure he’s just worried and panicking. He’s been through a traumatic experience. Maybe you should give him a little leeway.”
Sally puffed her cheeks out. “I’ll see what I can manage.”