Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
It wasn’t running from the Patels’ back to Flynn’s flat that had Lily out of breath. After spending the last few hours distracting herself from thoughts about what was going on with Flynn, tension coiled inside her now.
Stepping into the living room, she told herself to keep it together if things didn’t work out as they wanted. They’d figure things out and everything would be fine.
“Flynn!” she called after glancing into the empty bedroom.
“Hi,” he said, stepping into the kitchen doorway.
She turned on her heel but couldn’t read anything in his features. “Have you been on the phone all this time?”
“It took a while with the sergeant.” He chewed his bottom lip and Lily’s heart thundered against her chest. “Then I had to speak to PC Hill, and a couple of the high ups in Devon and Cornwall Police – trying to figure out the logistics of me going back to St Mary’s. Working out the timing and stuff.”
“You’re coming back?” she whispered.
He nodded once.
“Seriously?” After wishing for it for months, it would be difficult for her to believe it anyway – even if it weren’t for Flynn’s lack of excitement. “You’re actually coming back?”
“Yes.” His lips curled into a smile, but his eyes refused to get on board.
“What’s going on?” she asked, crossing the room to stand in front of him. “Why aren’t you happy?”
“I am. I’m moving back – it’s great.”
“Why don’t you seem excited?”
“I am,” he said, and his face finally broke into a proper smile. “I’ll be back on Scilly in a couple of weeks.”
“No way!” Laughter bubbled up in her chest. “So soon?”
He nodded firmly, and she flung her arms around him as a wave of emotions flooded her. The relief was immense, and tears pricked at her eyes as she buried her face in his neck.
“I’m so happy,” she mumbled. “This is amazing. I knew you’d get the job.” She pulled back and grinned at him. “You’re going to be the sergeant!”
His smile slipped again. “Actually, that’s not going to happen.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s better,” he said, taking a small step back. “I can go back as a PC like I wanted all along.”
“Why? How? Did they finally agree to have an extra PC on the islands?”
“No. Jeff’s going to take the sergeant position.”
“PC Hill?” Lily had always liked him, but that might change quickly if he’d swooped in and taken a promotion after Flynn had worked so hard for it. “He didn’t want to be sergeant,” she said through gritted teeth. “Why has he changed his mind?”
“He was actually doing me a favour.”
“I don’t see how – not when you spent months working for the promotion.”
He tipped his head to the couch, and they moved to sit down.
“Apparently questions were raised about whether I should really get the sergeant’s job over there since it’s an isolated station.
Usually when PCs get promoted to sergeant, they have other high-ranking officers around to support them. I wouldn’t have that.”
“But nobody thought to mention that before you worked your arse off with all that fast-tracking stuff?”
“No one ever said the job was mine if I had the qualifications, just that it would be considered. It seemed likely that I’d get the job, but apparently PC Hill had let slip at some point that he hadn’t been given much time to consider things after Sergeant Proctor died and if he’d had more time, he might have taken the sergeant’s position. ”
“So they talked him into taking it?”
“They think it will be better if Jeff takes the sergeant’s position to start with.
He probably won’t stay on Scilly for longer than a couple more years.
In that time I can be acting sergeant whenever he’s on holiday or is ill.
That’ll give me the experience.” He took her hand and squeezed her fingers. “It makes sense.”
“But you’re disappointed?”
He sighed. “I guess I came to like the idea of being sergeant, but the main thing is I get to go back. We’ll be together again. That’s all I really care about.” A frown wrinkled his brow. “Did you think I wouldn’t get the job?”
“I absolutely thought you’d get it!”
His eyes swept the room. “Where did you hide that champagne then?”
“Oh!” She grimaced. “I got a little sidetracked.”
“What have you been up to?”
“I thought since you were occupied, and I wanted to keep my mind busy, it was a good opportunity to see what else I could find about the Silvertons.”
His eyes widened. “Have you spoken to them?”
