Built on Lies (Lily Larkin Mysteries #7)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Watching the neighbours arguing in the hallway of Flynn’s flat in Walthamstow was better than a TV drama. Lily squinted through the peephole, getting a distorted view of the couple in the flat opposite.

“What are you doing?” Flynn asked, hands on his hips and dressed only in a pair of low-slung jeans.

“Your neighbours are arguing,” she whispered. “The couple opposite.” As they went back into their flat, she turned to Flynn.

“They bicker a lot,” he said.

“What are they called?”

“I don’t know.”

“Flynn!” she hissed, not believing him.

“Do you mean the Indian couple?” He pursed his lips. “The Patels?”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Have you assigned them the only Indian last name you could think of?”

“No.” His eyes sparkled. “It’s the name on their bell.”

“What are their first names?”

“I’ve no idea.”

“It’s so strange,” Lily said, feeling pleasantly exposed in Flynn’s T-shirt which ended at the top of her thighs. “Island life must have really got to me, because the idea of not knowing your neighbours’ names seems completely foreign.”

“I hadn’t lived in this place long before I moved to St. Mary’s. But I’m also not keen to get to know my neighbours. Especially as most of them seem pretty odd.”

“It’s fun watching people come and go,” she said. “I like wondering about their lives. I used to live in flats when I was growing up, but now it feels like such a novelty.”

“It’s not a novelty for me, so can you please come away from the door and give me some attention? Or do you plan to spend the next five days spying on my neighbours?”

With a coy smile, she draped her arms around his neck. “I’ve been here for three hours and you’ve had plenty of attention in that time.”

He rubbed his nose against hers and kissed her softly. “After three weeks of not seeing you, it takes longer than three hours to catch up.”

She took his hand and led him into the living room which was furnished exclusively with Ikea furniture. “We should definitely try to leave your flat at some point during this visit.”

“Really? Why?”

“Partly because last time I visited I had to lie to people when they asked what I’d done in London.”

“You definitely shouldn’t have told them the truth,” he said, amused. “You weren’t complaining about staying in at the time, though.”

“No, I wasn’t.” She sank onto the black leather couch which was cold against her legs. “But this time you need to show me more of London than your flat.”

“Okay. How about we go for a walk and find somewhere for dinner?”

“I’m hungry actually.”

“I need to shower first.”

When he moved to the bedroom, she followed and watched as he pulled fresh clothes from the built-in wardrobe which covered an entire wall.

“What were the Patels arguing about, by the way?” he asked.

“Mr Patel left the bin outside the door to take downstairs later. His wife had a go at him. Reckoned they’d be in trouble with the landlord if he saw rubbish in the hallway.”

“Exciting stuff, then?”

Lily straightened out the wrinkled navy-blue duvet and perched on the bed. “Does the landlord often wander through the building?”

“Actually, yes. He lives up on the first floor.”

“Which one is he? Have I seen him?”

“Mr Latham. Short guy with glasses.”

“Is he nice?”

Flynn shrugged. “We’re not exactly friends. I don’t have anything to do with him aside from paying him an extortionate amount of money every month.”

“My rent is crazy cheap,” she said, her mind wandering to her flat and the ice cream shop. “Do you think I should call Maria and check that everything is okay?”

“You only left this morning. And I imagine she’d call you if there was a problem.”

“I suppose so.”

He hovered beside her. “She managed fine taking care of the shop last time, didn’t she?”

“Yes, but that was before Jessica left for the winter, so she was around to help. It’s different being alone.”

“She’ll be fine. I’ll bet she’s enjoying it.”

“Probably!” Lily said, flopping back on the bed.

“Is that the problem?” Flynn asked, nudging her leg with his own. “Are you concerned she’s going to enjoy it so much that she decides she wants the shop back?”

“She told me she sold her house in Bristol, so she’ll probably want the flat back too.”

Flynn sank beside her with a sympathetic smile.

“She told you that because you were stressing about people leaving. It was supposed to reassure you that she’s staying on St Mary’s.

There’s no way in the world she’d ask you for the flat or the shop back.

Also, didn’t she just get a part-time job at the garden centre? ”

“Yeah.” Lily smiled. “She’s really enjoying working with Sally.”

“There you go then.”

“It just seems weird to me that she wouldn’t want the shop back.”

“She doesn’t. And she’d never do anything to upset you, so you really have nothing to worry about.”

Lily nodded. “This morning she was asking if I plan on looking into my parents’ deaths more while I’m here.”

“And?”

She shrugged. “The property developers who wanted to buy my parents’ house have their offices in London. I could pay them a visit while I’m here.”

“We talked about this on your last visit. There’s no pressure for you to dig into it at all.”

“Sometimes I think it wouldn’t hurt to ask a few questions, and other times I think it’s a waste of time. I know my uncle and gran suspected them but they didn’t even buy the house in the end.”

Flynn nodded slowly. “Whatever you want. We could go over there and ask a few questions. Or we can spend all weekend in my bed. Totally up to you.”

Laughing, she gave him a friendly nudge with her leg. “There are definitely other options too. Like sightseeing and shopping. Oh, and when are we seeing your mum?”

“Sunday. She’ll get the train in for the day. She’s excited to meet you.”

“I don’t know if I’m excited or nervous.”

“She’ll love you. There’s nothing to be nervous about.” He poked her in the ribs. “Now, I thought you wanted to get ready and go out?”

“I do, but I’m waiting for you to shower. I’ll go after you.”

“Or you could come with me.”

“You’re a little clingy these days,” she said, grinning as she sat up and kissed him softly.

She pulled back at the sound of a dog barking in the hallway.

“Dog lady’s home,” she said, jumping up and heading for the front door.

“It’s better than a soap opera,” she murmured, closing one eye to look through the peephole.

“I don’t know why you find it so entertaining,” Flynn said.

“Because she has the worst trained dog in the world. It runs around her legs and she gets caught up in the lead almost every time she comes in.”

He shook his head. “You know way too much about my neighbours.”