Pierced Peony by Dahlia Donovan

Author:Dahlia Donovan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tangled Tree Publishing

Chapter Fifteen

“Did you ever wish your parents moved up to London with mine?” Motts followed River down one of the footpaths to one of the two beaches that made up Polridmouth Cove. They strolled along the sand, peering into some of the rock pools exposed by the low tide. “You could’ve grown up in the city.”

“And miss this?” River gestured toward the vast expanse of the sea. “We visited London often enough. I’ve never wished we grew up there. I did once ask Father Christmas to have you move to Cornwall.”

“Did you?” Motts smiled sunnily. She shifted further down the beach, away from a rather boisterous family who were the only other visitors to the cove. “I’m sad he didn’t grant your wish. I love it here. So much calmer than London.”

River glanced over at the family after a particularly piercing shriek. “Quiet as well.”

She kicked sand at him. “You know what I meant.”

“I do.” River dipped his toes into the rock pool. “Are you really feeling okay?”

“Sore as can be. I won’t say I don’t hurt. It’s not as bad as when I went off my Vespa.” Motts bent down to pick up a particularly pretty shell. “Remember when your dad convinced me tiny invisible crabs lived in shells?”

“I remember getting shouted at for stomping on a shell and sending you into a panic.” River tucked his hands into his pockets. “Wind’s turning chilly.”

“It is. We should head back before we catch a cold. Last thing I need in the middle of summer.” Motts still remembered her uncle Tom and her cousin both getting into trouble for traumatising her. It was her granddad who explained invisible crabs weren’t a thing. “I should’ve worn a jumper.”

“You’d be boiling by lunch if you had.” River splashed in the water briefly, then followed her back up the sand. “Come on then. My mum’ll force-feed us soup if we so much as sniffle.”

On the way to the car, River received a message with the video from Jess. Motts squeezed up next to her cousin and peered down at his phone. He tried to zoom in close enough for a good view of the footage.

“There. Jasper.” River poked a finger at the screen. “He’s on the corner by the pub with his empty cart. Must’ve already made his delivery.”

“And there I am coming into the frame. Stopping at the light up the street.” Motts wished they had a longer view up the hill. She wanted a better perspective on what Jasper would’ve seen. “He’s definitely looking in my direction. Maybe. I don’t think we’ll ever prove if he was or not.”

River kept watching the video. “We can prove it wasn’t an accident.”

On the screen, the slightly blurry Jasper lowered the handle on the cart then launched it across the street with a solid kick. Motts made him replay the video several times. He also made sure to send a copy to Hughie, just in case the Polperro police hadn’t seen it.

They had. Hughie immediately texted to tell them Inspector Ash suggested they leave the detecting to the detectives.

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