She nodded. “Their address was in the Land Registry, like you said. I went with the Patels. Mrs Patel was especially keen to go straightaway.”
“And you spoke to them?”
“I spoke to Mrs Silverton. Her husband has Alzheimer’s and lives in a care home. She didn’t know that the flats were occupied. As far as she was aware, they’d been condemned because of asbestos. Mr Latham had kindly offered to take care of everything for her.”
Flynn muttered a string of expletives.
“Mr Latham had been the building caretaker. She thought he was a decent guy and trusted him. And he told her about the asbestos right when her husband was going into a care home. She had too much going on to deal with it, so she was grateful when Mr Latham said he’d take care of things.
” Lily sighed. “The poor woman had to sell her home and downsize to afford her husband’s care. ”
Flynn covered his face with his hand. “This is a disaster. I’ll have to call PC Jones and fill him in.”
“It won’t change anything about how Mr Latham’s death is reported, will it?”
“How do you mean?”
“It won’t be seen as a reason for someone to want him dead? They won’t look into his death further?”
“No.” Flynn frowned. “Bad people die every day. We tend not to assume they were murdered.”
“Okay, that’s good.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“It’s a little tricky to explain, but I found out a bit more about Mr Latham’s death.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“I don’t know.” She shifted to look him square on. “It’s difficult to know what to do for the best.”
Flynn didn’t speak, just waited patiently for her to say more.
“Do you remember around the time we first met… when Rhys was missing?”
“Yeah,” he said slowly.
“I knew where he was, but I didn’t tell you because you’d have to follow procedure.”
He nodded his understanding.
“It’s sort of like that. As my boyfriend, I would like to tell you, but as a police officer it will put you in an awkward position. It’s probably better if you don’t know.” She grimaced, waiting for his reaction. If he pushed her, she’d tell him, but she’d really rather he didn’t know the truth.
“Okay,” he said without a lot of hesitation.
She waited, but he didn’t elaborate on his response. “What do you mean, okay?” she asked.
“If you think it’s better I don’t know, then don’t tell me. It’s fine with me. I trust your judgement and if you think I’m better off not knowing, then don’t tell me.”
“Good.” She nodded weakly, then cocked her head. “Mrs Patel said that my keeping secrets from you is a bad sign for our relationship.”
“I think our relationship is strong enough to withstand a few secrets,” he said. “Plus, it’s different when you tell me you’re keeping secrets.”
“That’s true.” She sighed heavily. “This visit didn’t turn out quite how I expected.”
Flynn laughed. “Things rarely turn out how I expect when you’re around. I still can’t believe Mr Latham was a conman.” His eyes sparkled with amusement. “I suppose the bright side is that I don’t have a legally binding tenancy agreement, so I won’t need to give notice.”
“Yes!” Lily said, scooting closer to him. “That’s what we should be focusing on. I’m so happy you’re moving back.”
A slow smile spread over his face. “It’s really happening.”
Lily closed the gap between them and hugged him hard. “You’re coming home,” she squealed.
“Yeah.” His breath tickled her ear, and there was a hum of excitement in his voice that filled her with relief.
“Are you really okay about staying a PC?” she asked, pulling back.
“Yes.”
Maybe she shouldn’t have asked since his answer lacked conviction.
“I’m really happy,” he said, apparently sensing her apprehension. “It’s going to be great. Jeff will have all the responsibility. Sergeants are all sensible grown-ups, you know.”
“That explains why you didn’t get the job then.”
“Hey!” He poked her in the ribs. “That was a risky joke!”
She nodded. “I realised that when I said it, but in my defence you walked right into it.”
“Fair.” Laughing, he pulled her close. “It feels very surreal. I’ve been so worried that it might not happen. I’m not quite sure I believe it.” His eyes scanned the room. “I’m going to have a busy couple of weeks.”
“Do you want me to change my flight? I could stay and help you pack up.”
He gave a small shake of the head. “I think I can manage it.”