Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lily had never been one to cry easily, but that evening the tears barely stopped. It felt as though a lifetime’s worth of grief had been unleashed, and she didn’t even try to hold it back.
Flynn stayed beside her the whole time. Once she was warm and dry, he cleaned and dressed the fresh cuts and scrapes she’d picked up in the river, then held her hand while she gave her statement to the police. Nancy turned up at some point and refused to leave her side too.
When Nancy suggested they stay at her mum’s house for the night, Lily readily agreed. The thought of staying at Kingfisher Cottage made her stomach knot – she didn’t want anything to do with a place connected to Vanessa.
Nancy packed up their things while Lily and Flynn stopped by the hospital, where she was relieved to find Clara awake and recovering.
It was after midnight by the time they reached the Westons’ house. Someone handed Lily a mug of tea, but she was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. Nancy insisted that she and Flynn take her room, and within minutes of climbing into the soft bed, Lily was asleep.
After more than nine hours of solid slumber, she woke to Flynn’s quiet voice as he sat on the edge of the bed talking into his phone and reassuring whoever it was that she was okay.
“Who was that?” she asked when he ended the call.
“Seren,” he said with a sad smile. “She and Kit and the rest of the Trenearys are worried about you. Maria has called too.”
“Did you message them?” Lily asked.
He shook his head. “It’s all over the news,” he said, his words laced with sympathy.
“Seriously?” Lily sat up.
“It’s quite a story – you came looking for your grandmother and ended up solving a twenty-year-old murder.”
She tried to smile, but a fresh wave of grief rolled over her, and tears welled on her lower lids. “Vanessa really killed them,” she said, wiping the tears away as they spilled down her cheeks. “I can’t get my head around it.”
Flynn came round and hugged her, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “There are reporters outside,” he said eventually. “Samantha disconnected the doorbell, but they’re desperate to talk to you.”
“I can’t,” Lily said, sniffing.
“That’s what I thought. You don’t have to.” He looked down at his phone. “Can you manage a conversation with DS Sutton? She was here earlier, but I didn’t want to wake you. I said I’d let her know when you were awake.”
“I’d like to speak to her,” Lily said, then frowned up at him. “How did you even find us last night?”
He scratched his neck. “I arrived and found the door open, then Roy turned up looking for you. He told me about what you’d found. I’d also found the note your gran left for you.”
“She thought she might not come back,” Lily murmured. “She went to lure Vanessa into a confrontation and was only concerned about recording it. I could have lost her.”
“You didn’t,” Flynn said. “The note led us to the steps, and I got there in time to see you jump in the water.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, covering her face with her hands.
“I went downriver but wasn’t sure I had a hope of finding you in the dark… then the dog went crazy. I followed him.”
Lily blew out a breath. “We really need to get Pip a gift basket or something.”
“I’m just glad I found you.” He eyed her wearily. “You had me worried. In fact, you’ve had me worried for the whole time you’ve been here.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again, then pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I love you.”
His eyes sparkled as he gazed down at her. “I love you too.”
DS Sutton arrived straight after Lily had eaten the eggs and toast that Samantha had made for her. Reporters might have been swarming outside, but the Weston’s house felt like a sanctuary. Samantha, Nancy and Johnny couldn’t have been more caring in her time of need.
They left her and Flynn to speak to DS Sutton in the living room. The detective had a slightly more rumpled appearance than the previous evening, and Lily surmised she hadn’t been to bed yet.
“Ms Hargreaves admitted to starting the fire that killed your parents,” she said, taking a seat in the armchair while Lily and Flynn took the sofa.
“She claims she thought everyone was out for the evening. Her plan was to make it look as though the property developers had started the fire. She left a note in the kitchen telling your parents to do everyone a favour and sell. After that, she planned to start a rumour about the developers being unscrupulous. She believed your mother wouldn’t sell to someone she didn’t trust to do something good with the area. ”
“How did she start the fire?” Flynn asked, stroking the back of Lily’s hand.
“She says she only wanted to set off the smoke alarms and make it look like someone was sending a message. She sneaked in the back using a spare key she knew was kept hidden. Then she turned on the stove and put a couple of tea towels on top. According to her, she didn’t think it would spread.”
Feeling slightly numb, Lily nodded. “And she admitted to pushing my grandmother down the steps?”
“Yes. She claims she panicked about the truth getting out. It was intended to send a message and stop her from asking questions. Or so she says.”
“She almost killed her. And again yesterday.”
Flynn squeezed her hand. “She’ll go to court. There’ll be a list of charges, and she’ll likely go to prison for a very long time.”
“I hope so,” Lily whispered, then flicked her gaze to the detective. “What about the fire at the ice cream shop? What did she say about that?”
DS Sutton’s lips twisted and she gave a small shake of her head. “When I asked Ms Hargreaves about it, she seemed genuinely confused.”
“She said she didn’t do it?” Lily asked, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“She denied any knowledge of it,” she confirmed. “And given everything else she admitted to, I can’t see a reason for her to hide that. Also…” She sat up straighter and took a breath. “I dug around and pulled up the reports. It appears it was an accident.”
“That’s what they said about my parents,” Lily pointed out.
DS Sutton nodded. “I realise that. I’ll look into it some more. Ms Hargreaves claims she was here with guests, and she says she’s never been to the Isles of Scilly. It’s a long time ago, so it’s difficult to corroborate her whereabouts, but I can try.”
“But you thought she was telling the truth when you questioned her about it?” Flynn asked.
“Yes.” She smiled weakly. “Do you have any more questions for me?”
“I don’t think so.” Lily could barely think straight. All she could focus on was the fire at the ice cream shop. She muttered her thanks to DS Sutton and stayed where she was while Flynn showed her out.
When he returned, he sat beside her, resting a hand on her leg.
“What are you thinking?” he asked softly.
“I’m thinking that maybe the fire on Scilly was just an accident.
” She felt her forehead crease. “Uncle Derek was on high alert and looking for danger.” She rubbed her hands over her face.
“If the fire was an accident and the timing of it a coincidence, he wouldn’t have been able to believe that.
It’s hard not to wonder what my life would have been like if it hadn’t happened. ”
She didn’t get to dwell on the thought since the door opened and Nancy peeked her head in.
“How did it go with the detective?” she asked.
“Fine,” Lily said. “Vanessa has confessed to everything.”
“I still can’t quite believe what she did.” She shuddered dramatically. “I hope she goes to prison for a very long time.”
“I’m sure she will,” Flynn said.
Nancy nodded. “People keep calling,” she said to Lily. “I’m starting to feel like your personal secretary.”
Lily grimaced. “I’ll have to get another new phone. Have you heard from my gran?”
“Yes!” She smiled and sank onto the armchair.
“Clara’s doing well. She’s just been discharged from the hospital, but she says her friend Graham is looking after her, so you don’t need to worry.
She would like you and Flynn to go and stay with her.
” Nancy pouted. “I’d rather you stayed here, but that’s completely up to you.
Bert also called. He’d like to come over and see you later.
I told him I thought that would be fine. ”
Lily nodded. “It’d be lovely.”
“I’ve also had Marcie on the phone.” Nancy rolled her eyes dramatically.
“She went on and on. I thought she’d never stop talking.
Anyway, apparently she’s very sorry, and she feels terrible.
She should have told Clara from the start that you were here, and she should have tried to help instead of burying her head in the sand.
Apparently, she just wanted you and Clara to be safe.
” She let out a frustrated breath. “Sadly, she also insisted she’ll come over later to apologise in person. ”
“It’s fine,” Lily said.
“Charles and Serena have been in touch too. Serena wants to bring quiches and sandwiches over for lunch. If it’s too much, you can just hide upstairs.”
“It’ll be good to see them,” Lily said.
“That’s all the messages,” Nancy said brightly. “There’s one other thing I wanted to speak to you about, but we can get to that later, when we get a moment alone together…”
Flynn’s lips pulled into a slow smile. “Is that a hint for me to leave?”
“I was trying to be subtle,” Nancy said with a sparkle in her eye. “But if you don’t mind. It’s just a quick bit of girl talk between best friends.”
“I’ll get a drink,” Flynn said, and patted Lily’s leg before he left.
Nancy moved to sit beside Lily. When her smile slipped away, the dark circles beneath her eyes became more prominent.
“You look worn out,” Lily said.
“I was up half the night talking to my idiot brother,” she said with a sigh.
“Oh,” Lily said, wincing.
“You know all about it already, but he told me everything… about Mum… and Dad … and just how messed up our family is and how he decided to be the one to take care of everything and everyone.”
“He was looking out for you,” Lily said.
Nancy wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “I know that. I only wish he’d felt he could talk to me years ago. I’d have helped. It’s offensive that he thinks I’m so fragile that I wouldn’t be able to deal with it.”
Lily put an arm around Nancy’s shoulders.
“Sorry,” Nancy sniffed. “I didn’t mean to dump my problems on you. Not with everything you’ve got to deal with.”
“That’s what best friends are for,” Lily said. “How are things between you and Johnny now?”
“Much better,” Nancy said. “We had a really good talk.”
“That’s good.”
“Yes. I’m angry and upset, but I’ll get over it.” She pulled back from Lily and wiped more tears away. “I’m also really sad because I think you’ll probably leave soon now that you’ve figured everything out. I was just getting used to having you around.”
Lily hadn’t had much chance to consider what happened next, but the thought of getting back to Scilly filled her with warmth. “I think we’ll go and stay with my gran, then head back in a few days. But we’ll keep in touch.”
“Do you promise?” she asked petulantly.
“Yes.” Lily smiled at Nancy’s stern look.
“Can I come and visit you?”
“I’d be offended if you didn’t.”
Nancy perked up. “I already looked up where you live. Is it as beautiful as the pictures?”
“More so,” Lily said.
“I can’t wait to see it.” She glanced furtively at the door, and when she turned back to Lily, her features had turned serious. “I hope this isn’t inappropriate, but I have a question about Flynn.”
Lily lifted an eyebrow.
Nancy leaned close and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Does he have a brother, by any chance?”
The unexpected laughter was exactly what Lily needed.